The Zulu Disaster.—Fuller Particulars.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3129, 27 February 1879, Page 2

The Zulu Disaster.— Fuller Particulars.

(Peb Press-Agency.)

The following fuller account of the Zulu disaster is to hand per Claud Hamilton at Hokitika yesterday :— It appears that Loird 7Chelmflfofd desired to advance into Zululandjjiieom* in«ly with the intention of pushing on to attack Cetewayo's new Kraal; but, fearing to leave his line of communication with Natal unprotected, he ordered several companies of the 24th Eegiment, njnder Colonel^PuHeirie, t§ remain a few nilei on the Zulu side of York Drift. To strengthen this force, Colonel Durnford was directed to join Colonel Pulleihe, who was senior officer, and whose force now numbered about four hundred men. On Wednesday morning they were at* tacked by fifteen thousand Zulus. The assault proved successful, though it was beaten off several times. Numbers and discipline; carried the day, and the Native Contingent hastily organised and officered as we have described, had to submit to defeat at the hands of the well disciplined forces of the Zulu King. Our native troops are reported to have fought with a bravery that called forth/ the praise of Eurppeans, but were crushed by the massive columns of the Zulu regiment, arid broke into disorder. < The men of the 24th upheld the honour of the corps, whose colours bear many of the names of the most famous battlei -in modern; British hiitory., The ; gallant 24th had to chose between death tud dishonour, and, ns4he,story reacHiitis, almost to a man they gave their, lives rather than tarn a back oh the •neniy. On Wednesday last 'spine hundreds of British soldiers were shot down r ; or assegaid in conflict with- a foe twenty times 'their number. While we deplore the loss of these gallant men we feel : proud of them and our native comrades. Colonel Burnford's column was utterly destroyed; some of its members fell into Natal, othefs tried tofcttt their-way thrbugt the IZulus to'^bitt 'Col. Glynne, and all its stores and arms were iakenby the enemy, who pursued the fogitives,to the Buffalo Biver. The attack made on Col. Glynne's column did notendisp.well for the Zulus. This column consiste4^of 1,800 Europeans,,.and 2,000 native's; against it repeated assaults were made by the bravest warriors m Zululand, regiment's" whose titles have been the' dread of their native neighbours. Lord Chains* ford, at this point, ij said to have been eminently suocessful, but the particulars are not to band. It is'certain the General had to retreat to Booke's Drift, leaving the country on the Zulu side in possession of the enemy. From Colonel Wood we have heard nothing. ; The) Zulus appear not to have placed their principal forces near the boundaries of Natal.