SIR GEORGE GREY ON THE ZULU WAR.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 885, 15 February 1879, Page 2

SIR GEORGE GREY ON THE ZULU WAR.

♦ (per press association.) Wellington, February 15. The New Zealander publishes the following from Sir George Grey:—"The difficulties before Great Britain in Natal are great, and should, in my belief, be met in the following manner : ' Conciliate the Boers. Give them proof that the statements made by the Zulus that they were required by the British Government to undertake to fall on the Boers if necessary are untrue, and by these means secure the good-will and hearty co-operation of the entire Boer population throughout Africa. Provide instantly for the safety of the inhabitants of Natal. There are only about 40,000 Europeans scattered throughout 220,000 Zulus, who occupy all the strongholds in the country.' Do not think of any military operations until the safety of these scattered Europeans has been secured. Use all the troops for these purposes, and thus accustom them to the country and climate. So distributed, the troops can be supplied with provisions from Durbon along the lines of communication open throughout the Colony of Natal, and this at a small cost. While this is being done, let the Governor visit the various South African tribes between British Caftraria and Natal (Fingoes, Panitoes, Kaffirs, Tabookies, etc.), and ascertain what are the present dispositions of those tribes, and by his presence ti&ct personal influence let him secure their influence, allegiance, and co-operation, if necessary. Place the Transvaal territory in a state of security 4 protecting its frontier from encroaphntents of the Zulu natives. Military operations can then be entered on. After the preparations spoken of, no very large bodies of European troops would be required to move together. Operations should be of a combined nature, proceeding from several points towards a common centra the forces employed being so mixed that their efficacy in every kind cvf country would be complete. A can-paign conducted upon this principle would be far less expensive than desultory military operations undertaken by large masses of troops, which would produce but little result, yet enrail an enormous expense, on Great Britain ; and which, if entered upon before the Colony of Natal was placed in perfect security, might result in great loss of life and scenes of a most appalling character. It must not be thought that it is, possible by one campaign, however successful, to secure-South Africa against the Zulu nation, now that that numerous people have been roused ; merely to defeat them in one or two attacks, and then to abandon the country, would be to leave Natal in a worse state than it was in before the war began. It is now necessary to provide thoroughly for the permanent safety of Natal and of the country tying between that colony and the colony of the Cape of Good Hopo. This can only be done on a definite principle. It will certainty at least four or five years in order that it may be thoroughly worked out. The completion of this plan would not require the presence of a large military force. If it is instantly entered upon, and methodically protected the European population, it would thoroughly assist the military expenditure, which would become comparatively small. I have every confidence that tlio advice which I thus venture to give would, if adopted, be prominently successful and. relieve Great Britain from the difficulty which now stares her in the face, and from all further care in relation to South Africa.