THE COMMANDER OF THE ZULU FORCES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 650, 14 March 1879, Page 2

THE COMMANDER OF THE ZULU FORCES.

The English Press and public opinion," according to a cable despatch received on Saturday, is greatly incensed against Lord Chelmsfdrd, the General command-' iiig the Zulu forces. The cause of this feeling may be inferred from the account of the disaster given m the despatch published by us last week. When the news, of the defeat first reached us many people, including some experienced m military matters, believed it would turn out that the disaster was caused by the indiscretion of some subordinate officer anxious ti distinguish himself and careless of the risk. But details of the affair show that the Commander-in-Chief is personally responsible for it, having' pushed on prematurely with the main body of his force, leaving the Zulu army on his flank, and exposing a handful of men, left to guard the ford," to be cut to pieces by overwhelming numbers of the enemy. The disaster was occasioned by a want of judgment m pressing forward too fast, and not taking sufficient precautions to discover the -whereabouts of the enemy. Upon hearing of it. Lord Chelmsford immediately fell back with the main body of his force, and occupied the field of carnage. We have learned by wire that the Queen has telegraphed her special Sympathy for the Commander-ihChvef, but that will hardly sav3 him his command of the expedition. Lord Napier of Magdala, the most experienced officer m the service of the country has already been mentioned, as his successor. Major-Gerieral Lord Chelmsford~the Hon. P. TJiesiger of the Kaffrarian war, his tide m the peerage having come to him recently through the death of his father— has Been a good deal of service. He is a brave officer, and much sympathy will be felt for hint m this misfortune.