AN EX-GOVERNOR ON THE CAPE STRUGGLE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 633, 22 February 1879, Page 3

AN EX-GOVERNOR ON THE CAPE STRUGGLE.

The following remarks which appeared in a late issue of the New Zcalaiider, will no doubt be read with interest, as emanating from the pen of Sir George Grey, who was formerly Governor of the Cape Colony : — "The difficulties before Great Britain in Natal aro great, and should, it my belief, be met in the following manner. Conciliate the Boers, give theni v>roofs 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 this 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 the 220,000 Zulus, who ouccupy 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 this purpose, and then accustom them to the country and the climate. So distributed, the troops can readily be supplied with provisions from Durban along the lines t>f 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 Caffraria and Natal (Fingoes, Caffirs, Tambookies, &c), and ascertain wha ii the present disposition of those tribes, and by his presence and personal influence let him secure their allegiance and co-operation if necessary. Place the Transavaal territory in a state of security, protecting the frontier from the eruptions of the Zula nation. Military operations can thejii be entered on. After the preparations spoken of no very large bodies of European troops would bo required to move together. The 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 efficiency in every kind of country .wotild.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 enormous expense on Great Britain, and which if entered upon before the colony of Netal was placed in perfect security might result in 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 actions and then abandon the country would be to leave Natal in a worse state then it was before the war began. 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 plan, which will certainly require at least four to five years in order that it may be thoroughly worked out. The completion of this plan would not require the permanent presence • of a large military force if it is instantly entered upon and methodically conducted. Once the safety of the European population in Natal is thoroughly assured the military expenditure would become comparatively small. I have e\ery confidence that the advice which I thus venture to give would, if adopted, bo permanently successful, and relieve Great Britain from the difficulty which now stares it in the face, and from all further care in relation to South Africa."