THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1879.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3119, 15 February 1879, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1879.

Thb news from the Cape, though still rery contradictory in details regarding the di|-' aster that has befallen British arms, fully confirms the view of the situation we put before our readers yesterday as conjecture. The reverse which our troops and friendly natures have suffered at the hands of the warlike Zulus seems to have been as disastrous as it was unexpected; and it it not unreasonable to find that a panic exists amongst the European inhabitants. The Zulus are a numerous and Warlike people, and now that they are thoroughly roused and bare achieved a victory they are not likely to be repressed without recourse to rery severe measures. However, the news to hand today reassures us that the repulse of the British will not be allowed to be repeated if foresight and expedition can avert it. The Premier is aroused, and he has appealed to the nation to avenge the disaster our forces have sustained. The Indian Government offer assistance in the way of troops, from which it may be augured that the Afghanistan difficulty so far has not excited any great alarm amongst the rulers of India. At this conjecture Sir George Grey comes to the rescue, and if any man could be supposed to speak with authority regarding the treatment of the Zulus and the defence of Natal, our Premier should be that man. He enjoyed exceptional advantages while Governor of Cape Colony; and in that Colony as in this and others where he -has had a native population to deal with, he has made that phase of his authority a study. The precautionary measures suggested by Sir George Grey, embodied in a telegram from Wellington, are of that kind; which might be expected from his age, and his experience in dealing with savage nations. The primary object of the Government at the Cape should be the safety of the Colonists at Natal; the Zulus can be fought and beaten hereafter. Moreover, while measures of defence are being taken the at present friendly and independent tribes, commanding some thousands of armed men, may be conciliated and won

over to the.side of the British; whereas another defeat such as we now have to deplore might result in allying those small tribes on the side of the Zulus, as the strongest party, whose prestige seems to be something like that which attached to the Waikatos and Ngatimaniapotos at the commencement of the war in Auckland.