The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-04-12

Correspondent OF Associated Press
BRAZZAVILLE, Africa, Jan. a'-I
have been waiting many days for some
authentic news about Merchand's expe-
dl,Ion. The leaders were at BrazzavlIle
when I arrived OH the coast, but the
road between Manyanga and BrazZa-
Vile, u distance Of about seventy-hve
miles, was closed on account OF petty
wars among the natives. and Mer-
chands men could not get their 5000
loads OF supplies up TO Brazzavllle TO
proceed on their journey up the Aoban-
gle river towards the equator. AS a last
resort Merchand burned every village
on the Manyanga road, killing rev
hundred natives and taking all thelr
live stock for food.
UpOn arriving nj Brl2Zavllle we founu
Merchand making preparations 70 70 "
the relief OF the men at the Quella river
crossing. This was the preteXt Oh Ge-
clarlng war against the natives. The
details OF the battles were received from
one OF his soldiers who returned mere:
The first real skiTmish was with chltt
named MobyallA, who, or some Oh ms
tribe, killed Il French soldier ABOUT d
year ago. Merchnnd's men marcheu on
the village MobyaIla showed resist,
ance. but his Mint locks were not equal
TO modern rifles. Mobyalla was wound
ed. and his head was cut or and brought
to BraZZaville The natives say over
100 men were killed In this village but
MerChand's soldiers assert thRt the
number was not more than twenty-five
or tiCty, After the battle the village
was burned. Continuing their march.
the villages along the Manyanga road
we're surrounded at night and. as day
light approached. The natives were
awakened by the blast OF a trumpet and.
as they came out OF theiC huts. were shot
down on all sides. Village after village
was destroyed In this manner, no quar-
ter 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, point.
Ing ut the object as one with stick and
then firing, Several OF Merchand's men
were struck by these clay balls, but were
not wounded seriously.
The expedition consists OF fourteen
white officers and fGS black soldiers from
the western Soudan. called Senegalese,
but are by right Soudanese.
They arrived AT LoangU, on the Const.
July 2I. 1896. Merchand and some OF
the white officers came direct 10 BraEZh
vile, but the main body die not succeed
In getting here until January l2
Preparations are now making to con-
tlnue the march up the Mobangli river.
Captain DhanIs has charge OF force
which IL marching TO the equatorial
lakes and the source OF the Nile on
Henry NJ. Stanley's old tran. up the Aru-
wlmi river.
The object OF the Merchand expedition
IL to march to the hendwaters of the
Mobnngl, cross over TO the headwRterE
Of the Nile and attack the Dervishes or
Arabs, while Captain Dhanls will attack
them from another point. The eXpedl-
tons while endeavorinE 10 conquer the
arabs. will also look after the French
and Belgian interests in this section and
check-mRte the English In attempts to
occupy the territory.
II the plan is successful II will con-
meet the French Congo with Lake
Tchad.