The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-12

ratoff % very disastrous engagement on the
qqlof January between tho Zulus and por-
ton Ono. column. which was left to guard
thecamy. about ten miles in front OF Rorke's
prh Tlr Xulus came down in overwhelming
nurb'r- oud in spite OF gallant resistance by
five companies of the first battalion Of tho
Twenty-iourth Regiment one company Of tho
seonI battalion Of the Twenty Regi-
ment two -uus two rocket tubes, l64 mounted
men. and about 500 natives. they overwhelmed
them. lHc camp, containing all the surplus
ammunition and transport Of No. column.
Was taken. and but few oi its defenders escaped.
llr Joss. ! fear. must be set down ut 80
3'l:rs. and about 500 non mmissioncd
e0i.crs. rank and file OF the Imperial
iro5ps and 10 non-commissioned officers.
rank and file OF tine colonial troops.
Acourt of inquiry has been ordered to assemble
to collect evidence regarding this unfortunate
affair which will bc forwarded to you ns soon
As received. Tho full particulars. as far as can
be obtained. will be sent in my despatch
which viii reach YOU by tho next mail. Itwould
seem that the troops were enticed away from
their camp. as the action took place about
mile and quarter outside OF it. The remainder
Of Col. Glyn's column reoccupied the camp after
dark the same might. having been with me
twelve miles away all day On the following
morning we arrived at Rorke's Drift post
which for twelve hours had been attacked by
from 5000 TO 1000 Zuus. Its defence by some
eighty men Of the Twenty-fourth Regiment was
most gallant. Three hundred and seventy
bodies lay close around the post. / compute
the Zulu loss at 1000 here alone. At tthe camp
where the disnster occurred the loss Of the en-
emy II computed at over 1000. Col. Pearson.
commanding No. column. has been attacked.
but he rebused the Zulus."
The following is the fun strength Of No, 8 col
u. attacked
Inlus: Artlllerv-N Battery. Fifth Brigade OF the
h.ya. Artillery, with I-ponnder guns In
Twenty fourth Regiment. and the Second Bat
Wlon. Twenty-iQurth Regiment. under Lieut.;
AV!. Degacher; the Natal Mounted Police and
Volunteers. the Natal Carabineers. Buffalo Bor-
der Guard the Newcastle Mounted Rifles all
mounted and averaging forty men each and
the Native Contingent OF 1000 men. under Com
mhgdnnt Lonsdale. late OF tho Seventy-fourth
ACaLinrt council. called at 2 n clock this after
noon 10 deliberate on the reVerses to the British
troops IN LuluAnd. decided TO send six bat
lalions Of infantry. two regiments OF cavalry.
.wo batteries %. artillery. a company OF en-
gueers. three companies Of the Army Service
Corps and company OF the Army Hospital
Corps to reinforce Lord Chelmsford in South
Africa.
throughout London. The demand for news
papers at all the suburban stations was greater
than since the outbreak of the Franco-German
war
The Times. commenting on the news. says:
Nothing can exceed the frankness OF the
ciull. Tor i Ia clear that nothing has been held
back. II would be useless TO deny either the
sadn.ss or eXtreme gravity Of the catastrophe.
whether there was or WAS not any want OF vigil
hnee On ih" phrt ot our own forces. II IL clear
That the Zulus are even more formidable than
our military authorities eXpected them TO be.
II was I'm wu ihut they are well drilled that great
numbers are armed with breach leaders. and
thatthcv could night cOura4cously. We now know
but too we'll how large force they can mass
NJ one point. sad rs the loss OF our troops is.
still grayer IS The peril which must arise With
tne defeat The Zulus VIII be em6oldened and
N NIH "MHa "A 70 NJ ff.F Fat "A
ntle dangers. In these circumstances the duty
Of the Government cannot admit OF the slightest
DOUBT. and u Is 10 send ample reenfOrcements
70 tHe cape without the needless delay OF
single hour. Il may be that they can bs more
quickly sen: from Mauritus or India than from
Lugihhu' out ui al events no effort ana no eN-
penditure must be- spared 10 save the colony
from disaster and the power Of the country from
grave injury. II Is melancholy consolation,
MEANWHILE. that the gallant troops Of the Twen-
.yiourh Regiment did their duty and died at
iheir posts Ike Euglishmen."
ere-enlorcements for Cape Colony ordered
rom England number about 1000 men. The
Government is actively inquiring concerning
private steamers. The Assistance. which is the
only troop ship in the harbor. is being rapidly
pIepaTsd for service. at Portsmouth.
Mr. W. II. Smith. First Lord Of the Admiralty
speaking at Westminster tonight. stated that
tcops sufficient 10 end the struggle with the
Lulus would be on the way 10 the Cape within a
week. He declared he had every confidence in
LORD Chelmsford
The Tunes says II is understood that several
Regiments otiniantry will leave with the artillery
Tor the Cape.
A statement is published that the Govern
ment has telegraphed 10 Lord Lytton. Niceroy
Of India. TO Immediately send reeniorcements
10 Natal.
Capt ". Wyndham OF No. 1T Clinton place
furnishes the following conversation with
Lieut.. Edgecome. recently arrived in New York
from South Africa. Lieut. EdGecome had
Served in " "Carrlngtons Horse" one OF the
volunteer conn panies raised for service against
the Zulus but resigned some months ago when
appeared that the war was about over. Lieut..
EIeecome thought that the British troops were
undoubtedly tnSen by surprise in the encounter
Q! Jan: 22. " The war against the Kafirs." he
sNu ni7 th'DughD at been conducted on very
cFriess principles. the first and most lmpOr-
lt.t o winch is the belief that the kafflrs never
pJ''e4 0u' o. watch tlH enemy and no further
4r.tAu .i- taken. such thing az intrcnch-
.nE ra'.i .s almost unknown The wagons
.'i"hi una lhe camp as sort ot barrl-
cude. huia'ter tAat 40 further efforts are made
lo%4rI ,urn'r protection.
o. IN L,De, tine Third Buns. two bauaions Of
tge I"eA'y-iourtn Foot. tho Eighty eighth
c9nnms,t Rangers. the rhirteonth Prince
Two niirgrs OF artillery under Majors Crenlock
~! H'fh'7s and deiachmehis Of engineers.
shout 400 strong; MeGormachs Horse, about
40 strong the Diamond Fields Horse; three
Ipops "i LrOmaury Cavalry. besides Bakers
horsr, which were n Poudo land defending a
hrwly-uhA.N .N,d Portion, Of territory. and one
Of Iuth Spors,' which was speedily dis
banded owing 'O miSheuHvlur before the enemy
close % laD u,luyl, Ol tnc native leVles the Gov
ernmrnt had the Fingors' numbering some
thOusHuds, commaudeG ~ local men OF posi-
ton-HHlnes's Flngocs.' body Of natives
That did good service. commanded by
a prominent miller Of the country. and
q force OF men. also Fingoes commanded
by Langsdale. The Flngoes. although allies.
nre perhaps the most dangerous friends IN eX-
istencr as the moment they come into action
they retire behind their European supports.
and frs .n tho direction Of tho enemy. regard
less of the British troops in front. Consc-
Yu-uty, they shoot more OF their friends than
inHs. Tho FuEJes are led mostly 10y cOlonlnls.
Wu9 proved their bravery by dying IN the bat
ti"h-l VIII" iheir men escaped. Hardly a
pbile WAS fought without many FingO COM
mundefs being killed. utterly disprOportiOnato
70 tnt number Of those they commanded.
lhr Lulus Hrs good Fighters. They arc
Augni warfare from their childhood. CetywayO.
lnr chlsi VI the present war. is known 10 have
hald' II all the British troops could not con-
quer shndeili. what would they do with me. who
cyuIu lFShlcn all his men INTO the sea by de-
caring war against him ? CetyWayo has good
weapons ana Is enormously rich"
Lieut. Edge'Ome was asked as to the likeli-
hp'u pl any fresh tribes Joining CetyWayo In
cCnscqleuce oi his Vntory.
mr. otc1tpnl" said Lieut.. EdgecOme. very
nAey WIN rise against tho British. Although
10y ~ strong as CetyWayo. or 30 rich, he is yet
an tafHu nall usltn ltau t1sasr