The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-04-20
IN GREAI' LANCER
South African Official Advices
Contradicted by Associated
Press Dispatches.
DuluwayO Is Garrisoned by Only
Six Hundred Fighting
Men,
While Matabeles Number at
Least Fifteen Thousand.
Attack Planned.

CAPE Town, April 2O.-No official
statement from any source Is worth
considering q moment If 1t takes the
ground that Buluwayo is not i'll dan
GER in fact, ere this the town may be
in the hands of the Matabeles and one
of the most terrible massacres on record
may have occurred. The latest advices
received here from Buluwayo have
greatly increased the anxiety felt for
the safety of that place. Military men,
sctyuts, Dutchmen and Engiishmen,
civilians OF all classes, veteran troopers
and government officials concur in the
statement that the governor OF Cape
Colony, Sir Hercules Robinson has not
told the truth if he has notified the
home government that Buluwayo is in
no danger. 1t is evident to everybody
here that the British at Buluwayo are
In q Most Critical Position.
The chief point of their weakness is
in numbers and the immensely OF the
hordes of Matabeles gathering for the
attack. Then, again, large numbers of
Matabeles, presumed to be friendlies,
have by some excuse or other, succeed
ed in entering the town, and it is well
known that they have planned to rise
and strike at the British so soon as the
warriors of the Matabeles are heard
outside the line of defenses. Most of
the Matabales in Buiuwayo got there
by pretending to be asking the protec-
ton of the whites, and the latter were
foolish enough to fall into the trap,
These Matabeles are armed and an
outbreak must soon occur. 1t has
been stated that Buluwayo is held by
1000 men. This is not correct.
AS stated in these dispatches,
the number of fighting men at Bulu.
wayo is under 9OO and of this small
number compared with the 10000 Mat
absles in the vicinity of the town, 300
are reported to have been dispatched to
hold Mangwe pass, which is steep
defile with angular turnings and can
be rendered impregnable.
Intend to Attack Lobengula-
Other dispatches, however, announce
that a strong force of the remaining
600 whites intended to leave Buluwayo
in order to attack Matabele impi COM
posed of Lobengula's crack lmbezu
regiment, from which the native police,
who have been shown to have started
the rebellion, were recruited. This
impi is looked upon as being the most
formidable in or about Matabeleland in
point Of numbers and efficiency. These
warriors have been secretly profitinl
for some time past by the drill and
tactics of police deserters, and as the
latter took with them their arms and
ammunition, and all the other arm:
and ammunition they could lay thei,
hands on, the Imbezu regiment, alway.
most formidable, is likely to prove
more than a match for the small Brit
ish force.
Looked Upon . Rash Move.
In fact. nobody here can understand
the rashness of such sortie being per
mitted, and is feared that the awfu
mistake of Isandula may be repeated
The British may BE- ent.ced into th'
bush by feint, and while they ar
there engaged with overwhelmin;
numbers, tho main body of the Mata
belle army may be hurled against Blu
luwayo, and sweep over it in spite o
the defenses and the rapid fir r.ng gun
ready to receive the enemy. Besides
as already stated, the attack Of the Mat
abeles from outside is more than likel
to be assisted by rising of tn
Natabeles inside the fortificat,ons. Thi
has been amt .cipated and guarde
against as far as possible, but peopl
here predict great disaster if the sir
British force oppos,ng the $1,000 Mats
beiss il allowed to divide itself and en-
| xaes in sortis against the enemy. TIL