THE TROUBLES AT THE CAPE.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1612, 21 April 1879, Page 4

THE TROUBLES AT THE CAPE.

The following extract from the Capo of Good Hope “Prices Current” of March 4th gives a fair general view of the position at that date, and of the various difficulties by which the South African colonists were beset The conduct of those in charge of the military operations in Natal against the /lulus has, during the past month, been characterised by inaction, suspense and vacillation. The disaster of Isandhlwana seems to have paralysed the military authorities, and foolhardy confidence has been succeeded by distrust and an apparent want of self-reliance. It would appear that in the ill-advised invasion of Zululand the most ordinary military precautions wore utterly disregarded ; indeed, the possibility of an attack by a numerous and well organised body of Zulus does not appear to have been contemplated. The column under the personal command of General Lord Chelmsford appears to have been making a military promenade into Zululand, in fatal security, encumbered with an enormous train of waggons, laden with baggage—the greater part of which was merely an encumbrance —when the force in charge of the camp at Isandhlwana and baggage train was unexpectedly attacked by an overwhelming body of Zulus, and after a gallant resistance, was slaughtered almost to a man. By moving the whole of the forces into Zululand, and thus stripping the colony of its defenders, the Oommander-in-Chief exposed Natal to invasion, and had Oetywayo known how to use bis opportunity, he might, whilst decoying our forces into the heart of his country, have ordered the bulk of his army to invade Natal, and have inflicted widespread slaughter and devastation; but an isolated portion of our forces was destined to bear the savage onslaught of his army and to he the sacrificial victim to blundering incapacity, and to the common safety; well may Isandhlwana bo called the Thermopyhc of Natal. The Horae Government have been asked to send out more troops. It is to be hoped that a competent man will be sent out to take the command, and thus prevent the sacrifice of more valuable lives, and further waste of the British tax payer’s money. The Commissariat arrangements are quite in keeping with the other portions of the management, or mismanagement, of this wret 'bed business. Thousands of tons of perishable stores are being imported into Natal from England, and from Australia, whilst supplies might have been obtained from this colony, as required, at much less cost, our grain aud forage harvest having been an unusually abundant one. Much of these supplies, consisting of flour and grain, are getting spoilt for want of proper storage, and will bo rendered useless, and, at the conclusion of hostilities, there will be a large quantity of surplus stores to bo sold for what they will fetch, much to the injury of the regular market, as took place at the end of the contest with the Galeka Kaffirs last year. It would appear that the Zulu king Oetywayo has been trying to influence the native tribes on our borders to assume a hostile attitude towards the colony. The Basuto chief Moirosi, having shown signs of insubordination, an ample force has been moved into his country to restrain him from overt rebellion, or to punish him for his contumacy. On our northern border the Korannas have been giving some trouble, but an additional force having been sent thither under the command of an experienced officer, peace will, no doubt, soon be restored. The enforcement of the Disarmament Act has caused much dissatisfaction amongst the Fingoes, who have always been loyal to the colony; they cannot understand why they should be compelled to give up their guns, acquired with the sanction of Government, without receiving compensation for the loss of their property ; thus experiencing no better treatment than that accorded to the rebel tribes. The disarmament of the natives may appear to be a stringent measure, but there can be no question as to its policy, and, although it may bo oppressive in some instances,|to be effectual it must be universal. Strange revelations have come to light with regard to the supply of guns and gunpowder to the Zulus, by no means creditable to the parties concerned, and it is to be hoped that an effectual stop will in future be placed to this nefarious traffic.

The anti-colonial party in the Transvaal, who, for some time back, have been keeping up an agitation against the annexation of that country to the colony, have thought the present an opportune time to press their demands for a severance of the connexion and a restitution of their independence, but whatever decision may ultimately be come to on this subject, the duty of the inhabitants is, in the meantime, to yield an implicit obedience to constituted authority, and should they have the temerity to refuse it will bo the duty of the Q-overnmont to manifest their determination and their power to enforce obedience.