Matabele Rising..

Lake County Press, Issue 703, 9 April 1896, Page 2

Matabele Rising..

Capetown, April 3. My Rhodes attributes the Maiabeie rising to the premature arming of the u>ti ve police, _ President Kruger has forwarded a message to Sir Hercules Robinson, stating that if the British desire it, he is wiliingth.it the burghers should help .to protect women and, children.from the Matabele. Two thousand . additional natives are entrenched at Mmoppo. The British are forcing columns for, the purpose of sweeping t(ie hills. The .Matabcle force ottapked a small relief party, and after a desperate struggle -killed ( the party, capturing. 3000. rounds ofninutWinition and 30 rifles. Subsequently th<? patrol party encountered, the natives, thuy defeated, killing 30 of lhvin, The natives fought with assegais, and the struggle was hand to hand. The total native, loss* was over 100-

April 4. Mr Chamberlain expects that the M ifekiug and Buluwayo forces will crush the Matabcle rising. Sir H. Robinson has been authorised to raise ap. additional 500 -men. It is further stated that the reported despatch of 5000 men from the Cape was premature. The safety of Buluwayo is assured as it ia defended, by 900 men and Gambo, a leading chief, remains loyal. All the districts hive been lelieved except Bilingwe and G wanda. Bpreckley commands the Buluwayo field force. Settlers in. Bcchuanalaud are flosking to Mafeking and appeal to the Cape authorities for help as they fear a rising. 450 British residents in the Rind hare volunteered for service in Rhodesia. It is estimated that the number of whites killed is 200. Sir H. Robinson has thanked. President Kruger for his offer of assistance to quell the rising, but stated that the Imperial forces would be sufficient to cope with the insurgents. Lord Gifford has formed a force numbering 2000; Oiims, the instigator of the rising, has proclaimed himself King.