THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, MAY 29, 1879.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3206, 29 May 1879, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, MAY 29, 1879.

Fjsom our English files we hare repeatedly noticed the exertions made by the friends of Lord Chelmsfordto vindicate hjs conduct at the seat of !war, thrbwijig the blame upon his subordinate*, and in otlvi'r ways attempting to shift the blame froai his shoulders. By, our telegrams to-day from London it will be seen that the voice of public opinion has compelled the Government to appoint Sir Garnet Wolseley to the Chief Command in Zululand and the adjoining, territories. The telegrams significantly state that the new Commander his authority to entertain any, bona fide proposals for peace. The selection is the best that could be made. For years Sir Garnet Woiseley has been an authority, upon .affairs- in South Africa, and his opinions are continually quoted by Sir Bartle Frere. It is probable that both the well known energy and ability of General Wolseley will speedily put an end to a war that is bidding fair to be both an expensive one, and with a very little result for the outlay. Sir Bartle Fuere, in one of his latent despatches, maintains that war sooner or later was inevitable, with the Zulu King, and sayi:

" Can ib be doubted that the presence of such a man is a standing menace to Natal and Transvaal; a perpetual danger as long'as a large protecting force i» not maintained to overawe him ? Is it not clearly a case in which it is necessary for the immediate safety of person and pro-, perty on our borders 1# obtain from him, not,, only, reparation for the past, but security for the future? 'It must be remembered that the extent of our border, which is conterminous with his, has greatly increased during the last two years.' '.'■.■' • „:■'.' ' " : - 11 Up to April, 1877, the Zulu border marched with ours in Natal for a distance of little more than 100 miles, as the crow flies. This was not a good border with a troublesome neighbor on the other side, for the Tugela river is everywhere fordable for nine months in the year, and the dangers of the Zulu neighbourhood, taking into account the; then increasing aggressive spirit of the Zulu King, have been pointed out by Sir Garnet Wolseiey and other excellent authorities during many years past. "J3y the annexation of the Transvaal the length of our border in immediate

contacS with £Juiuland, the present territory, .inhabited by Zulus subject to Cotywayo, has been increased to nearly 300 miles, while more than 200 additional miles of recognised Transvaal British border run through territory which has been formally thrice claimed for Cetywayo by his recognised delegates within the last 18 months. Honce at a very moderate computation the? risks of frontier collisions with the Zulus and the temptation to them to make border raids have been increased at least threefold since Sir Garnet Wolseley was here. The Britioh territory, in fact, almost encircles the Zulus;, for, with the exception of the Tongas, a comparatively small and unwarlike tribe, apd the Portuguese, the British territory and the sea bound his actual posseßSions. If, then, he wishes to ' wash his spears' in the blood of ' somebody,' that somebody must almost inevitably be a British subject, or an ally whom he had undertaken to defend. :

"'Such being the position of affairs on the Zulu border, what security, I would ask, can oar subjects possess unless a force as large or larger than that now in South Africa; be constantly kept on tb'e border? I would further ask what right has this ruler, Cetywayo, to require us to keep up any force whatever for any purpose save those of internal police? Boih the High Commissioner and Sir Garnet Wolseley appear to take the «ame wew of the situation, which at least bas this adFantage, that they will the more likely act in concert, a tery great matter when such mighty questions are at issue. Whether- the action of Sir Bartle Frere was justified in precipitating the war, is a subject at present calling for little discussion ; but the necessity of prosecuting the war with energy, or concluding an honorable peace upon a basis securing good relations in the future with omv Zulu neighbors, are' questions requiring the most urgent attention. , We believe that both will receive consideration at the hands of Sir Garnet Wolseley, and only 1 trast that a ipeedy termination may be made to the "little war" in,bur posseisions in South Africa. . ;