Februar1900. anxious to preserve them from the evils brought upon them by the wrongful Nr 12269. action of their Government. || I therefore warn all Burghers to desist from any further hostility towards Her Majesty's Government and the troops under my command, and I undertake that any of them, who may so desist and who are found staying in their homes and quietly pursuing their ordinary occupations, will not be made to suffer in their persons or property on account of their having taken up arms in obedience to the order of their Government. Those, however, who oppose the forces under my command, or furnish the enemy with supplies or information, will be dealt with according to the customs of war. Requisitions for food, forage, fuel, or shelter, made on the authority of the Officers in command of Her Majesty's troops, must be at once complied with; but everything will be paid for on the spot, prices being regulated by the local market rates. If the inhabitants of any district refuse to comply with the demands made on them, the supplies will be taken by force, a full receipt being given. || Should any inhabitant of the country consider that he or any member of his household has been unjustly treated by any Officer, soldier, or civilian attached to the British Army, he should submit his complaint, either personally or in writing, to my Head-quarters or to the Headquarters of the nearest General Officer. Should the complaint on enquiry, be substantiated, redress will be given. || Orders have been issued by me, prohibiting soldiers from entering private houses, or molesting the civil population on any pretext whatever, and every precaution has been taken against injury to property on the part of any person belonging to, or connected with, the Army. February 1900. Roberts, Field-Marshal, Nr. 12269. An Dieselben. Aufforderung die Waffen niederzulegen und einen Neutralitätseid zu leisten. 15. März 1900. In continuation of the Proclamation which I issued when the British Nr. 12269. troops under my command entered the Orange Free State, in which I warned all Burghers to desist from any further hostility, and undertook that those of them who might so desist, and were staying in their homes and quietly pursuing their ordinary occupations, would not be made to suffer in their persons or property on account of their having taken up arms in obedience to the order of their Government, I now make known to all Burghers that I have been authorized by the Government of Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen to offer the following terms to those of them who have been engaged in the present war:- All Burghers who have not taken a prominent part in the policy which has led to the war between Her Majesty and the Orange Free State, or commanded any forces of the Republic, or commandeered or 15. März 1900. Nr. 12269. used violence to any British subjects, and who are willing to lay down their arms at once, and to bind themselves by an oath to abstain from further participation in the war, will be given passes to allow them to return to their homes and will not be made prisoners of war, nor will their property be taken from them. Roberts, Field-Marshal, Commanding in Chief Her Majesty's Forces in South Africa. Government House, Bloemfontein, 15th March 1900. Nr. 12270. 9. April 1900. Nr. 12271. 24. Mai 1900. Nr. 12270. An die Einwohner der Distrikte Albert, Steynsburg, und Colesberg. Warnung sich dem Feinde anzu- On the recent retirement of the enemy to the north of the Orange River, the rebels who had joined them in the northern districts of the Cape Colony were treated by Her Majesty's Government with great leniency in being permitted, if not the ringleaders of disaffection, to return to their farms on the condition of surrendering their arms and of being liable to be called to account for their past conduct. || I now warn the inhabitants of the northern districts, and more particularly those who were misguided enough to join or assist the enemy, that, in the event of their committing any further act of hostility against Her Majesty, they will be treated, as regards both their persons and property, with the utmost rigour, and the extreme penalties of Martial Law will be enforced against them. Army-Head-quarters, Bloemfontein, 9th April 1900. Roberts, Field-Marshal, Commander-in-Chief, South Africa. Nr. 12271. Annexion des Oranje-Freistaats unter dem Namen ,,Orange-River Colony". 24. Mai 1900. Whereas, certain territories in South Africa, heretofore known as the Orange Free State, have been conquered by Her Majesty's Forces, and it has seemed expedient to Her Majesty that the said territories should be annexed to, and should benceforth form part of Her Majesty's dominions, and that I should provisionally, and until Her Majesty's pleasure is more fully known, be appointed Administrator of the said territories with power to take all such measures and to make and enforce such laws as I may deem necessary for 24. Mai 1900. the peace, order and good government of the said territories. || Now, there- Nr. 12271. fore, I, Frederick Sleigh, Baron Roberts of Kandahar, K.P., G.C.B., G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E., V.C., Field-Marshal and Commanding in Chief the British Forces in South Africa, by Her Majesty's command, and in virtue of the power and authority conferred upon me in that behalf by Her Majesty's Royal Commission, dated the 21st day of May 1900, and in accordance with Her Majesty's instructions thereby and otherwise signified to me, do proclaim and make known that, from and after the publication hereof, the territories known as the Orange Free State are annexed to and form part of Her Majesty's dominions, and that, provisionally, and until Her Majesty's pleasure is fully declared, the said territories will be administered by me with such powers as aforesaid. || Her Majesty is pleased to direct that the new territories shall henceforth be known as the Orange River Colony. God Save the Queen. Given under my hand and seal at the Head-quarters of the Army in South Africa, Camp south of the Vaal River, in the said territories, this 24th day of May, in the year of our Lord 1900. Roberts, Field-Marshal, Commanding in Chief Her Majesty's Forces in South Africa. Nr. 12272. An die Einwohner der Südafrikanischen Republik. 31. Mai 1900. Whereas the Forces of Her Majesty the Queen under my command have Nr. 12272. entered the territory of the South African Republic, and whereas false and 31. Mai 1900. malicious reports are being spread abroad as to the treatment which the inhabitants may expect from Her Maje ty's troops, I, Frederick Sleigh Baron Roberts, of Kandahar and Waterford, K.P., G.C.B., G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E., V.C., Commander-in-Chief of Her Majesty's Forces in South Africa, am authorized by the Government of Her Majesty to make known, and do hereby make known as follows: 1. Subject to the terms and provisions of this Proclamation, personal safety and freedom from molestation are guaranteed to the non-combatant population. || 2. All burghers who have not taken a prominent part in the policy which has led to the war between Her Majesty and the South African Republic, or commanded any forces of the Republic, or commandeered or used violence to any British subjects, or committed any acts contrary to the usages of civilized warfare, and who are willing to lay down their arms at once, to bind themselves by an oath to abstain from further participation in the war, will be given passes to allow them to return to their homes, and will not be made prisoners of war. || 3. It is the intention of Her Majesty's Nr. 12272. Government to respect all private property of the inhabitants of the South 31. Mai 1900. African Republic, so far as may be compatible with the operations of war, provided that the inhabitants on their part abstain from wanton damage to property. || 4. If, howewer, wanton damage is done to property, not only will the actual perpetrators of such acts and all directly or indirectly implicated in them be liable to the most severe punishment in person and property, but the property of all persons, whether in authority or otherwise, who have permitted or have not done their utmost to prevent such wanton damage will be liable to be confiscated or destroyed. || 5. All persons are therefore exhorted in their own interest to prevent such wanton damage. God Save the Queen. Given under my hand and seal, at Johannesburg, this 31st day of May 1900. Roberts, Field-Marshal, Commander-in-Chief, South Africa. Nr. 12273. Nr. 12273: An die Orange-River Colony. Wer nicht binnen 14 Tagen die Waffen niederlegt, wird als Rebell behandelt. Inasmuch as the Orange River Colony. formerly known as the Orange 1. Juni 1900. Free State, is now British territory, and has been placed under Martial Law by my Proclamation of 31st May 1900. || I, Frederick Sleigh, Baron Roberts of Kandahar and Waterford, K.P., G.C.B., G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E., V.C., FieldMarshal and Commanding in Chief in South Africa, do hereby warn all inhabitants thereof, who, after 14 days from the date of this Proclamation, may be found in arms against Her Majesty within the said Colony that they will be liable to be dealt with as rebels, and to suffer in person and property accordingly. The 14 days' grace is given by me in order to allow time for this Proclamation to be generally known throughout the Orange River Colony. And I further direct that all Mauser and other magazine and military rifles, and ammunition appertaining thereto, must be surrendered to the District. Commissioners or other persons appointed to receive them within 24 days from the date of this Proclamation. All other firearms of whatever description, with the ammunition appertaining thereto, must within the same period be produced to District Commissioners or other persons aforesaid, to be by them registered and returned to their owners, except in cases in which it shall appear to the District Commissioners or other persons as aforesaid that, in the interests of the public safety, any such arms and ammunition should be retained in the custody of the local authorities. || And I further declare that any person who, after the expiration of the aforesaid period of 24 days, is found in possession of any unregistered firearms or ammunition shall be liable to a fine not exceeding 1001., or to imprisonment not exceeding Nr. 12273. six months. God Save the Queen. Given under my hand and seal at Johannesburg this 1st day of June 1900. 1. Juni 1900. Roberts, Field-Marshal, Nr. 12274. Einsetzung eines Kriegsgerichts in Pretoria. 11. Juni 1900. 11. Juni 1900. Whereas in order to provide for the Provisional Administration of Justice Nr. 12274. in Pretoria and the District of Pretoria, it is deemed necessary to constitute a Court for Administration of Justice according to Martial Law; || Now therefore, I, Frederick Sleigh, Baron Roberts, of Kandahar and Waterford, K.P., G.C.B., G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E., V.C., Commanding in Chief of Her Majesty's Forces in South Africa, do hereby direct and order that there shall be within the District of Pretoria a Court which shall be called,,The Pretoria High Court", and I do further order and direct as follows: 1. That I do hereby create, erect and constitute the said Pretoria High Court and do ordain, direct and appoint that the said Pretoria High Court shall have cognisance of all pleas, and jurisdiction in all causes, whether civil, criminal, or mixed, arising in Pretoria or the District of Pretoria, with jurisdiction over all persons whomsoever residing or being within Pretoria or the District of Pretoria in as full and ample a manner as I myself have in accordance with Martial Law. || 2. I do hereby appoint C. H. Hilliard, A. E. Leary, and F. C. Garston, to be Magistrates of the said Court, of whom the said C. H. Hilliard, shall be the Chief Magistrate, and any two of whom shall form a quorum. || 3. I do hereby appoint Captain T. M. McInerney, of the Victorian Rifles, to be Advocate for Her Majesty the Queen in the said Court. 4. I do order that all sentences of this Court whereby the penalty shall exceed a fine of 101. or imprisonment for three months or whereby any corporal punishment is ordered, upon being passed by the said Court, shall be submitted to the Military Governor for the time being-of Pretoria, who shall have power to suspend the said sentence, or to reduce the penalty imposed by the said sentence, or to confirm the said sentence, and no corporal punishment ordered by any sentence shall be inflicted until such sentence has been confirmed by the Military Governor. || 5. The said Court shall sit at such time or times and at such place or places as the said Chief Magistrate may appoint. 6. The Chief Magistrate shall have power, subject to the approval of the Military Governor, to appoint such officers, clerks, and attendants as shall be necessary to carry out the work of the said Court. || 7. The Chief Magistrate shall have power from time to time to make rules and regulations. for all Court procedure, and such rules and regulations shall come into force |