SIR GEORGE GREY ON THE ZULU WAR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5610, 17 February 1879, Page 6

SIR GEORGE GREY ON THE ZULU WAR.

[Bz Telegraph.] [TIMES’ SPECIAL WIRE,] WELLINGTON, Ebb. 15. The New Zealander publishes the following from Sir George Grey: —“The difficulties before Great Britain in Natal are great, and should, in my belief, be met in the following manner: —Conciliate the Boers, give them proof that the statements made by the Zulus, that they were required by the British Government to undertake to fall on the Boers if necessary, are untrue, and by these means secure the good-will and hearty co-operation of the entire Boer population throughout South Africa. Provide instantly for the safety of the inhabitants of Natal. There are only about 40,000 Europeans scattered throughout 220,000 Zulus, who occupy all the strongholds in the country. Do not think of any military operations until the safety of these scattered Europeans has been secured; use all the troops for these purposes, and thus accustom them to country and climate. So distribute the troops that they can be readily supplied with provisions from Durban along the lines of communication open throughout the Colony of Natal, and this at a small cost. While this is being done, let the Governor visit the various South African tribes between British Oaffraria and Natal (Fingoes, Pasutoes, Kaffirs, Tabookies, &c.), and ascertain wkat are the present dispositions of these tribes, and by his presence and personal influence let him secure their influence, allegiance, and co-operation if necessary, and place the Transvaal territory in a state of security, protecting its frontier from the operations of the Zulu nation. Military operations can then be entered on. After the preparations spoken of, no very large bodies of European troops would be required to move together. ' Operations should be of a combined nature, proceeding from several points towards a common centre, the forces employed being so mixed (troops, European levies, and Native allies) that their efficacy in every kind of country would be complete. A campaign conducted upon this principle would be far less expensive than desultory military operations undertaken by large masses of troops, which would produce but little result, yet entail an enormous expenditure on Great Britain, and which if entered upon before the Colony of Natal was placed in perfect security might result in great loss of life and scenes of a most appalling character. It must not be thought that it is possible by one campaign, however successful, to secure South Africa against the Zulu nation. Now that numerous people have been roused, merely to defeat them in one or two attacks and then to abandon the country would be to leave Natal in a worse state than it was in before the war was begun. It is now necessary to provide thoroughly for the permanent safety of Natal, and of the country lying between that . Colony and the Colony of the Cape of Good .Hope. This can only be done on a definite principle, and will certainly require at least fo.qr or five years in order that it may be thoroughly worked out. The completion of this, plan would not require the permanent prepepce of a large military force, if instantly entered upon and methodically conducted. Once ths safety of the European population is thoroughly secured, the military expenditure wojfid become comparatively small, I hare every confidence that the advice which I thus .venture to give would, if adopted, be ■prominently successful, and relieve Great Britain from the difficulty which now stares jit in the fpce,,and from all further care in relation to South Africa.”