THE ZULU WAR.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3139, 11 March 1879, Page 2

THE ZULU WAR.

How it Began.

i(FBOM THE OWN COBBESPOSDENT ?BIIS

AGENCY.)

Cape Town, January 27. Since my last, the Christmas and New Year's holidays hare intervened, and naturally there has been comparatively little to record, with the exception, of the Zulu war, which has assumed rery serious dimensions. At date of my last letter we were expecting reinforcements of troops from England, which have now all arrived at the scene of action. The 99th Begitnent and Ist Battalion 4th King's Own, some Artillery and Engineers, and drafts from depots of different regiments previously in the colony, have completed the strength of the force, with which Lord Chelmsford apparently considered it prudent to challenge the enemy, though an uneasy feeling within the last few days begins to gain ground, that our enemy has been held too cheaply; and it is already clear that the Zulus are far more trained and warlike than any other Kaffir tribes with which we have hitherto had to try conclusions. All preparations having been made on. our side, Sir Bartle Frere, towards the latter end of last month, sent his ultimatum to Cetawayo, calling upon him to disband his army, pay a fine of ,600 head of cattle, and deliver up Sirayo, one of his petty chiefs, as penalties for raids committed on British territory, and comply with other stringent conditions, and he was allowed till New Year's Day to send a reply. This period was .subsequently extended to the 11th instant, when no answer being received, General Lord Chelmsford received orders to commence hostilities, and the British advance was made on the 12th in four columns—one, under Colonel Pearson, across the Sower Tugelariver; one,under Colonel Durnford, R.E., higher up; the third, under Colonel Glyn, of the 24th Segiment, on the Upper Tugela. and the fourth, commanded by Colonel Wood, which was to operate oil the Transvaal borders, supported by a levy of some 7,000 Swazies. The total force, including native levies, amounted to 13,000 men. The advanoe into Zululand was comparatively unopposed, and from accounts which reached us from Spier and others, it was thought that the Zulu King was dispirited at the course of events, and it was further said that there was a very strong and growing peace party, among the Zulus themselves. It was, therefore, with a terrible shock, paralysing the whole colony, that we learned by telegram on the 22nd instant, that a most serious disaster had befallen our troops, but the extent of which was for some time unknown. It now appears that the main body of Glyn's column, under Lord Chelmsford's personal command, having crossed the river at a place called Rorke's drift, continued its march, leaving the drift guarded by five companies of the 24th Regiment, and about 600 of the Natal native contingent, tbe whole being under the command of Lieut. Colonel Pulleine, of the 24th Regiment, with instructions to hold it until the arrival of Durnford's column, which had been ordered to hurry up. It also appears that this small force had with it a large convoy of wagons, conveying baggage and ammunition, roughly stated to be five miles in length, though this may be exaggerated. Evading the advance of the main body of troops, a large Zulu force, said to be the flower of Cetawayo's army, on the 21st fell on the convoy under Colonel Pulleine, and though our men fought like lions, they were overwhelmed by numbers, the Zulus swarming down upon them like bees, and attacked them hand to hand with the assegei. Four hundred British soldiers, with the officers, including Colonels Durnford and Pulleine, the Governor's two aide de-camps, Lieutenants Corill and Hodson, and eleven other officers, yet unnamed, were killed. Captain Stafford and Lieutenant Davies 'escaped, and brought news into Maritzburg. Some men are supposed to have cut .their way through to the main body of the army, for Lord Chelmsford, hearing of the' news, retraced his steps, and by the latest accounts, was encamped on the field of battle. The Zulu loss is estimated at thou-

sands; but as yet nothing is known beyond the fact that there was fearful 'carnage on both sides. It is feared that the moral effect of the disaster will be very prejudicial to the British success, ai inspiring the enemy with courage at the outset. The Zulus purchased the viotory very dearly. On receipt of the news, three companies of the 4th Begiment in garrison at Capetown were immediately ordered to embark for Natal, and Volunteers were called upon to take up the military duties of the gj»vrison. It was feared that if the Zulus followed up their success they might sweep across Natal into Pondsland, where the fLaffir chief Kreli, who whs concerned in the recent war in Kaffraria, is said to be, and by rousing the Pondos, put Natal as it were between two fires. The gravity of the situation cannot be over-estimated.

It is impossible to say how the present turn of events may effect the movements of Sir Bartle Frere, who was to have gone shortly to Transvaal, where Colonel Linyon is administrator, in place of Sir Theoplvlus Shepstone, and thence to Kimberley, where he would temporarily assume the Government of Griqualand, pending the annexation debate in the Legislative Council.

The elections for the Cape Parliament, will shortly commence, and a fresh registration of voters in Capetown is now being taken; bat all public interest centres in the events proceeding on the Zulu border. Trade in the colonj is very dull, though the Customs returns compare favorably with corresponding periods ofprevious years. The small rebellion of Korannai, on the northern borders, continues in statu quo, our small force of Burghers being unable to repress it. Seooceni has been giving trouble as usual in Transvail, and will agitate more now that Cetawayo has had a temporary success. We are in three weeks public mourning for the late Princess (r* Alice).