New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-12
KILLING NATIVES IN AFRICA
FRENCH AND BELGIAN EXPEDITIONS
IN THE CONGO VALLEY.

EXPLOITS OF MERCHANT AND DHANIs-vIL-
Lagos DESTROYED AND THEIR FLEEING
INHABITANTS SHOT DOWN.
A correspondent Of the Associated Press, writing
from Brasxayile Africa. under date OF January 81,
says:
II have been waiting many days for some au-
thentio news about Merchands expedition. The
leaders were at Braszave when arrived on the
coast but the road between Manyanga ana brahha-
VILE, a distance Of about scventy-nVe miles, was
closed on account Of petty wars among the natives
and Merchands men could not get their S'"o ioads
OF supplies up to Brazzaville to proceeo on their
Journey I'D the Mobangi River toward the Equator
As last resort Merchant burned every village on
the Manyanga road. killing few hundred natives
and taking all their live stock for food
"In coming I'D from the coast we learned that
forty natives had stopped two white men ana 'helr
carriers at tho crossing OF the Quello River we
were in no mood to be stopped as our food supply
was nearly exhausted. we having been delayed on
the road by severe rainstorms when had over
flowed the rivers and creeks so. when the natives
stopped u.s. we loaded our rifles. advanced threat
eningly, and told them that the first one who In
terfered would be shot We passed through the
blockade with carriers and supplies, without any
difficulty.
Upon arriving at Brazzavile, We found Mer-
chand making Preparations to go to the relief OF
the men at the Quello River crossing This was
the pretext OF declaring war against the natives.
The details Of the battles were received from one OF
his soldiers who returned here The FIRST real skir-
mish with a chief named Mobyalla. who, or
some of his tribe. killed French soldier about a
year ago. Merchand's men marched on the village.
MObyalla showed resistance but his nintlocKs were
not equal to modern rifles. Mobyalla was wounded
and his head cut off and brought TO Brazza-
vile. The natives say that over one hundred men
were killed in this village but Merchands soldiers
that the number rot more than twenty-five
or fifty. After the battle the village was burned The
villages along the Manyanga road were surrounded
al night. As daylight approached the natives were
awakened by the blast OF trumpet, and as they
came out of their huts were shot down on all sides
Village after village was destroyed in this manner,
quarter being given.
THE natives used clay balls in their old muskets.
having burned them dry 10 about the consistency or
brick In shooting they do not put the gun to the
shoulder look aong the sight, but point at the
object as would with stick, and then iire
Several OF Mcrcha nd's men were struck by these
clay balls, but not wounded seriously
The expedition consists of fourteen white Off
GERS and 1853 black soldiers from the Western SOU
dan. called senegalese. but they are by right Sou
de- nese.
They arrived at Loango on the coast on July
a. 1896 Merchand and some of the white officers
came direct TO Brazzaville, but the main body did
not succeed In getting here until January IL
Preparations are now making 10 continue the march
up the Mobanci.
Captain Dhanis has charge OF a force Which IS
marching TO the Equatorial lakes and the source OF
the Nile on Henry NJ Stanley's old trail, up the
Aruwimi River. Captain Dhans is the man who
had charge Of the expedition Of the Congo state
that cleared the Arbas out in the Upper Congo
back Of Stanley Falls station. He II was VINO
killed SeNo. Tippoo Tbs son. and captured Rashid
T!proo Tbs nephew ard Governor Of Stanley
Falls Rashid is prisoner on the kassia
River. a thousand miles away. lie Is closely
watched ana has no hope of escape
Another expedition. unCer the leadership OF NJ
Gentilo which started out from here some time
ago is blockaded on OF the small rivers which
empties into the Mobangi where It turns south tow
ard the Congo Tie latest word from him Is that
his expedition IS short OF provisions and his posi-
ton critical.
THE object of the Merchand expedition Is to
march TO the headwaters Of the Mobangi, cross
over 70 the hcadwaters of the Nile and attack the
pervishes or Arabs while Captain Dhanls will
attack them from another point. The expeditions
while endeavorng to conquer the Arabs, also Will
look after the French and Belgian interests in this
section and checkmate the English IN attempts to
occupy the territory.
III the plan is successful 1t will connect the
French Congo with Lake Tchad."