WAR IN NYASSALAND

Grey River Argus, 12 June 1915, Page 3

WAR IN NYASSALAND

STORMING A NATIVE VILLAGE

WHITE MAN 'S HEAD AS MASCOT

The following sory of Avar in Nyassaland is told in a letter written by an Englishman who took part in suppressing the Native rising, and was published 111 a recent issue cf the "Daily Mail":—

You may have heard of the Native rising here (Blantyre, Ny.vssalaud). But for the very prompt and drastic measures taken by the author tieisi measures taken by the authorities it would by now have been general all over the country. The first I heard of it was on Sunday morning, January 24, when we had orders to report at headquarters at S o'clock in the morning. 1 was in my bath 'at the time.

It appears that in the night the Natives had broken into the African Lakes Store and had stolen all the guns they could find. They then dug a hole underneath the ammunition store and took about 700 rounds of ammunition, in addition to shot-gun cartridges.

We wore on patrol duty en Sunday, and at midday we heard that the brutes had raided Magamero (a place some 20 miles from Blantyre) and kilied three and severely wounded another white man. They cut the head off one of these fellows (a man I knew very well) and stuck it on a spear, and until wo captured Jt it was their mascot and was always carried in front. They then carried off four women and five children -.All this happened on the Saturday evening at about 9 or 10 o'clock. You can well imagine the shock it gave us. Well, we got all the women and children together, and the men patrolled Blantyre all that Sunday night. I did 3(5 hours' continuous duty.

Women Recaptured,

1 . On Monday I went out Avith a few others to the Boma (Government office) at a place called Chirdzulu, where these rebels were supposed to be — and Avere — hiding in force. On the Monday evening we captured the Avomen and children, avlio were all fortunately unhurt.

On Tuesday it was decided to attack the Natives in their village, which contained the church of the fellow who organised the rising. We started away from the Boma at daybreak — about 30 white men and 100 Native police — and marched to the village. We made a detour and attacked the place from the farthest side from the Boma. We had a most exciting march, expecting every minute to run into an ambush.

We forded the river, and, after about four hours we turned off into the bush, and made straight for the place. When avc were within about 800 yards of the church our outposts informed us that they were hiding in the bush just in front of us. We were ordered to fix bayonets and charge, and avc did! We charged for about 100 yards and then let them have a volley. They returned the rifle fn'c and then fled for the church. We then had to cross an open space and very fortunately the brutes must have been retreating "or they would have put a good many of us out of action.

We were then given the order to volley again, and by this time they were in the church and firing at us from there. One had the nerve to get into the church tower and fire on us. At about this time I spotted tAvo of them trying to slip away. I happened to be 011 the loft wing and alone at the time. I had a good sight of them and shot one dead. I think I got the second as well, as two bodies were found in this spot later on. '

We were hoav on the edge of tho clearing in front of the church, and when Aye rushed the church you can imagine our disgust when Aye found they had fled. We smashed up every house, and later on the church was blown up. We have in all some 800 iprisonerH, and a number have been hanged or shot.

P.B. — The rising is practically finished noAV, thank Heaven!