Year: 1879

Is the Zulu war over or is 1T not over
Authorities in South Africa are at variance
on this point All the Zulu chiefs OF the
coast country friendly to the English say 1T
is not over and cannot be over while Getty
wayo is Free The newspaper correspond
ents in South Africa say it is not over, and
some of them have seen more war than any
general Her Majesty has in that country.
On the Other hand Lord Chelmsford and Sir
Garnet Woseley have positively declared
that the war is over, and Her Majesty's Min


listers have repeated the statement to an
enthusiastic Parliament. Sir Garnet Wolse-
ley ought to be the best judge. He is
capable soldier, and has had experience
in that country and in other wars
with savage tribes But then there is
some doubt whether the declaration of
General Wolseley on this point is literally
exact exposition of his own opinion. He
was sent out to declare the war over and to
make the facts agree with the declaration,
and the case was SO imperative that the
nature OF his orders may have made him a
little precipitate. Had it not been for this
he also might doubt whether Cetywayo's
power was broken by the battle at Ulundi.
Savage armies certainly do sometimes go to
pieces very easily, and because of that gen.
eral principle it is possible that Cetywayo's
force was much more seriously shaken in
that fight than any army Of civilized men
would have been. But it is discipline
that keeps men together, savage or civilized,
and where is there more absolute
discipline than in the Zulu regiments? But
one report now gives Cetywayo only thou
sand men and another gives him fve
thousand. Yet in the battle it was said he
had twenty thousand. Has his army
slipped through his tingers-melted away
from one defeat? The truth is that his
numbers in these reports of British COM
manders are made to agree with some sup
posed emergency of the, moment. General
Chelmsford s victory would have the more
brilliancy if it were gained against over
whelming numbers. SO they gave Cetywayo
twenty thousand. Now it must be made to
appear that the savage sovereign's cause is
lost, so they give him one thousand. Prob
ably he had in the battle from seven to
eight thousand. The smallest number
stated by any eyewitness is seven thou
sand. And all that he had then he has now,
less only the number killed in the fight.


Sir Garnet Wolseley's latest statements
and his actions are not consistent with his
first declaration. He says now, not that
the war is over, but that ''the prospects for
peace are good;' and at the same time he
prepares a general movement for a new ad-
vance Of all the force at his disposal except
only that which he has said he intends to
send home. He may not send that force
home; but it has good effect in England
to report that the troops are coming home
at the same time that the government calls
for vote of money with which to pay the
bills. To hear that the troops are coming
home gives the taxpayer confidence that
the bills will be smaller next time. But
the new advance is actually on foot. I'm
mediately after the battle, of Ulundi
Chelmsford, it will be remembered,
retired toward the sea. His army
could not be supplied where he was, and he
had to withdraw it for purposes of supply.
Consequently Cetywayo retreated from that
field in one direction and Chelmsford re.
treated in another, and the ignorant Zulu
nation thought this meant that both were
whipped. Consequently Sir Garnet ad-
vances to attempt to hold Ulundi in order
to correct that impression. And at the
same time General Newdigate's column
and force of irregulars will move against
Cetywayos new kraal. Newdigate in fact
takes mp the precise operation that Chelms-
ford set out to perform when he marched to
Ulundi. Chelmsford marched to destroy
the Kings kraal, as it was not then known
that Ulundi was abandoned. As Cetywayo
fought the last battle to protect an aban-
doned kraal he may fight quite as good a
one TO protect his real present place of
refuge. Consequently the supposition that
Cetywayo may whip the force now advance
ing is not violent one. If he should even
make tough fight it will be plain that Sir
Garnet Wolseley's declaration was little
hasty.