The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-12
SLAUGHTER OF BLACKS
NEWS FROM BRAZZAVILLE AND THE
FRENCH AFRICAN KILLINGS.
Authentic News from Merchand Expe-
dition-German Feeling Over
kaiser's Eccentricitfcs.
of die Associated Press.


BRAZZAVILLE. Africa, Jan. 81 have
been waiting many days for some authentic
news about Merchand's expedition. The
leaders were at Brazzaville when 1 arrived
on the coast, but the road between Man
vanga and Brazzaville. a distance of about
seventy-five miles, was closed on account
of petty wars among the natives and Mer-
Glands men could not get their 1900 loads
up To Brazzaville to proceed on their jour-
ney up the Mobangi river towards the
burned every village on the Manyanga
road, killing few hundred natives and
taking all their live stock for food.
In coming up from the coast we learned
that forty natives had stopped two white
men and their carriers at the crossing of
the Quelio 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 transforms, which had over
flowed the rivers and creeks, so, when the
natives stopped US, we loaded our rifles be-
fore them, advanced threateningly and told
them that the first one who interfered
would be shot We passed through the
blockade with carriers and supplies without
any difficulty.
Arriving at Brazzaville, We found Mer-
chand making preparations to go to the
relief Of the men at the Quello river cross
ing This was the pretext of declaring war
against the natives. The details of the bat
ties were received from one of his soldiers
who returned here. The first real skirmish
was with chief named Mobyalla who, or
some OF his tribe killed a French soldier %
year ago. Mercband 5 men marched on the
village. Mobyalla showed fight, but his
hint-locks were not equal to modern rifles:
He was wounded and his head was cut off
and brought to BraZZavilie. The natives
say over one hundred men were killed in
this village. but Merchand's soldiers assert
that the number was not more tEan twen-
ty-five or fifty. After the battle the viii
lage was burned. Continuing their march,
the villages along the Manyanga road were
surrounded at night and as daylight APP
peared, the natives We're awakened by
blast of a trumpet and, as they came out
Of their huts. were shot down on all sides IS
manner, no quarter being given.
The natives used clay balls in their old
muskets, having burned them dry to about
the consistency of brick. In shooting they
do not put the gun to the shoulder or look
along the sight. pointing at the object as
one would with stick and then firing
Several of MeTchand's men were struck by
these clay balls, but were not wounded Sc
riously.
The expedition consists of fourteen white
officers and los black soldiers from the
Western Soudan, called Senegalese, but are
by right Soudanese: They arrived at Lo-
and some of the white officers came direct
to BraZZaville, but the main body ola not
succeed in getting here until Jan II.
Preparations are now being made to con-
tinue the march up the Mobangi river. Cap
tain Dhanis has charge of a force which
is marching to the Equatorial lakes and
the source of the Nile on Henry Nj. STAN
ley's old trail, up the Aruwimi river Cap
tain Dhanis is the man who had charge or
the expedition of the Congo State that
cleared the Arabs out in the upper Congo
back of Stanley Falls Station. He IL was
who killed SeffO. TippO Tbs son. and cap
tured Rashid, Tippo Tbs nephew and
Governor of Stanley Falls. Another ex-
petition under the leadership of NJ. Gen.
tile which started out from here some time
ago is blockaded on one of the small rivers
which empties into the Monagi, where 1t
turns south toward the Congo. The latest
word from him is that his expedition is
short of provisions and his position critical
The object of the Merchand expedition is
to march TO the head waters OF the Mo-
bangi, cross over to the headwaterS OF the
Nile and attack the DerviShes or Arabs
while Captain Dhanis will attack them
from another point. The expeditions. while
endeavoring to conquer the Arabs, will also
look after the French and Belgian interests
in this section and checkmate the English
in attempts to occupy the territory
If the plan is successful ii will connect
the French Congo with Lake Tchad.