ATTACK BY ZULUS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20509, 10 January 1935, Page 3

ATTACK BY ZULUS.

Eighteen White Men Face a Thousand. CAPE TOWN, December 21. Eighteen white mounted police faced a fully armed Zulu impi a thousand strong who were about to set out to attack a rival tribe on the native re serve near Weenen, Natal, this morning, and put them to flight. 3 ribal trouble between the Cunus and Ternbus who are hereditary foes, reached a head yesterday and this tiny force of police, all who could be gathered ir time, were rushed to stop the Cv.nus making a surprise attack on the sleeping Tembus. Within a few miles of the spot where 96 years ago Dingaan massacred 600 Boer farmers, the police came upon the impi at dawn drawn up in war formation. “ We surprised them at the summit of a hill and were greeted by a sh ->wer of assegais,” one of the police said. “ Our leader, Lieutenant G. P. B»dtz, ordered us to open fire. We did so, and almost at once the impi fled down the other side of the hill.” Police from neighbouring areas have been hurried to Weenen. and the local force has been strengthened by 50 men- under Major D. A. Lane, district commandant. Native women and children are trekking to Weenen. The opposing impis of the two factions are said to be in the mountains, but the flooded Bushman’s river has stopped many of the men from joining their forces. Colonel G. K. M’Kenzie. DeputyCommissioner of Police, said - “A force ol‘ 1000 has been broken up. It is impossible to number the casualties as the police did not advance to explore the ground, fearing an ambush. “ I have sufficient reinforcements *o prevent figl x ng. and I am sure the trouble is over.” The casualties are not expected to number more than ten. Sporadic fighting between Zulu tribes ha; been in progress for years, but it was hoped that a great peace making ceremony at Umbumbxilo, 32 miles south-west of Durban, last month, would have ended the trouble.