The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1880.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3621, 4 August 1880, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1880.

Fbom today's cable despatches we learn that Sir Bartle Frere, Boyal High Commissioner in South Africa has been recalled. At the time the Zulu war was announced there was an almost unanimous ppinion in English political circles that the High Commissioner had made a great blunder in permitting the colony to drift into a war with.the dusky natives of Zulnland. Indeed, even the Conservatires who were then in power, strongly deprecated the action of Sir Bartle Frere, while the Liberals were most emphatic in their denunciation of his policy. The Press with the exception of one or two bigotted Conservative organs, were most severe~in their criticisms of the Commissioner's more, and generally were of opinion that the war was both an unjustifiable and .unnecessary one. Cetewayo, previous to - the outbreak, of. the tribes,had been amassing a,huge army, and the 'power thus accumulating threatened evil consequences to our South African dependencies," and the war, therefore, was only a question of time. Under existing circumstances we think Sir Battle Frere acted wisely, as he succeeded in crippling the army of the Zulu King, but not before several blunders had been committed—notably, the sad. catastrophe at Borke's drift. The strength of the Zulus was much under-rated and it was evident from the careless manner in which the operations were commenced, that the British greatly misjudged the power that was brought against them. When in the BussoTurkish campaign the Bussians did not make such a clear walk over as they expected, one or two of the old martinets remarked that "they had no idea the Turks would make such a good stand." The same remark applies to the Zulu war, for until the British troops had met with disaster, they were not put on , their metal. The famous battle of Ulundi ended in the .complete demoralization of the enemy, and' the subsequent capture of Cetewayo resulted in peace once more. The Liberals were in no wise appeased by the successful result of the' campaign, and as soon as they succeeded to office they determined to recall Sir Bartle Frere. Mr Gladstone has shown great reluctance in the adoption of this course, and great pressure must have been brought to bear on him by the section of the Government demanding the recall of the High Commissioner. A meeting of between forty and fifty members of the Liberal party was recently held in the committee-room of the House of Commons to consider the action to be taken with respect to the recall of Sir Bartle Frere from South Africa. The withdrawal of Sir Wilfrid Lawson's motion on the subject was discussed, and it was resolved to take no action for obtaining a day until further notice. Meanwhile, a; committee was appointed to draw up a fresh memorial to the Prime Minister. A proposal for appointing a deputation to Mr Gladstone having been previously discussed and dropped, Mr Dilwyn, the chairman, was empowered to call the members together again should it be deemed .necessary. The memorial here alluded to was sent to Mr Gladstone* The document was signed by eighty-six members, of the House of Commons. Sir Bartle Frere's salary as High CodSmis•ioner will probably cease about the end

of the present month. This is the way the Liberal Government propone to reward the High Commissioner for his foresight, as no matter whether the step he took was expedient or otherwise, he probably saved the country a much more^ expensive and disastrous war. His foresight acquainted him of the rebellion that was gradually- becoming developed, but by his decided action it was nipped in the bud.