Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-04-23
(Copyrigat. Agsocia.ed Press


raws which reaches this place from
Buluwayo is misleading, an important
engagement between the British force
defending that town and the Matabeles
besieging i. will shortly take place, or
it may already nave occurred.
IL is now known tha. the force CT
hostile natives which assembled about
Buluwayo after ,he outbreak of the re-
bellion was much greater than was at
first supposed The highest estimate
placed inc number of the besieging
force at $1,000; but, although large
body cf natives, said to number about
5000 warriors, is known to have struck
camp and started southwark in the dl-
rection which the relief forces from
M2feking must follow. II is estimated
that fully $1,000 hostiies are sill in the
vicinity Of ohe beleagueIed town. The
natives when they first took up posi-
tions abou. Buluwayo formed a half
circle norlhward, but gradually cnlS
formation has besn contracted, and the
Matabele army is rcw only about three
miles, or within easy striking distance,
On dark nigh, especially, Of the 5000
white people in the town, of whom
only a5oU. 600 can be classed as fight
ing men. The southern portion CT The
half circle is mountainous country. and
the main pass is acid by about 800
whites. 1. is through this pass ina:
the relief force and supply trains must
come.
The men holding this pass have been
divided into four bodies. The first, or
advance guard, occupying a position
at the entrance. The main body Cccu-
pies the strongest position in the pass
Itself, where a maxim gun has been
planted behind a well-cons,ructed stone
brea:'sw3rk or fort, commanding the
critical turn in the road. This force
is also locked upon as being in a posi-
cion to slew the gun around and defend
,he pass from al attack from the
north. The third body. or rear guard,
is holding .he northern end of the pass,
which leads to the open ground and
road to Buluwayo. The men holding
the pass have provisions for about a
month, hut their supply OF ammunition
is limited, some of it having already
been csl,eG " 10 repleniSh the dimin-
iShing store oi The town.
Bc.h Buluwayo and Gwelo. which Is
also besieged, have been practically
rendered impregnable from an outward
open attack. But, in boah cases. espec-
tally in TIE case OF Buluwayo, a large
number of the so-called friendly ra-
tives nave fiocked into the place under
the p.an CT seeking the protection of
the whites from the hostiles. These
persons could not well be turned adrift
or refused the shelter they requested
Consequently they were admitted
within the lines and to mix with The
natives who regularly inhabit the
| town. The number of these friend
lies has increased alarmingly. and il
is believed that fully 1000 natives are
being fed from the common stores Of
Buluwayo
Thus while it may be true that Bulu-
wayo, thanks TO its dynamite mines,
oarbed-wire defenses, strong laager
around the market place and half a
dozen or so Of rapidfire guns, is safe
from an attempt to carry the place by
storm, it is not safe from being reduced
by starvation, and it might even be cap
tUred if the "friendlies" were suddenly
to rise some night and create a diver
sion within the lines, which would en-
able the native impis to make dash for
the laager. This is the greatest danger
now threatening the town of Buluwayo.
and signs of preparation for such an
outbreak on the part Of the "friendlies"
have long been noticed and guarded
against. One maxim gun has been so
placed as to command the native por-
tion of the town or colony, and sentries
on elevated stages keep watch over the
Matabeles night and day
Then, again, the Matabeles seem to
have suddenly learned the art Of an
preaching town with defences. for
with each move forward. with each
Tightening of the half circle around
Buluwayo, they have thrown up earth
works. Indeed. the skill they are man
ifesting in these operations is pointed
out as another proof that they are being
directed by Boer stratagsts.
The first OF the relief corps from
.Iafeking is still believed to be about $50
miles from BuluwayO, and this body of
men is really little more than the ad-
vance guard of the 500 or SEQ men
which the chartered cOmpanys officials
hope to throw into the besisged camp
within short time, but it is believed
that serious fighting must occur before
Buluwayo is relieved
The one bright spot in this dark out
look is the fact that in the engagements
which have hitherto taken place be-
tween the whites ard the natives the
latter have almost invariably been beat
en- and with severe loss. In fact. it is
said that fully 1,2O0 Matabeles have al
ready been sent to their last account.
against which showing some 200 whites
have been killed.
The rinderpest, which is delaying the
advance of the RELIEF corps and provis-
ion and ammunition trains, is also play
ing havoc with the cattle Of the natives
The trail of large body of natives,
driving with them some 5000 cattle.
was marked at about every hundred
wards. by the carcass of a beast. This
disease may. therefore. have more eff
feet than the rifles OF the whites in en-
abling the latter TO hold the South
African Lucknow, as Buluwayo is now
termed. until relief reaches the little
garrison.
London, April 22.-The officials OF the
British South African Chartered Com
pany received to-day the following dis
patch from Buluwayo, dated April 21:
"The situation is most serious. There
are $4,000 Matabeles within three miles
and 1850 friendly natives have arrived
in town.
A dispatch to the Pail Mall Gazette