COLONEL WHITMORE'S SUCCESSES.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 13, Issue 694, 24 June 1869, Page 3

COLONEL WHITMORE'S SUCCESSES.

( Wellington Independent, June 17.) Among other remarks made by Mr Fox in moving his want of confidence motion, whs one which attracted our attention. We think it is not as a rule desirable to use the success or failure of our troops asa party question ; it is much to be lamented that what is of such universal interest to the country is not regarded as a national matter, (f we are too young a community to regard the war otherwise than as a mere stepping stone to place, and those who are fighting our battles as sacred from the Billingsgate of debate, there can be no doubt that we lower the status of our colonial service, and deprive it of the only charm it is in our power to bestow upon it—the sympathy and encouragement of the country. So little prospect can be held out to our men—so dreary, so dangerous is the service already, that it is not as attractive as to induoe the enlistment of the class we most want, and doubtless should gain were it possible for men to look forward to a career. We can, however, do something, and that it is our duty to do. At

least we can be just, if we are not disposed to be indulgent—we can be slow to disparage, and careful to be sure of our grounds before we jump to conclusions. Now Mr Fox has not been at any trouble to inform himself with the slightest accuracy upon any one point on which he laid stress, and has stated things which the least enquiey would have shown him were incorrect. The situation of Tau-ranga-ika, the strength of Moturoa, the provision made for the occupation of Weraroa after the attack on that pa, are instances in point. We wish to advert however to another at present. "What i has Colonel Whitmoi-e achieved," says Mr Fox, "on the West Coast shiea his return —a period of about six months?" Col. Wiiitmore landed from the East Coast on the 15th of January. On the 11th April, just three months after he sailed from Wairoa to the Bay of Plenty. In that time he had made soldiers out of recruits hurriedly collected from Me bourne and all parts of the colony. Titokowaru was driven from Nukumaru to the Ngatirnaru country, having been driven from position alter position in parts of the jungle never before traversed, and with a loss which w ;u!d have been much heavier but for the il.e utter demoralization of his men, and panic which had taken his murdering b indili Our loss was trivial, and this Mr Fux considers a crime; but did he ever see a practised billiard player playing a match make startling strokes or showy though dangerous cannons? No, he will notice that the game proceeds by a series of the simplest and least interesting strokes possible. So it was with the West Coast. The country could not afford a defeat, and a sure safe strategy was followed which left Titokowaru no opening for a butchery of our men. Before troops who advanced firmly, careless whether he plunged into the bush or sought refuge in the most difficult morass, Titokowaru retreatednot making a show of resistance, not skilfully throwing our men off the scent and re-appearing where we were unprepared, but helplessly running for life, throwing iside everything he carried, preferring to risk starvation —which, indeed, fell upon some of his followers—to the danger of delay through such incumbrances. Since then the small force behind has penetrated the bush under Lyon, Noake, Hawes, Bryce, Kells, and other leaders of small parties everywhere findingthat the few fugitive Hauhaus in the district fled at their approach. These bushranging expeditions have opened up new districts, thirty miles back from the open country near the sea, and have kept up the state of dread into which the whole of Titokowaru's band had fallen after Otautu. We hear of abject • ppeals from several of the hapus, and the langahoe have, it is said, unconditionally .surrendered. The settlers have re-occu-pied Waitotara, we read in the Wanganui pupers that even beyond that district a large herd of cattle was recently driven by Messrs Durie & Brewer. At Patea settlements are being again pushed forward cautiously, as might be supposed, but still perceptibly ; and from Wanganui to Ta-i-anaki it is safe to ride unarmed. We are not quite so confident as Mr Fox; we have not pretended to criticize they may not have abounded in sensa* tionai episodes, have at least proJuced a the details of military operation which, while great result in a marvellously short time. We bear in mind that it was this same Ngatiraunui tribe—all of which was in the field against Colonel Whitmore—which Greneral Cameron and General Chute, with their great means and disciplined troops, struggled with so long and left so far from annihilated ; and we cannot forget the feeling akin to panic which pervaded the West Coast when the year began, and therefore may not go with Mr Fox when he disparages what wa9 achieved in the first three months of it by our troops. We wish that political feeling did. not blind people's eyes to what it is so, clear to all but the eye of pn judice.