The herald., 1896-04-18
Threatens to Assume Most Tre-
mendOus Proportions
THE WHITES ARE APPAL LED
By the Imminent Danger Of Wholesale
Mass acre
The MatabeIes Are Gathered Like Ants in
Hill, and tho Native Servants Prove
Trencherous
Associated Press Special Wire.

BULUWAYO, April IA feeling OF
apprehension as to what the next step
of the revolving Matabeles Will be per-
meates all circles here. Information
coming from the country around makes
1t certain that the natives are preparing
an offensive movement against this
place. The number of Matabeles re-
ported gathering at points near by Is
sufficient to appall the hearts OF even
experienced fighters. There IS oreao
In the minds of many that the place Is
in danger of being overwhelmed py a
rush of hordes of Matabeles, and the
Inhabitants put to a wholesale massa-
ere.
The fear of treachery is added to the
apprehension of overwhelming num-
bers. Many indications point to con-
nivsnce with the war parties of sup
r,osed friendly natives. There are many
of the latter in the town itself and no
white man feels sure how far ne can
trust his dusl1y associates or servants.
On Wednesday evening three Dutch
scouts were sent out from here to secure
some definite and accurate Information
of the position and movements of the
natives. What they have found has
served little to relieve the anxiety ana
suspense. They report that the Mata-
beles are gathering like ants in mn
on the Umgusa river, only SIX mites
north of here That some treachefouS
Mot is being concocted is indicated by
the fact that native women are secret
ing European clothes. The native men
on the veldt wear the native costume,
while most of those i'll Buluwayo wear
clothes approaching the european
fashion BY attiring the native war
riors in European garments the Mata-
beles hope they will be enabled to enter
the town unquestioned.
A Matabele boy has also been
caught stealing the badges and the pug
garie belonging to the Rhodesla morse.
and il is believed that 1t was intended TO
use these for the purpose of disguise to
further some treacherous project for
taking Buluwayo at q disadvantage
and killing the inhabitants 1t is plainly
noticeable that the natives in the town
are becoming as thick as bees. IN OF
dinary times the natives come ana go
In town without attracting attention.
The native population is at all times a
shifting one, and large number OF the
men that make it up are not known IN
6ividually to the white people Oh the
town or to the authorities. The fact
that the natives in the town live apart
from the whites adds to the difficulty
of identifying those who belong in the
town. But there is little more conf
dence felt in the natives who belong in
town than in the hostile men who, it Is
believed, are surreptitiously being in
troduced to aid from within when an
attack shall be made from without. 1t
looks now as though that might occur at
any time.
The roads by which communication is
had with the south. both the one to Tuli
and the one to Mafeking, are felt to be
In peril. There are undoubtedly large
numbers of hostile natives between
Buluwayo and the settlements to the
south, some of them in open revolt. The
situation is felt to be most serious and
threatening.
THE SITUATION GRAVE.
CAPE TOWN, April 1.-THE difficult
ty in obtaining news of the Matabele
uprising increases day by day, owing
to the restriction of the authorities but
1t is positively known that the. situation
about BuluWayo has grown darker ana
that the rebellion is so widespread that
large force of troops will be necessary
to restore order. Urgent requests Tor
troops have been made by people not di-
rectly interested in the British char
tered South Africa company, and the
home government is blamed for post
poning the dispatch of strong reinforce
ments in South Africa. The inaction
of the war Office is undoubtedly due to
the desire of AIr. Joseph Chamberlain,
the colonial secretary, to avoid any
thing which might he construed into
an attempt to coerce the South African
republic, but it is pointed out, while
Nr. Chamberlain is holding his hands,
der their imported German instructors
and are accommodating arms and am
munition, constructing fortificat tionS
and bringing heavy guns from Germany.
The policy of President Kruger is one
Of delay to avoid doing or saying any
thing definite until the Transvaal is
IN a position to defy Great Britain and
then the independence of the South
African republic will be declared, the
Orange Free State may be actually in
corporated into the republic, the natives
will everywhere be melted to rise against
the British rule and an attempt will be
made to drive the British out of South
Africa. This is the plan openly talked OF
and chuckled over among the Beers,
but the home authorities seem to be
utterly blind to the danger ahead. The
chartered company, in the interests of
its stockholders, is doing everything
possible to suppress the truth, and the
belief is growing that nothing short of
terrible disaster such as the capture
of Buluwayo. will bring the British gov
ernrent to it's senses.
1t is stated that fully Il, 900 Matabeles
Hrve been massed for the attack on Bull
Lwayo which, although placed in a fair
state OF defense. could not hold out
against the headlong. rushing charge of
the native regiments, which, if they
only number half of 1000, might sweep
over the town, even if thousands We're
slain in the onslaught.
The officials of the chartered company
say they have no fear that Buluwayo
VII be captured but it is the over con-
fdence of the British, the habit of gross
~ undertaking the strength of an en-
sny. which has led to many historical
DISASTERS to the British arms. There is
no denying that the Matabeles have been
steadily gathering together for weeks
past. with the intention. apparently, of
It.acklng Buiuwayo. The recapture of
klng Lobengula's old capital from the
iirltlsh would be a fearful blow to the
paramount power in South Africa
rms is frankly admitted, vet the avail
able force Of volunteers at Bulllwayo is
peheved to be not much over 500 men.
riaehlne guns have 1t is true, been hur-
RED 70 the front from the British flag
Snip st. George: the market place has
reen converted into strong laager, the
oiu ponce camp outside the town and
nther points have been fortified. but
II would take many men and many OBJ
s.rucsions ss t to Withstand over 10, 900 fear
tess t Matap peles. especially If it is true
tnat they are befnF safAaN or a - oL..4.5 ~,