Daily globe., 1879-02-12
The ZatlaI Massacre.
THE NEWS CONFIRMED.

the British force in South Africa show that the
guns were spiked before they were captured.
The Times says, editorially, the government is
bound to send relnforcements without an
| hours delay and spare no expense OF effort.
| The Times, commenting on the news from
Cape Town, says: Nothing can exceed the
frankness of the recital for it is clear nothing
| has been held back. 1t would be useless to de-
ny either the sadness or the extreme gravity of
the catastrophe. Whether there was or was not
any want of vigilance on the part of our own
force it is clear the Zulus even more for
| them to be. 1t was known they are we'll
drilled, that great numbers are armed with
breech leaders, and that they could fight
courageously. We know but too we'll how large
force they can mass at one point. Bad as is
the loss of our troops, still graver is the peril
VIII which z5 must , arise; With ,odoa this defeat
the colonists be exposed to fresh and
formidable dangers. In these circumstances
the duty of the government cannot admit of
the slightest doubt, and it is to send ample
reinforcements to the Cape without the need
less delay of single hour. 1t may be they
can be more quickly sent from the Moaritus or
India than from England, but at all events no
effort and no expenditure must be spared to
save the colony from disaster and the power of
the country from grave injury. It is melan-
choly consolation, meanwhile, that the gallant
troops of the Iwenty-fourth regiment did their
duty and died at their posts like Eng]ishmen.
The news of the defeat caused a sensation
throughout London, and the demand for news
papers at all suburban stations was greater
than since the outbreak of the Franco German
war.
TROOPS ENGAGED.
The following is the full strength of the
British column, part of which was attacked3by
Zulus:. Number Three column, headquarters at
Helpmakaar, near Roorkes, infantry command
ant Col. Glyn; First battalion Twenty fourth
regiment artillery, with seven-pounder guns;
infantry, seven companies-First battalion,
Twenty-fourth regiment, under Lieutenant
Colonel Degachor; Native Mounted Police and
Volunteers; Native Caribineers; Buffalo Border
Guard; Newcastle Mounted Rifles, all mounted
and averaging forty men each, and native
contingent of 600 men, under Commandant
Lonsdale, late seventy-fourth Highlanders.
OFFICIAL REPORTS.
The following communication has been re-
ceived at the war Office from LORD Chelmsford:
II regret to have to report very disastrous en-
gagernent the 22d of January, between Zulus
and portion of No. column, which was left
to guard camp about ten miles in front of
Roork's drift. zulus came down in over
whelming numbers, and in spite of gallant
resistance by tive companies of the first bat
terry, Oath regiment, one company of the second
battalion, Oath regiment, two guns, two rock
ct tubes, 164 mounted men and about 800 mas
tives, they overwhelmed them. The camp con
tanning all the surplus ammunition and trans
port of No. 3column, was taken and but few
of it's defenders escaped. Our loss, T fear,
must be set down at thirty officers and about
five hundred nOn-commissioned officers, rank
and file, imperial file colonial troops"
COURT OF INQUIRY
has been ordered to assemble to collect evi-
dence regarding this unfortunate affair, which
will be forwarded to you received.
Full particulars as far as can be obtained have
been sent in my dispatch, which will reach you
by the next mail. 1t would seem that the
troops were enticed away from their camp, rs
ter outside of it. The remainder of Col.
Glyn's column reoccupied the camp after dark
the same night, having been with me twelve
miles away all day. On the following morning
we arrived at Roork's drift post, which for
twelve hours had been attacked by from 5000
to 1000 Zulus. Its defense by some eighty
men Of the Twenty-fourth regiment was most
gallant.
THREE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY BODIES
lay close around the post. I compute the Zulu
loss at 1000 here alone. At the camp
enemy is computed at over 1900. Col. Pearson,
commanding No. column, had been attacked,
but he repulsed the Zulus.
CABINET COUNCIL
to-day decided to send six battalions of infan .
try. two regiments Of cavalry, two batteries of
artillery, a company of eng ineers, three COM
panies of the army service corps, and a COM
pany of the army hospital corps to reinforce
Lord Chelmsford.
REINFORCED1ENTS.
The reinforcements for Cape Colony ordered
from England number about 1000 men. The
government is actively inquiring concerning
private steamers. The Assistance, the only
troop ship in the harbor, is being rapidly pre-
pared for service at Portsmouth. The first lord
of admiralty, speaking at Westminster tonight,
stated that troops sufficient to end the troubles
with the Zulus would be the way to the
cape within a week. He declared he had every
confidence in Lord Chelmsford.