NEWS OF THE WEEK.
AS we expected, the Matabele revolt proves to be a serious affair. The whole tribe would appear to be in arms, headed by seven hundred black policemen, who were levied and drilled by Dr. Jameson to avoid the expense of enrolling Europeans. They are murdering the scattered white planters and miners in Rhodesia, and have occupied the hills in a .circuit of some fifteen miles round Bulawayo. A laager has been constructed in the market-square, and the whites are coming in, some fighting their own way through, and some under the escort of rescue parties headed by Mr Selous and others. The Times of Wednesday calculates that there are eighteen hundred organised militia in Rhodesia, besides per- haps fifteen hundred adult whites in Buluwayo, and considers that force sufficient ; but it is known that the town has only one month's supply of food, and the reports as to ammuni- tion are not satisfactory. The conveyance of fresh supplies from Fort Salisbury and Mafeking will be a work of time and difficulty, though Khama offers to assist in protecting the Southern Road. The Cape authorities are calling for volunteers, who come forward readily ; and President Kruger, in a satirical but friendly letter, has offered to allow his burghers to volunteer. All white men in South Africa can be depended upon against all black men; but time and distance tell heavily against the former. The rumoured despatch of five thousand British troops has been denied, the Government, unwisely as we think, hesitating in the present situation of affairs in Egypt to increase the garrison of South Africa, but a force has doubtless been warned in readiness for any eventuality. Mr. Rhodes is at Fort Salisbury raising a force of volunteers to escort him to Buluwayo, but it is probable that for some days intelligence will be scanty.
