Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1896-04-24
South African Company Afraid
of the Facts.
OfficiaI and -Official Dispatches
From the scene of the Troubles
SHOW. Beyond All Peradventure,
That Someone is Lying-The Dread
Abroad Among the White Hnhabi-
Notwithstanding Supplies One of
the Chief Dangers to be Feared.

situation in Buluwayo is not as serious as
represented in non-oficial dispatches
and that the town is not in any real
danger.
The chartered company today an
nounced that the officials in Buluwayo
are confident that they can hold the
town and that the town of Salisbury is
also safe, and is organizing in defensive
forces. The tone of non official dis
patches from South Africa reflects a
contrary tone. and continues to repre-
rent the situation at Buluwayo as alarm
ing and the condition of affairs through
out Matabeland as growing more and
more threatening. Elaborate precau-
tions for defense, indicating a monetary
fear of overwhelming attack, are re-
reported from Buluwayo and grave APP
prehensions exist there that communi-
cations with the settlements to the south
will be cut off. The supply of provi-
sions is diminishing in Buluwayo, in a
constantly increasing ratio, owing to
large number of refugees and, what is
mnch more serious, doubtful natives
that are coming in.
The dread is abroad among the white
inhabitants that these natives are hostile
Matabeles, coming in under the guise of
friendliness, but meditating a treacher-
GUS outbreak in cooperation with an
attack from without.
The diminishing supplies make the
keeping open of communication to the
south doubly important, as it is from
there that supplies for Buluwayo must
be looked for Fears are entertained
for the safety of the supplies now on the
way, and even should these get through
to Buluwayo they are only sufficient to
temporarily relieve the necessity of
keeping these roads open to the passage
of friends of the people of Buluwayo.
Buluwayo, April I9.-Sunday-So far
as the situation is improved here over
that of yesterday, it is due to the de-
parture of the enemy which has been
massed at the north of the town for
several days and from which an attack
has been almost hourly expected.
This movement, however, brings lit
tie comfort to those in Buluwayo. The |
excited manner in which the natives |
quilted their positions indicated conf |
Gent purpose of mischief. There is no |
evidence that they were alarmed Friday
at the demonstration of the patrol of
a. men from Buluwayo against their
Although this vanguard was
driven back upon the main body, the
patrol did not dare to place itself within
reach of the overwhelming members of
the main body.
The direction taken by this great body
of hostile natives after quitting the
learned but it is feared the purpose of
The movement is to try and effect
junction with the rebels in the Matoppo
hills and thus sever connection to the
southwark The road runs through
he Matoppo hills to the south of Bulu-
wayo, and is a difficult and dangerous
one for fifty miles from here, at which
distance the road reached the Mangwe
pass. This angular and precipitous de-
lie it is felt must be held. 1t is of such
character that it can be made impreg
liable against the attacks of native war
iors But for the same reason, if
llowed to get into the hands of the
natives, it would be extremely difficult
o dislodge them with any force at pres
mt available. To leave this pass to the
nemy would effectually cut off the
Intercourse of Buluwayo with the out
ide world To hold the pass and to
atrol the road between it and Bulu-
1ayo, measures which are felt to be
necessary for the safety of
his place, requires large proportion of
ne available force, less than thousand
len in Buluwayo. }
The threatened movement of the en-
my upon the line of communication c
erplex the authorities with the problem
f low far they can further denude Bull I
wayo of its fighting force to guard the
Dad. The lack OF certainty as to the r
hereabouts and immediate destination a
the great mass of natives moving SO t
ear the town causes much dread and Il
ixiety. t
The Daily News says that the mill
ny authorities consider that the ap- S
ointment of General Darlington, Brit e
h commander at Gibraltar, who has f.
zen ordered to the Cape of Good Hope V