The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-11-05
Should ZuIus Rise
Savage Mems Possible
Part in the Boer War.


freedom. England would have her hands
full Should the bold Basutos join arms
with their fierce cousins, South Africa
" ouId become hot soil for the British -oot
/ for many long months 70 come.
Both OF these uprisings are threatened;
! both are greatly feared The Zulu situa-
| ton in particular is watched with anxious
! eye England for a while vas over
matched in the last Zulu war, and victory
was bought in the end with rivers OF
English blood. Scarcely any greater mis-
fortune could come just now than an up
rising such as this
The Zulu is undoubtedly the best native
| fighter Of South Africa. he IS physically
a splendid savage-herce, powerful and en-
during Add 10 this the memory OF
magnificent past. the traditions and cour-
age Of a race unwhipped except by white
men. and by them only a fearful odds,
and you have a worthy foeman. The Zu-
lus yielded 20 the sway OF England
through force indeed. but the fight they
made then was one 10 keep alive the nope
OF a better ending for renewed struggle.
The secret Of the Zulu power lies, first,
in organization, and, second. in the ira
dition of victory Organization under the
great chiefrain Tshaka az the beginning OF
the present century gave them their first
superiority over other savage tribes, and
and unending series OF victories for half
a century or more produced race of rare
courage and warlike prowess. The story
Of II described the Zulu Of today
What IS now known as Zululand-a wild
country, bounded on the north by the
Transvaal. on the south and west by Ma
tai. and on the east by the sea-was then
divided among several savage tribes, OF
which the Zulus were one Of the weakest.
The chief Of neighboring tribe, the [ m
tet was, plotted the murder Of mis- two
sons. ore of whom, however, escaped, and
in his wanderings fell in with the British,
the organization Of whose forces he noted
with shrewd understanding. After his
fathers death he returned to his tribe,
was made chief, and proceeded % organize
his warriors into brigades, regiments and
companies British fashion, and had re-
markabIe success in warfare.
/ One OF his lieutenants was a youth Of
fierce and restless energy. He was the soR
of a conquered cIieftain and his name was
Tshaka- He studied the organization Of
the Cmtewa army zealously and saw in it
wonderful things not accomplished by his
wise Gut mild chieftain. He made up his
mind that some day his own chance would
come.
Winning consideration, Tshaka was fin
ally as a reward. appointed chief OF the
weak tribe of Zulus. He organized them
perfectly, and when the chief Of the I'm
tewss was killed in battle Tshaka an
nounced the independence of the Zulus
and upheld it by force.
This done Tshaka started in to make the
Zulu power supreme. He attacked his
weaker neighbors first, and with every
victory absorbed the young warriors into
his own army and destroyed the old men.
women and children. In this way his own
army grew marvellousIy. and his con-
Quered neighbors lost recuperative power
and eventually Identity
He divided his young warriors into regi-
ments. distinguishing each regiment by
different colored shields, and established
with rewards a competitive spirit among
regiments. He trained them 10 advance
and attack in solid forma ton, something
new in South African savage warfare,
and he developed the close quarters at
tack with the short stabbing assegaI or
spear. 50 generally used among South Al
rical tribes.
Then he established an inviolate law
that any soldier returning from battle
without assegal or shield, or with a wound
in the back. should be executed as a cow
ard BY another law young soldiers were
forbidden wives until after long service,
unless meantime they earned them by dis
tinguished bravery in the field.
Absolute discipline was inculcated. An
expedition never knew its destination and
purpose until far from home. In attack
ing the first onslaught was always in solid
formation, supported on either side by
wings Of skirnishers. Flank movements
were regular maneuvre, and as effective
in savage as in civilized warfare.
It can easily ne seen how the Zulus. IN
der such a system. swept all before them. .
The undisciplined savaEes Of the plains
and forests went down like grain before
the reaper. And every new tribe su5ju-
gated was ruthlessly amalgamated into
victorious nation
The Zulus swept the coast. subjugsted
Natal and pushed their fierce. bloody sway
far inland The terror Of their name
passed far north and far south.
Nor was there limit TO their ravages IN
til the Dutch settled in Natal. Then be-
San a series OF fierce fights. IN which The
white man and the rifle finally triumphed
and the Zulu power was broken, or at
least reduced to the point Of nou-iuter-
ference with the movements Of the Dutch
and the English. who soon after swarmed
over the land
But while taught 20 respect the white
man. the Zulu pursed MS traditions. his
pride and his serocity- L was 4 disgrace
in his eyes to labor except fl the prescott
ton OF war. Under Cetewavo the great
chief whose power England broke in a
war in which she met several terrible re-
verses and lost hosts Of splendid men. me
zulu vas AZ heart the Zulu Of the great
Tshaka's DAYS
And this IS the 7a3Pls who row threaten
20 avail OF Erz,an6's troubles 70 regain
chef- freedom. They are the same in
spi-;. and are rich IN resentment For
years they have nu-sed their wrongs
What they have LOST in savage Eerceusss
ay a generation ~ peaceful suhjectioa IS
more than matched, say recent writers. -
their gains IL knowledge They SIN -
tain thei- terrible s-shb.nE assseaI. au:
they have added the rice. an5 are s2Iso-
did ma-ksmen. They dream q restoring
the sp.en55rz - their past. and II they
rise can Be counted a terrible ZOE
Zuuiaa6 t75sy has a population II
asout $50 80 natives snd less taan 30
whites The only occupation e the TX
elves Is tae raising - cattle There are
s go square miles n the district. ard the
government "a british u-7.ec,o-sts
The Basut3s. while by 70 means re