The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-04-01

cult to obtain accurate information re-
garding the progress of the rebellion of
the natives of Matabeleland. The au-
thorities are Withholding all informa-
ton possible as it would be made use
of by the enemies of British ruleship
in Africa. 1t is not denied, however,
that the situation becomes darker
every day and very strong force
will be necessary to restore order.
ADDITIONAL ADvICES
received here from Buluwayo show
that the work of putting that town in
a state of defense has been completed
so far as the means at hand permit.
But there is a lack of arms and am
munition with which to supply the
many settlers who have gathered there
from outlying districts since the up
rising commenced. These men, in
many cases, have rifles, but they are
of all kinds and makes, and the stock
of ammunition procurable for them is
small Consequently it has been found
desirable to replace these weapons as
far as possible with the Martin-H enry
rifles, served out to the police, ETC.,
the stock of ammunition for the latter
being fairly adequate. The authorities
here are now feeling the effects of the
policy of weakening the defenses of
different parts of British South At
RIGA in order to make the
LAMENTABLE DISPLAY
in the TTansvaal Had matters at
johannesburg turned out as the ma
nipulators of the expedition and up
rising contemplated, things would have
assumed a different aspect. But GER
tain persons here and elsewhere are
now in the position of hunters caught
in their own traps, with the addition
al modification of the knowledge that
the Beers have, by the seizures made
in the mines. ETC., of many thousands
of rifles, bayonets, revolvers and Max
i'm guns. completely turned the tables
on the British. Until arms and am
munition arrive from England the
latter are almost helpless, and a COM
bined uprising upon the part of the
Beers and natives who could be bribed
into hostility, might be very disastrous.
The Beers now have weapons with
which to arm a powerful auxiliary
force. and they are aware of the pre-
dicament in which the British find
themselves.
OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS
against the Matabeles are nearly at a
standstiil. communication south OF
Buuwayo is practically shut off, par
ings at the first signs of alarm, are
still unrelieved, and there seems to be
no immediate prospect of assistance
being sent to them. Some of these.
therefore, are more than likely to fall
victims to the Matabeles.
Selous and Napier, at Buluwayo.
have done everything possible under
the circumstances and as a result of
scouting work they are keeping dust
in the air. that is to say, they are do
ing their utmost to conceal the weak
ness of the position of the British,
while anxiously awaiting the supplies
of arms and ammunition necessary.
But these supplies are not procurabie
at such short notice. Thousands of
stands of arms which were believed to
be al! the disposal of the British Char
tered company's officials, seems to have
MYsTERIOUSLY DISAPPEARED,
and few people doubt that they are
now in the hands of the Beers. Thus
time must elapse before arms and am
munition can reach here from En-
gland, and in the meanwhile the sit
uation must necessarily grow more
grave.
The agent Of the Chartered company