THE MATABELE TROUBLE.

Mt Benger Mail, Volume 17, Issue 854, 5 September 1896, Page 4

THE MATABELE TROUBLE.

OVER 500 WHITE MEN KILLED. The news received by cable about the revolt in Rhodesia (writes " Uitlander "in the 'Melbourne Argus' of August 8) conveys but a slight idea of the serious state of affairs in Charterland. The entire country from Tati to Fort Salisbury has been, and still is, in a state of open revolt; and, according to the South African papers received yesterday, over 500 white men have lost their lives. For the past few months, far from the outbreak having spent its force, it h»a from day to day become more serious, and there is no doubt that it is due to the Matabele that it has spread to Maßhonaland. Fearful acts of cruelty have been perpetrated by the impis formerly umier the sway of Lobengula, and wherever scattered parties of white men could be found their fate was inevitable. It must be explained that prior to the outbreak the majority of the settlers, whether engaged in mining or agricultural pursuits, had established their homes at great distances from one another, and that it was almost impossible to rally together for mutual safety. On June 26 the position at Fort Salisbury was most preoarious, and adding to its danger was the fact that numerous small bodies of settlers in the outskirts needed assistance. A patrol rescued eighteen white men from the Jesuits' farm, but on the way back were attacked by a large impi, and several lives were lost. On the same day a great fight took place at Victoria, and after destroying five kraals and 5,000 bags of grain the whites were obliged to retreat. At Marandellas 20,000 rounds of Martini cartridges were abandoned, and a waggon containing five men and one lady only succeeded in reaching Salisbury after a wonderful escape. On the way they passed several bodies of white men on the road, all mutilated.

The staff officer at Salisbury telegraphed to headquarters on June 26 a list of white casualties in that district, and it forms an appalling chronicle, numbering over 100 men, women, and children. The following is a narrative of one day's Salisbury news, and every day similar occurrences seem to have taken place:—" A Basuti woman arrived at) Salisbury on Bth July, reporting that Sir John Willoughby's representative, Mr White, being badly Wounded, was taken by a native missionary to the mission station. It was occupied by the Matabele, who killed the missionary, Mr White, another white man, and three children. On the same day four white men were killed twenty-four miles from Salisbury, and in all it is said that at least 500 lives have been lost. From all reports the cruelties perpetrated by the Matabele have been too terrible to bear mention, and Charter land will, it is to be feared, be yet the scene of awful carnage." When Enkeldorn was relieved early in July by Colonel Beal, 200 Dutch farmers, with their wives >and children, had been in laager there for two months, and subjected to intermittent attacks, the commandant of the laager being among the wounded.. For six weeks they were without any communication from the outside world. The Matabele are acquiring military training in the protracted troubles in Rhodesia. They no longer rush with wild courage upon the Maxims, but seek shelter behind hills or in long grass; and they have learned the importance of mounted patrols. Like the irrepressible Osman Digna in the Soudan, the M'Limo or Uinlimo, of Matabeleland, who was reported to have been shot by an American scout, has come to life again, and is stated to be at the head of an impi and in command of several waggons. Hewitt, of Gilford's Horse, had a narrow escape from a painful death in one of the recent,.fights. While advancing to the rebels a Martini-Henry bullet struck him on the pouch carried by him on his bayonet belt. The pouch, luckily, was tightly packed with revolver cartridges. The bullet went through the greater part of these, and then was deflected downwards, tearing out the bottom of the pouch and burying itself in the ground. Another escape was that of Niemayer. In his case the bullet struck the metal badge on the side of his hat, and, flying off, ploughed a furrow through the flesh of the scalp ! From Buluwayo it is reported that Nyamanda, son of the late King Lobeogula, has been proclaimed lung by the insurgent Matabele. ~ . ' ...

Colonel I'lumer fougfct agd won a gallant action against the Matabele at Thaba Imamba on Sunday, Bth July. The insurgents had taken up a position which they believed to be impregnable, and were in considerable numbers. Sir Frederick Carrington decided that they must be driven out at one, and despatched Colonel Plumer with a force of 750 men, mounted and foot. The insurgents made a stand among some granite kopjes, where they, verj - nearly succeeded in inflicting a serious reverse on the attacking force, and Colonel Plumer had fifteen men killed and seventeen wounded, the enemy's loss amounting to 100. Many women and children, and sheep and cattle, were captured. It was a (splendid bit of flghting. Its character is shown in Colonel Plumer's decision to fall back on Buluwayo in consequence of the damage his force had sustained* In a way, Thaba Imamba was the Ferkeh of Rhodesia, and Colonel Plumer's success was only less notable than Sir Herbert Kitchener's on the Nile.