The herald., 1896-04-25


form the tight fix in which they find
themselves.
The chances of President Kruger vis-
iting England, it is also said, have inn
proved during the past few days.
The news which has reached here
from England that reinforcements of
British troops are to be hurried to the
Cape has given great satisfaction to the
British portion of the population and
may have a good effect in other quar-
ters.
Further particulars received from
Buluwayo in regard to the sortie show
that when the Matabele main body was
first made out about four miles west Of
Buluwayo, the enemy occupied ridge
on top of which were the earthworks
ard stone parapets and were prepared
to receive the British force. Conse-
Quently slight detour was made SO as
to bring the column slightly north of
13lluwayo. The enemy was found to
be lowering fuor miles off in we'll Sc
lected positions on the north bank of the
Ummumza river. After fierce fighting
the natives drove the British back and
down the bank. Crossing the river in
the retreat, F. G. Selous had a narrow
escape. His horse was killed in mid
ttream and he became entangled in the
stirrups. When he extricated himself
he was half drowned and would have
sunk had it not been for Lieut.. Wind
ley, who SWAN his horse out into the
middle of the river in the face of the
fire of the enemy, rescued Selous and
reached the left bank without injury.
When the British rallied and drove
back the Matebeles they were engaged
with only a portion OF the Matabele
force, and as soon as the enemy swarm
ed over the ridge in large numbers
they almost surrounded the British and
the latter were compelled to retreat.
The squad of troopers previously said
to have been for a time cut off, and only
able to extricate itself by q brilliant
charge through the Matabele Gordon,
was Capt. Gray's scouts. They were
to a certain degree ambushed and al
most in the hands of the enemy when
by desperate rush they extricated
themselves.
1t is now said that both the Hotch-
kiss and the Maxim rapid-fire guns
worked bGdly, and that they were only
used for a comparatively short time, as
the mechanism jammed repeatedly.
No correct estimate Of the killed or
wounded has yet been received. the
only statement made on the subject
being that if the unofficial report, which
says that the British loss was very
slight and that the Matabeles lost heav-
lily.
The opinion is gaining that the
British suffered a bad defeat, and that
the Matabele loss was not so great as
at first rumored
PLEADED GUILTY
PRETORIA, April "a. - Francis
Rhodes, Lionel Phillips and George
Farrar, members of the Johannesburg
reform committee, pleaded guilty to the
charge of treason today Other MEM
bers pleaded guilty to the charge of
lese majestic without hostile intention
against the independence of the
Transvaal. and the case was adjourned
until Monday. when the defendants
will be sentenced.
TRANSVAAL AFFAIRS
LONDON, April 25--A dispatch from
Pretoria to the Times says regarding
the trial of the reform committee pris-
oners:
The prosecution withdrew all counts
in the indictment except those to which
accused pleaded guilty. John Hays
Hammond and J. S. Curtis were alb
expected on Monday. 1t is understood
that cogent reasons which will be
published shortly, actuaed the accused
imp leading guilty.
The Standards correspondent says
that the Temps has dispatch from Pre-
toria saying:
1t is stated the prosecution in the
tTldl VI Lue HdtlOHdl reform commit
tee will produce proofs of completely
against the chartered South Africa
company.
A dispatch from Cape Town to the
Times says: 1t is reported from Jo-
hannesburg that numerous Boer wag-
ons, all in charge of white men, with
no Kaffir drivers, are leaving Pretoria
with ammunition and field requirement.
Their destination is unknown. The
Beers, it is further said, are in constant
communication with the artillery camp
from which these wagons load and de-
part