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Grey River Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 3278, 18 February 1879, Page 2

It is many years since such a deplorable disaster as that announced from tbe Cape by telegraph on Saturday has occurred to British troops, and indeed its circumstances are without parallel in modern days, except in the case of the massacre under similar conditions of the United States troops by the rebel Indian Chief Sitting Bull last year. In that case, as in this, the command was entrapped and aurroundedby an overwhelming force, only a few surviving to tell the tale. It would appear that the surprise by the Zulus was complete, and so sadden that in all probability the troops became disorganised and broke, else it is difficult to account for the enormous loss of officers. The number of men sacrificed is also terrible, but we are without information as to the strength of the regiment, whether there was one brigade or two, or whether it was brigaded to its full strength. Certain it is however that one of the flowers of our regiments has been destroyed or mainly so, and that a shock has been given that has not been felt in England for many a day. Probably when we get the full particulars we shall find that just what Lord Chelmsford feared has occurred — that Cetawayo has suddenly taken the initiative before the much wanted reinforcements had arrived. With only some 6000 or 7000 troops of all kinds scattered over a vast extent of country, Lord Chelmaford feared that should he be at tocked before he should be sufficiently reinforced it would be next to impossible in cope with the large force the enemy could '

put into the field, and his fears have also proved to be only too well-founded.

Our last mail news from the Cape did not seem to indicate that hostilities were imminent ; on the contrary it was thought probable Cetawayo would accept the terms proposed to him by the Cape Government, although steps were taken by the authorities to inarch troops up to the front so as to be ready in case of a refusal and consequent hostilities. At this time it was commonly thought that should fighting take place, our forces, with our superior anna, would soon drive Cetawayo and his bands back to their own country. In this, however, popular opinion has proved a great mistake, and it is now found necessary to send such a force to the scene of action as will crush the Zulus utterly. That this force to be sufficient, will have to be a large one is very certain when the strength of the euemy is taken into consideration, and in this respect some information gleaned from English papers will be in'eresting to our readers. To the north of Natal, and adjoining the Colonial boundary for 200 miles, is the Zulu country, inhabited by the most warlike race we are ever likely to encounter in South Africa. They are subject to a military despotism as grinding in its tyranny as any existing in Europe. From the very time each man becomes capable of bearing arms their lives are ruled by military considerations until they become disqualified by old age. All domestic and farming operations are done by the women, the men when not engaged in war spending their time in hunting. Cetewayo, the King of the Zulus, can, it is said, put into the field from 40,000 to 60,000 warriors, armed more or leas with guns, organised in regiments, and accustomed to execute concerted movements. This organisation is, we are told, due to the skill and genuis of Chaka, the present King's uncle and founder of the nation, and by it he prevented the annihilation of the Zulus by the neighboring tribes, whom they afterwards subjugated one by one. But now the necessity which called it into operation having passed away, it is simply a machine for the generation of rower, whose energy, long pent up by the presence of the British has had no outlet, and has therefore forced the King into war, to avoid a revolution in his own country. Secocoani, Cetawayo's vassal, who, in 1876, proved too powerful for the late Boer Republic, has for some time been engaged in hostilities against us in the Transvaal, and has kept the troops and volunteers there fully employed. On one occasion, with the aid of superior numbers, he even succeeded in driving back the Colonial forces. But, for the greater part he has confined himself to night attacks and cattle-lifting ; while with the 10,000 warriors he can command he has entrenched himself on one of the inacccessible mountains which abound in the south-east of the Transvaal. Owing to the difficulties of attacking his position, hostilities against Secocceni have latterly been suspended until the Zulu affair has been settled.

The danger, however, say 3an English authority, " does not lie exclusively in the amount of damage Cetewayo may be able to inflict, great as that is. Tho South African native worships visible power, and the greater ■ Cciuse for anxiety is that a combination of all the disaffected tribes may be formed under Zulu leadership. Such a combination has been hitherto made impossible by petty tribal jealousies, and many have affected to disbelieve its possibility. But the betterinformed men of the Colony have considered that the danger might become a reality in the event of some occurrence that would deeply stir Native feeling. They have observed that a great change has come over Native opinion — that the coliapse of the Transvaal Republic first broke the spell which the invariable victories of the colonists had established. A notion, moreover, has got abroad amonc the Natives that their inferiority was simply due to the want of guns and ammunition. Hence for many years they have been accumulating firearms ; and I not only have they they acquired them, but a fair nuderstanding of their use. These far from unintelligent savages saw, I too, that much of their weakness aro3e from one tribe being played off against another. For some years, therefore, they have been arid are now attempting to bring about an alliance of the Native races. Messengers have been and are constantly passing between Cetewayo and other chiefs with the hardly concealed object of bringing about a combination hostile to the supremacy of white men. Events are being watched by all the disaffected tribes, and one serious disaster may bring about the conflagration, to avoid which every sacrifice ought to be made. On the other hand, if the impending struggle is once successfully ended, it may, by the execution of a firm and fearlessly just Native policy, lead to the final establishment of our power and the beginning of a prosperous era for all South Africa," What the effect of the " serious disaster" that has ju3t occurred will have been it is impossible to contemplate. That the situation was considered highly critical is made evident by the urgent demands for reinforcements and the panic that has prevailed in Natal. That such a panic should have occurred is not a matter of surprise. Natal contains a Native population estimated at 300,000 of Zulu nationality, while its European and Coolie inhabitants number together some 40,000. On the south, in its immediate neighborhood, are the Basutos, who are British subjects living under the jurisdiction of a Chief Magistrate appointed by the Cape Government. Beyond them and the sea, on the Natal boundary, the country belongs to the numerous Amaponto tribe, for the present friendly, but believed to be in communication with the disaffected Natives and watching the course of events Should Cetawayo in the heat of success and reinforced by the arms and ammunition he has captured, march on the outlying settlements, it is much to bo feared that he will accomplish serious mischief before our reinforcements can arrive.