THE SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to no Master„ of no Sect am I." SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 1879.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 76, 19 April 1879, Page 2

THE SAMOA TIMES. "Sworn to no Master„ of no Sect am I." SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 1879.

"Its an ill wind that blows nobody good." The truth of this proverb is demonstrated from time to time. The latest proof will probably be found in the military disaster which befel the British arms in South Africa a few months ago. The story of the events which led to it can bo told in a few words When Mr. Gladstone came into power in 1868, he commenced the withdrawal of troops from the colonies on the plea of economy. Canada, Australia, and New Zealand were entirely denuded of them, and South Africa partially so. In the latter possession only two regiments were left, and to them was confided the preservation of peace among more than a million Kafirs over whom no control worth mentioning was exercised and who were allowed to retain all their tribal habits of life. We leave out of account the independent native population on the northern boundary of the Cape Colony and Natal. The latter colony for years has been allowed a garrison of only two hundred and fifty men. The white population is 18,0UU while that of the Kafirs is estimated at 400,000. More than half of the land is taken up by native reserves; on them the Kafirs live, owing allegiance nominally to the Queen, but with the power of the chiefs unbroken, and practically in defiance of authority. Under these circumstances the Minister for Native Affairs had only one possible policy, that of " masterly inactivity": by setting one tribe against another he managed to preserve an almost unbroken peace in Natal. Eighteen months ago disturbances broke out in Kaffraiia, an independent territory lying between the Capo Colony and Natal. Two extra regiments were sent out from England; tho disturbances were quelled, and the country annexed. Such was the state of affairs in September of last year.

To the north of Natal lies Zululand. The King has always been friendly with the British, hut at the same time has ever been engaged in boundary disputes. AVhen raiding parties of his peoplo invaded Natal or the Transvaal he profe&sed himself willing but unable to punish them. The latter was probably the case. A monarch who is compelled by the customs of his people to maintain a standing army of for

ily thousand men

is not in a position to dictate to his subjects. An ultimatum was finally sent to King Ketchwyo; ho must disband his army and recoive a resident at his court. The army refused to disband, so war was declared by Lord Chelmsford, Cominan-der-in-Chief in South Africa. An advance was made into Zululand with threo regiments and a contingent of native levies raised in Natal. The invading force was divided into threo bodies. Against one of them came Zulu warriors estimated at ten thousand; the British and native allies numbered two thousand, and they, after fighting with tho utmost desperation and after killing somo fivo thousand Zulus, wore at length ovor- j powered and out down to a man. Lord Chelmsford retreated into Xatal and tologrophed to England for reinforcements. "Its an ill wind that blows nobody good." For years has colonisation in South Afriou been retarded by the unsettled gtato of native affairs. Outlying settlors havo ut intervals been murdered, and each occurrence Ims been treated U a matter calling for polieo interference merely. And no things might have ro-

umined for years yet, but for the timely, or untimely, loss of an entire regiment. This disgrace however must bojwiped out, and so the hero of Abysinnia, the late Commander-in-Chief of India and more n-eently Governor of Gibraltar, Lord N'apier of Magdula, has been despatched to the Mane of action with twenty thousand troops. With this force, hugely supplemented by contingents of Natal natives, Zululand will be conquered and annexed. Then Delagoa Bay will lie purchased and a South African Dominion established on a secure basis, a dominion extending from Capetown to tho Zambesi. Strange that England should blame Russia for doing in Central Asia what she is herself accomplishing in South Africa.