The Waipawa Mail WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1879.

Waipawa Mail, Volume 2, Issue 116, 22 October 1879, Page 2

The Waipawa Mail WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1879.

The telegraph wires inform us that the Zulu war is ovor. England has given the Zulus a lesson that may not soon be forgotten, but her eventual success has not been gained without the expenditure of a great amount of money, and the loss of many valuable lives. In the savage warriors of Cetcwayo, our young and untrained soldiers found no mean foes. From the commencement of the war, until disaster had taught wisdom, our generals had undervalued the lighting strength of the Zulu army, and thus it was that on almost every occasion our troops were outnumbered. The disaster at Isandula will not soon fade

an interest in the annals of England’s army. Part of the success which lias on so many occasions crowned the efforts of our soldiers has been duo to the confidence the men felt in themselves and in their officers. A history of the English army would have but few defeats to record. At Orccy and Agincourfc, down on the stream of time to Assayc and Waterloo, and even in this generation, in the Crimea, and in India, English soldiers have fought and conquered against overwhelming odds, but have rarely run away. The Zulu war has shown the nation that the national valour is not yet extinct. The army system is defective, and is tending to demoralize the service, but there are not wanting men to uphold the traditional valour of the Anglo-Saxon race. The gallant defenders of Rorke’s Drift, Lieutenants Chard and Bromhead, and others of that brave little band, have once more shown to the world how Englishmen can fight in defence of a purpose. The war has taught many lessons to the mother country, but principally it has shown her how unprepared she is to make war. The difficulties with which the handful of men who went to South Africa were got together, would have been intensified and rendered well-nigh insurmountable, had it been some great Continental Power we had been waging war with. An interest of a somewhat sentimental character will ever be associated with the Zulu war. The death of the young heir of the Bonapartes, fighting against the enemies of the country which ho had made his home, adds an additional interest to the war. There are those who say the Prince had no business there, that he had simply gone out to make a dasli and cover himself with honour. Even were it so, Englishmen should remember that a foreigner, who, ten years ago was heir to one of

the first kingdoms in the world, has been killed while fighting against England’s enemies. AVith the attempt to cast a stain upon the character and honour of Lieutenant Carey for not supporting the Prince, none but a small minority of tho English press agree. Our troops have already commenced the evacuation of Zululaud, and the question of protection against further attacks by tho Zulus must be dealt with. The colony of Natal is not strong enough to provide for its own defence, and probably, in order to secure the lives of colonists, it will be found necessary to maintain an Imperial foreo in Natal, at least for some years.