NEWS OF THE WEEK • TH E news of the week
from Zululand is of much interest. According to the correspondent of the Daily News, the Zulus intend to make a series of raids into Natal, while the Boers are becoming actively hostile, and the Commander-in-Chief has written home for three more infantry regiments to be sent before he can act. This news, though entitled to attention, because the sender is Mr. A. Forbes, seemed at first so in- credible that even the Daily News did not believe it. According to all other accounts, the Boers, though still demanding independ- ence, will remain neutral during the war ; while Lord Chelms- ford has got his forces together on the Tugela, and his actual invasion in three columns is delayed only by difficulties of transport. Nevertheless, the news was true. On Thursday, the Secretary for War admitted the demand for reinforcements, and though he officially waits for despatches, the troops are under orders to depart. It is further stated that the colony has been swept bare of transport, oxen and waggans are hardly procurable at six times their value, the native 'drivers positively refuse to enter Zululand, and the English horses of the cavalry dislike their new diet till they are hardly able to move from weakness, and are dying in great numbers. All these difficulties will gradually be overcome, but the campaign will be a long one, and will, it is calculated, not be completely successful under ten millions sterling, even if we have not to maintain permanent garrisons in the Transvaal and Zululand.
