ZULUS IN FRANCE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXII, Issue LXXII, 25 May 1917, Page 6

ZULUS IN FRANCE.

CETEWATO'S NEPHEW

I do not think that I have ever been so impressed with a sense of why the Allies are houncL to win the war than I was by the sighjb of a double line of South African natives lined up for me to see in one of the many camps which are already occupied by. the South Afri- ' can Native Labor Corps in various parts of the war are.a (writes Reuters special correspondent from France). In the ranks of this motionless array, standing rigidly to attention, were splendid-looking Zulus, sturdy Basutos from the Northern Transvaal, and deepchested Pondos. Willing Volunteers, every one of tShem, who have exchanged the>ir sunny luxuriance for the bitter cheerlessnesa of this particularly severe winter in order to do their "bit." The officer who conducted me round their compound was a gentleman distinguished in current South African history. He called fihree men out of the ranks: one a nephew of Cetewayo, an. other a son of Dinizulu, the third named Dwalana. I desired him [to ask Dwalana whether there was any message he would like to send to South Africa. His reply, interpreted, was that he and his comrades were proud to be with the great Army of the Empire in France; that they were well cared for and happy, and (that although the weather had been such as they had never dreamed of before, yet, thanks to plenty of good food, warm «lothes, dry huts witih big fires, and a generous supply of blankets, they were getting through it quite we'll. These natives wear a blue serge uniform n«t dissimilar from that of the Royal Marines, with blue cloaks, cowboy hats (frequently adorned, according to taste), ammunition boots, and puttees. Their daily rations consist of 1-Jlb of mealie meal, which is made into a very savoury por_

ridge. 41b of bread, lib of meiat, coffee, * and salt. Twice a week they get lib of vegetables per head, and tobacco and cigarettes are issued. There is a c'iy canteen in every compound. The scheme is another of General Botha's great services to the Empire. The success of the step has been so great and so unqualified that the War Office is asking for it to be expanded manyfold beyond the original limit. Ono result of enormous value should be the setting free of a, great number of white labor and permanent base men for other work. The natives are segregated upon very much the same plan as in the South African mining compounds. Every effort is made to amuse them; they are naturally great singers, and are encour- ' aged fro get up smoking concerts. About 25 per cent, of them speak English,, and the rest show great keenness to learn to read and write our language. The employment consists of every kind of general military labor. The discipline is excellent, the police and sentries being all natives who are unarmed.