The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-04-30
may OCCUR At Any MOMENT
AN IMPORTANT ENGAGEMENT
AT BULUWAYO IS LOOKED
FOR SOON.
FEAR FROM SO-CAuED "FR|ENDuES'
Two Thousand of the Blacks Have
Sought Refuge in the Town and
They Are Strongly Suspect
ed as Being TreacherOus.

Cape Town, April 22.-(Copyrighted
1896, by the Associated Press.) -Unesi
all the news which reaches here from
Buluwayo is misleading an important
engagement between the British forces
defending the town and the MatabeleS
besieging it will shortly occur, or it may
have already occurred. 1t is now know
that the force of hostile natives that as
sembled about Buuwayo after the out
break Of the rebellion was much greater
than was at first supposed. The high
est estimate placed the number Of the
besiegng force ut 10000, but although
"a large number Of natives, said to num-
Der about 5000 warriors, is known TO
have struck camp and started south
ward in the direction which the relief
forces from Mafeking must follow, it
is estimated that fully $1,000 hostiles
are still in the vicinity Of the bclcngucr-
ed town. The natives, when they first
took up positions about BuluwayO,
formed half circle, but gradually this
formation had been contracted and the
Matabele army is now only about three
miles or within easy striking distance,
on n dark night especially, of the 5000
about 600 can be classed rs fighting
men. The southern portion of the half
circle is mountainous country and the
main pass is held by about 300 whites
1t IL through this pass that the relief
force and supply trains must come. The
men holding this pass have been divided
into four bodies. The first or advance
guard, is occupying position at the en-
trance of the most difficult turnings.
The main body occupies the strongest
positions in the pass itself, where Il
Maxim gun has been planted behind II
well constructed stone brcastwork or
fort commanding the critical turn in the
road. This force is looked upon as be-
ing in a position TO throw the gun
around and defend the pass from the
north. The third body or rear guard is
holding the northern end of the pass,
which leads TO the opening around and
the road TO Buluway0.
The men holding the pass have pro-
visions for about Il month, but their am
munition is limited, some of it having
already been called to replensh the di-
minshing store of the town. Both Blu
luwayo and Gwelo. which is also be-
sleged, have been practically rendered
lmpregnable from an outward open at
tack. But in both cases, especially in
the case of Buluwayo, large number
OF sO-called friendly natives have flOcked
into the place under the plea of seek
ing the protection of the whites from
the hostilcs. These persons could not
well be turned adrift or refused the
shelter they requested Consequently,
they were admitted within the lines and
allowed to mix with the natives who
regularly nhabit the town. The number
of the ''fricndlies" has increased alarm
ingly, and il is believed that fully 2OOO
natives are now being fed from the
common stores of Buuwayo. Thus,
while il may be true that Buluwayo.
thanks TO its dynamite mines, barbcd
wire fences, strong lager around the
market place and half dozen or so of
rapid firing guns, is safe from any at
tempt to carry the place by storm. il is
not safe from being reduced by starva-
ton. and ii might he captured if the
friendlies were suddenly to rise some
night and create II diversion within the
lines which would enable the native
mp to make II dash for the lnnger.
This is the greatest danger now threat
enlng the town of Buuwayo and signs
OF preparation for such an outbreak
upon the part of the fricndlics have long
been noticed and guarded against