BREECHLOADERS AND BIG GUNS AT THU CAPE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5241, 10 January 1878, Page 3

BREECHLOADERS AND BIG GUNS AT THU CAPE.

That our old opponents the Kaffirs were not easily beaten will be admitted by all who remember how fiercely-contested and long-drawn-out each Kaffir war has been. It is cpiite evident that they have not lost their fighting qualities. Tire desperate vigor of their attacks upon our small force of police and native levies in the recent engagements equalled anything in the wars of the past. But savages, unfortunately for themselves, are heavily handicapped when they try conclusions with the troops of a civilised power. They cannot possibly keep pace with the times, and adopt, as we do, the newest weapons of destruction. Their discomfiture was mainly due, therefore, to the havoc our breechloaders made in their ranks, and the tremendous effect of rockets and artillery fire. By this means the Galekas, long before they came to close quarters, were routed and demoralised—so much so, indeed, that had cavalry been available to charge, their whole army would have been entirely destroyed. The knowledge that we wield these murderous engines of war will, no doubt, contribute appreciably towards maintaining peace with such turbulent neighbors in future.