The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-17
why the ZuluS Fight.

There has been no lack of praise for the
gallantry of the British troops who have
fallen in South Africa, in the valley Of the
Tugcla, where King CETEwAYo overwhelmed
Gen. Lord CHTLMsFoRD's commando but
few tears are wasted on the 5000 Zulus
whom the English commander claims to
have killed.
The Zulu war is ono Of sheer conquest on
the part of the British Government. 1t is
tnc direct fruit 80 .he p.itish saiaure and
annexation Of the Transyaal Ropubllc-a
measure which even SO high military au-
thority as the URited Serrice Gazette thus
condemned:
"rndcr The prctonco that the Beers could not keep te
peace with their ncehbors ani that internal tran
guilty was thereby jeotardizod. the CoVcrmuout-or
Lord CARNAH, oN-was induced 10 commit hirl handed
Of violence which would have ana di.susicl
tie people Of thu couhtr,, had b been irrprtratcd t
any iNc great military powers against weak state iu
Europe And what has been the rosult' rebellion 100
Land. suppressed with ditrcults. RISING ot tc
border tribes Just terminated after much waste prop
trty and ct lie and the prospect sia fious Wl
ihe Zulu King
Up to the time Of seizlng the Transvaal
Republic, the British had no trouble with
the Zulus which could not be easily ar
ranged. Sir HENRY BULWER, the Governor
Of Natal which adjoins Zululand. makes ii
part OF his recent official plea that the
British authorities had been invited and
urged by CETEwAYo and all his nation 10
take n neighbOrly part In his coronation,
when he succeeded 10 the throne half
dozen years ago. And from that time until
1877, when the Transvaal was seized, the
British had no war or cause OF war with
CATEwAYo. But the Zulus, whose country
extends westward from the Indian Ocean to
the Transvaal and from the Tugcla on the
south to the Pongola on the north, had for
generations been in dispute with the Dutch
Beers OF the Transvaal, who claimed and
tried TO hold the western part Of Zuuland
Thence arose many forays, and occasional
wars.
With its seizure OF the Transvaal, the
Colonial Government acquired this boun-
Diary dispute, and undertook 10 settle it in
It's own way. Sir Henry BULwER appointed
commission Of three officers Of his own
Natal Government to determine it,. The an
nexation Of the Transyaal Republic led GET
EwAYo TO suspect a purpose TO absorb his
own domains, so as to throw open n com
mcrcial way from that republic to the ocean.
While this onc-sidcd commission was con-
sidermg the matter, the i'll feeling between
the Boors and the Zulus naturally did not
suhside ana again led 10 hostile forays.
CLrEwAYo put his troops ON the disputed
land and hc found British troops there.
tool For, on the 10th Of December, when
Mr. JAMES inquired, in the House Of Com
mons. "whcn the arbitration Of the boun-
dary between the Iransyaal and Zuulaud
will be completed, and whether it is truo
that Col. WOOD crossed the disputed tori
tory with military force before the quos-
ton Of ownership had been settled Sir VI.
Ii. BEACH thus replied:
"Col Woop took small force Of his troops to place
which is itself not within the ritory respecting which
this award is made n doing he may. It,iars. have
crossed the disputed territory but he took the troops
that place IN compliance with tie urgent request OF tho
settlers there, who had received message from Zulu
chief requiring them to leave the territory before
tain day"
Only one more step needs to be noted.
The Boundary Commission reported fully
In favor Of the Zulu claim; and under that
decision tho previous acts Of CErEwAYO in
holding the land thus confirmed to him. and
In cXpelling utrudcrs, were at least TO be
lightly adjudgcd. Nevertheless, under cover
Of making this award, Sir BARTLE FRERE
sent the Zulu King an ultimatum that could
not be accepted. It included the location Of
British agents in his chief towns, the dis
bandment and disarmament Of his forces,
and general acknowledgment Of British
sovereignty. In other words, the confession
that King CErEwAYo had been all along de-
Tending his rights was TO be coupled with
his humiliation. For years he had been
preparing his army TO defend his country
against greedy neghbors; he was now
ordered TO disband that army. to adopt