Africa.

Manawatu Herald, 21 April 1896, Page 2

Africa.

— » Australian residents in the Band have offered Earl Grey one thousand ' men for service in Matabeleland. The Boers prevented Captain Fowler from commanding a rebel expedition to Buluwayo on the ground that his evidence was required at the trial of the members of the Reform Party at Pretoria. Eighteen chiefs have asked for British protection in the present trouble. Fifteen thousand of the Matabele are massing near Buluwayo. There is a large impi within sis miles of Buluwayo, and looting parties are within half an hoar's march of the place. Lobengula's crack regiment, too, is near. The food supply is oritical, but eighteen provision waggons are within sixty miles of Buluwayo. The local suggestion to apply to the Transvaal for help has not been adopted. The Bechuana chiefs are helping the British transports. Four hundred inouuted infantry hava been sent from Nabftl. The Buluwayo patrol was attacked, and after two hours' fighting fifty of the enemy were killed. The anxiety of those inside the laager Is increasing. The Chartered Company state they have 600 to defend them. Mr Chamberlain stated in the House of Commons that the first battalion of the Middlesex B^giment and a body of cavalry will reinforce the Natal troops in the operations in Matabeleland, also that it was intended to permanently increase the garrison at Capetown, as at present it was inadequate to defend the coaling station. There were, he said, ample men and arms to repress the rebellion, and the only difficulty was the transport of provisions and horses. A special reporter of the Timea telegraphs that cannon, Maxim guns, and rifles are pouring into the Transvaal. This, he considers, only indicates that war is imminent, but he anticipates no danger from the natives. He adds that in the event of racial war, the Transvaal will have 15,000, the Orange Free State 20,000, and the Cape and Natal 15,000 Boers. The Times considers that the outlook in South Africa is grave. Many of the newspapers complain that Sir Hercules Robinson is under Afrikander influence, and that he prevented Mr Chamberlain from sending adequate reinforcements. Mr Chamberlain has informed President Kruger that the despatch of troops is no departure from a friendly policy.