The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-08-30 00:00:00

THE ZULU WAR.

The Correspondent of The Times, writing from Grey Town,
Natal, under date July 31, says "Trustworthy reports continue to be received con-
firming the intelligence that the Zulus have no inten-
tion of submitting. It seems to be true that Cetywayo
after retiring from Ulundi burnt the Amianzekanze
:Kraal and crossed the Black Tlmvolosi, where he is said
to be now with a considerable force. The action of
Ulundi is acknowledged by all the Zulus to be a com-
plete defeat They say that the English put an iron
rail round the men and were charmed by the doctors,
So that the bullets did not harm them. For the future
Cetywayo will keep to the broken country, where the
cavalry cannot work. The warisnotyet over. It willlaat
until next autumn, and will end then only through the
failure of food among the Zulus. Cetywayo is in
communication with the border tribes through his men
returning by twos and threes to their kraals from the
arnaY. Our border natives are in continual alarm and
will not sleep near the river. It is even feared that
the border police are unwilling to remain at their
P i
°Btd. It s quite evident that, according to Zulu
'v°llcePticcs Cetywayo is not yet beaten nor his
rtrtye!' broken. A few Zultus continue to submit,
the body of the nation is untouched by our au-
thority. The end would be nearer if the King would
;it-111141°n a force for one more fight and place
Maself again within reach of our cavalry pursuit.
If experience has taught them to shun battles, a
l?fineeral pacification will probably ensue through
titer
I.n. gradual surrender of the northern tribes.
our occupation of Ulundi scattered fighting and
burning of kraals may be necessary, but the
lenaencY 0 four conquest, as soon as the news of it is
nowc. will probably work a widespread effect. Con-
pared Zulus cannot believe their land will be left
their cattle not taken, their kraals not burnt,
ripr their life embittered by bondage. Such a position
after defeat is alien to their ideas and they. have
learn that it is possible. When their eyes
t)Pened submission may follow without fighting;
the depth of their instinctive personal
"14' to the King is possibly yet an unfathomed
Vactor. It is only necessary to reflect on the prophe-
ea that accompanied the advance of our armies tosee
1v faintly it was known upon what forces Cetywayo's
.urorie really rested, and how secure his rule, in truth,
.1748 from the predicted dissolution of a hated despotism
~Ltlie uprising of a revengeful people. The king has
i,`"l,cred many reverses and is almost an outcast; yet
e la neither assassinated, deposed, nor deserted."

marl? Correaponxient of the Daily Telegraph writing from
Of th izburg, under date July 20th. thus describes the tactics
-"of* valuable auxiliaries, the Mounted Rifles :
"Zo harass the enemy on the flanks, in front, in
to pour in volley upon volley at short ranges
'with deliberate aim; to keep continually out of
th. reach, and continually returning to annoy him—
iB the work which mounted rifles can do in the
;aid, quite apart from the work which they can do as
cents on the march.
Look at this black mass moving steadily down the
,Vl-eides, moving at thatunvarying jog-trot which the
i'et.fenders at Rorke's Drift had such opportunity for
•ilging note of. And see where in front of them, as
fleeing, the mounted men ride towards us. Are
firF indeed retreating? Does that irregular line mean
ignt? As you ask the question there is a check. You
c°l2ld fancy you hear the order given, ' Halt! Dis-
r,nnut ! ' Dismount in the presence of that moving
dack wall, now only some 200 yards off? But it is
ns°ll.o- Three men out of each four are in a moment on
• elr knee, with carbines levelled, while the fourth
hands just behind with the bridles of four horses over
:no arm, The hill-sides, the heavens, the narrow
xrantzes where the rock rabbit and the slow-
°ving rpython have their feeding ground and their
tinting ground, re-echo to the crash of a volley. You
see all along the line where the scarlet feather_
plumage of the beautiful " sakabula," which
,;lftg:liiista call the Kaffir finch—is flung headlong into
7.`.! grass, to be dyed with a deeper red than its own.
-"4'cli ere you have time to mark this, those who dealt
cut the deadly volley have sprung up erect, have
l'ali ted into their saddles and, reloading as they go,
are rooving on again at a }Lard gallop. Another halt;
linother nimble springing to the earth, while every
!ourth man, trained by long practice, catches the
bridles flung to him. Another steady aim, another
V°lley, and then once more into the saddles, and
°nee more forward in front of the dark and silent
cloud of warriors. A very Parthian sort of warfare
this Again to dismount ? No, no ! The space is
;getting too narrow. It is time for the scarlet square
.15f infantry to speak. Leave the front of the square
„Vela.; retire to the right, to the left, to the rear.
t,nilder is the advancing horn of the Zulu host! Ride
L'orcugh it! Disorganise it! Blaze away into it on
u th sides, and leave the rifles of the infantry and the
48e shot of the artillery to enter into stern argument
With the mighty 'chest' of Cetewayo's army ! The
wave of attack pauses, stands still, breaks—breaks,
11(4 forward, but backward."