ONE MAN ENDS A WAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 217, 13 September 1930, Page 2 (Supplement)

ONE MAN ENDS A WAR.

During a war between the British and the Zulus of South Africa a British officer had been sent forward leading his men. The Zulus sent out a messenger of peace. By some unhappy blunder the British outposts shot him. That, of course, was against all laws of fair play. It is wrong to shoot a man who comes to negotiate peace. But it was done. Now, suppose you were that British officer, and that problem was your problem, what would you do? Excuse it? Ignore it? Punish the man who did it? The British officer handed over his troops to the second in command and walked straight out, unarmed, to the angry Zulu lines. This was putting his life in their hands. He was taken and led to tho chief. "I have come," he eaid, "to give myself up because niy man shot your peace messenger. It was done by mistake. It is a thing brave warriors never do. I ain very sorryV To make amends I place my life in your hands. Do with me as you will." , The Zulu warrior chief was silent for a moment, then he said: "Yoirare a true man; and your people are true men and the sons of true men. We, too, are true men. We shall not fight. W& shall make peace." i And. <hey di<l make peace.