Matabele Rising.

Lake County Press, Issue 704, 16 April 1896, Page 7

Matabele Rising.

Capetown, April 11. The Matabele lost 250 in Lord Lifford’s attack. Earl Grey has left here for Bulawayo. The whole Matabele, including the tribes which took no part in the late war, have risen in revolt, and it is considered at Buluwayo that a force of fully 1500 strong is required to repress them. A force has left Fort Salisbury including 200 natives and 200 Soudanese to relieve Gwelo, which is threatened. Mr Cecil Rhodes has recovered, and accompanies the troops, April 12. News has been received that Brandt’s column was attacked and driven in a cover by the Matabele on the Tuli road. There were 22 casualties. Dr Macfarlane, with 230 men and guns, has gone to relieve them. The natives aro said to possess ample grain. April 13. Lieutenant Brandt’s column was releived, and was proceeding to Gwando, when a force of 1500 natives attacked the column. Desperate fighting ensued The Matabele vainly tried to silence the Maxims, but were shot down in large numbers and lost GSO men. Two iiupis are eating cattle and performing war dances within 12 miles of Buluwayo. The newpapers urge the despatch of regular troops to the scene of rising as it is feared Sir H. Robinson’s optimism will lead to a disaster. There are 800 Martini-Henry rilles and three quarters of a million cartridges at Mafeking, and 333 Lee-Mat-ford rilles and 50,000 cartridges at Kimberley. Reinforcements are posting on to Maclouhie. Sir H. Robinson is despatching 300 cavalry and 200 of the mounted infantry, besides a number of volunteers, against the Matabele rebels. April 14. Sir 11. Robinson is also raising a band of 250 Basutos for service against the Matabele. Lieutenant G-ilibrd fought five battles in four days at Shiloli. Ten Maxim guns each with 10.000 rounds of ammunition, have been purchased at D-urban and sene to the front. An explosion of dynamite in. a stm-a near Gwelo killed over 100 natives who were pillaging the building. London, April 11. Mr Chamberlain states that the authorities report that the patrol system has failed. The whites are massing at a few points, and are able to hold oat for the present. Ultimately they will assume an offensive attitude, and it is expected that at least 500 men will be raised at Mefeking, who will reach Matabele in three or four weeks. Sir Hercules Robinson hitherto considered the local forces sufficient to. cope with the natives, bat the Government are willing to reinforce: those from Natal and the Cape.