THE ZULU WAR.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5384, 17 May 1879, Page 3

THE ZULU WAR.

HOW EKOWE WAS RELIEVED, The Sydney correspondent of the associated evening papers telegraphs the following particulars of the relief of Ekowe, from Cape files to hand ex Cuzco at Adelaide : — The advancing column were twice opposed on the march by the enemy, and two short but severe battles, lasting respectively three and six hours, ensued. The sailors frpm H.M.S. Shah, who formed, part of Lord Chelmsford's forces*

.'behaved with great gallantry, and the IGatling guns, being, akilfullly handled, : wrought fearful havoc on the compact jmasses of the Zulus, who- marched to the ; attack' in .splid^bodies, instead ,of following the example of our soldiers, and spreading out in open order, taking advantage of 1 the means of , shelter afforded by the nature of the ground. After a desperate 'conflict, the enemy were defeated with great slaughter in each case. It is estimated that no less than 5000 Zulus were left dead upon' the gronnd. News hfls ailsO' been received by the Cuzco of a terrible attack upon Colonel Wood's force, which, however, resulted in' the most brilliant victory for our forces which has been recorded during the present : caixrpaagn. : The Zulus turned out 'four thousasiiS.&eaki.pf cattle ,,qn the sides of the mountains in .the neighborhood of j where' Colonel Wood VaS encamped, and a force of 3o,b00" native warriors then concealed themselves, in' arirbtfsu behind the hills. ' Two regiments of dragoons [started off with the object of "' looting" j the cattle, and, having secured a number ', of them* were driving them to a place of I safety, wnefl ihe' enemy suddenly swooped ! down, in overwhelming force from their aniblisc'a'de', and fell xtpcrtt the unhappy •soldier^. , The. dragoons fought with desperate brav'e^ryV D "^ were overwhelmed with numbers; Oflly one man escaped to tell the' tale, 'all the veal, without exception, being ruthlessly slaugfcisred. The refugee, on reaching the camp where- the main body of Colonel Wood's forces were entrenched, at once gave the alarm. Heavy defences were at once erected, and steps weres taken to* organise desperate resistance to the enemy, who, it was surmised, ■would spendidly swoop down upon the 'camp. There was but. little time for preparation,, before. the storm burst,. and the 'whole Zulu army made a sudden descent en masse upon the camp. Here- again the Gatling guns of the British told with terrible effect tipon the solid masses of the enemy, and with the steady fire from these guns, together with a constant storm of shell, whole divisions of the Zulus were swept away. The British also 'used their- rifles with great, precision and steadiness, and the well-directed fire proved fearfully destructive to the enemy. The attack upon the camp,. was repeated again and agOTn , "but. each time the enemy was repulsed with the greatest gallantry. At length the Zulus retired, baffled and discomfited, having lost 4000 bf their men, killed and wounded.