THE ZULU AVAR—ENGLISH OPINION.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 134, 5 April 1879, Page 3

THE ZULU AVAR— ENGLISH OPINION.

The ‘Times’ says :—“ Nothing 1 can ■exceed the frankness of the recital, for it is clear that nothing has been held back. It would be useless to deny either the sadness or the extreme gravity of the catastrophe. Whether’ there was or was not any want of vigilance on the part of our own force, it is clear that the Zulus are even more form id able than our military authorities expected them to bo. It was known that the) 7 are well drilled, that great numbers of them were armed with breech-loaders, and that they could fight We now know hut too well how large a force they can mass at one point. Sad as the loss of our troops is, still graver is the peril which must arise with defeat. The Zulus will be emboldened, and the colonists will be exposed to fresh and formidable dangers. In these circumstances, the duty of the Government cannot admit of the slightest doubt, and it is to send ample reinforcements to the Cape without the needless delay.of a single hour. It may ho that they can be more quickly sent from or India than from England,

but at all events no effort ami no expemlilure must be spared to save the colony from disaster and the power ol the country from grave injury. It ns a melancholy consolation meanwhile that the gallant troops of the 24th Regiment did their duty and died at their posts like Englishmen.” The ‘ Morning Post ’ savs •—“ Our reverse in South Africa inflicts a deep wound on the national pride, and in its details is of so shocking a character that we may be certain that the Sovereign and those near to her, who had scarcely recovered from the affecting events of the close of the year, will feel deeply the blow which has suddenly spread sorrow through the whole country. The slaughter of 500 English soldiers, with all theiv officers, besides a number of officers serving with native levies, is an event for which account will have to be given upon tire opening of Parliament. We may expect the appointment of comittees of inquiry, now that it is too lute, into all the defects of organisation and supply that have characterised the policy of 'English administrations towards the Capo. Mr Gladstone's Government did away wit.i the Cape Mounted Rifles, and otherwise reduced the Imperial forces, to which, distracted by other claims nearer home, the present Administration have failed to add sufficient troops for the present contingency. Lord Chelmsford, it is well known, asked for cavalry and for more regiments than wore spared to him. It" was hoped that in a conflict with “ savages ” his actual strength would suffice," and the estimates for the coming year were to have been framed on the plan of reducing the British infantry by -1000 men.” The ‘ Daily News’ says : “The Cabinet met on February 11th upon a fearful summons. The terrib’o nows of the surprise, defeat, and slaughter of a detachment of British troops by the Zulu soldiers, which started all England with a keen shock pain, was no doubt an equal surprise to the Queen's Ministers. The decision was promptly come to to send reinforcements to the Cape to the extent of six battalions of infantry, two regiments of cavalry, two batteries of artillery, one company of Engineers, three companies of the Army Hospital Corps. The dispatch of these men now is a censure which the Government pass on themselves for not having - sent them before. If it bo true that representations were made to them of the inadequacy of the forces at the disposal of Lord Chelmsford, and that representations were disregarded. the country, and oven the pn.sent Parliament—docile as it lias shown itself—will hold them to a strict account. One thing seems clear. The authorities at the Cape had not means adequate tor the prosecution of the enterprise on which they have embarked. Did they ask for more men, and did the Government at homo refuse them the assistance which they demanded ? For the moment, these are only questions to be asked. When Parliament meets they will ho questions to be answered. Mr W. 11. Smith, used becoming Dmruago ns to the gallantry of the officers am! men who have fallen in the execution of the dangerous tasK assigned them. Everyone will sympathise with the tribute he paid to them. Wc can only hope that the universal grief at a terrible disaster will, not be converted into universal indignation at criminal negligence. In the meantime, the reinforcements will soon ho on their way to the Cape, But weeks must elapse before they can reach, their destination. Who can say what may have happened in the three weeks which have passed since the disaster in Zululand ? Who can tell what may happen before the troops arrive at the Cape ? It is not too much to say that the next intelligence from the scat of this calamitous ‘ little war ’ is awaited with an anxious suspense winch has not been felt in England since the time of the Indian Mutiny. The, loss is not only terrible in itself, but alarming by reason of its possible consequences consequences which may have taken effect before the tidings of the first disaster have reached ns.”

Tim walls are standing", hut will have to be taken down. The theatre was the largest in Scotland, and was constructed about tv-live years ago. D .s mmeistood that the. loss is covered by imuraniv. but the actors have lest (neir wardrobes and the orchestra their larger instruments. The building destroyed originally cost Lot),000, and would seat 4000 persons. It had the largest stage in the kingdom, and was noted lor scenic display.