Correspondents include State Presidents; State Secretary Pretoria; Commandant General Joubert; General Cape Town, Generals Botha, Du Toit, De la Rey, Malan, Snyman; Assistant Generals Botha, Burger, Erasmus, Ferreira, Grobler, Meyer, Prinsloo; Commandants Dahl, Du Plessis, Oosthuizen, Potgieter, Schutte; Stennekamp, Van Dam and Weilbach; Assistant Commandant du Plessis; Special Commandant Krogh; Veldcornets Bodenstein, Eloff, Thomas Joubert and P.D. Swart, Commandant of the Fort, Johannesburg, Landdrosts of Aliwal North, Christiana, Lydenburg, Nijlstroom, Piet Retief, Pietersburg, Rustenburg, Vrijheid and Zeerust. Also L.M. Forgan, M. Grobler, Hassall, Noel Llewellyn and J.R. Mare, Lord Baden Powell, George Lynch, Dr. Ramsbottom, Sir George White and Lady Sarah Wilson.

Mainly concerned with the British attempts to relieve Ladysmith, Kimberley and Mafeking. These attempts were unsuccessful largely due to the Battles of Colenso, Stormberg and Magersfontein when Boers were victorious.

Colenso on December 15th was a Boer success largely due to British lack of artillery and as a result of this battle Buller had to postpone his attempt to relieve Ladysmith. The Battle of Stormberg on December 10th was a British defeat, largely due to their having taken the wrong road in a night march, which gave the Boers advance warning. On the same day, December 10th, the Battle of Magersfontein was fought, when the Highland Brigade was routed and demoralized.

In the telegrams much about Red Cross doctors who went missing after the Battle of Modder River on November 28th.

Subjects included:

rumour that Zulus will rise but Swazis said to be peaceful.

Shepstone thought to be dangerous; news of Boer attack on Mafeking.

information that Buller has 25, 00 men.

offer by British to hand over women captured by Bakatla in error, by flag of truce.

Lady Sarah Wilson asks to be allowed into Mafeking and on 7th agreed to exchange her for P.O.W.

news of fighting at Frere near Ladysmith.

intercepted letter from Mafeking says can hold out much longer and expect to be relieved soon.

accusations by British that Boers fired on an ambulance.

British casualties of Battle of Modder River given, news of Dordrecht and troops under Gatacre.

4th newspaperman Lynch, captured in Boer lines, said he was trying to exchange papers and that he admired Boers.

Italian and Dutch consuls protest at the capturing of women by a Kaffir commando.

Commandant General complains that the command at Trichardt too far from the scene of battle.

also C.G. asks that number of wagons be reduced so that man are more mobile.

details given of British wounded at Battle of Graspan.

Colonial troops have arrived at Cape Town.

new order says British officers to carry guns not swords.

Asquith says settlement must be based on friendship not force.

Boer War has shown the need to reorganize the British army.

Du Plessis has been chosen to command at Derdepoort.

inspiring message to the troops from the Commandant General.

fewer wagons but more tents needed.

8th reported that English have destroyed guns including Long Tom.

proposal by Andrew Murray that an armistice be observed on Christmas Day.

destruction of the cannon at Lombardskop, under the command of Major Erasmus, is a lesson to the Boers to be wary.

Sir George White says camp at Intombi for wounded is still necessary and not being abused.

armed Kaffirs seen near Dundee.

news of besieged in Ladysmith obtained from intercepted telegrams.

Dr Ramsbottom gives an account of his capture by the British.

report of fight at Stormberg Junction on 10th.

heavy bombardment at Modder River 11th.

another howitzer destroyed and guns moved back for protection as position is serious.

British have retreated at Modder River; heavy fighting Stormberg Junction - enemy using balloons.

General Cronje reports on battle of 10th, with details of casualties.

at Ladysmith things go badly due to destruction of cannon.

message of encouragement to troops at Modder River from Commandant General.

Lord Baden-Powell warns burgers of Z.A. Republic that their cause is hopeless and reinforcements have arrived to help in quelling the Boers.

fighting of Dordrecht; report from The Natal Mercury on the storming of the gun hill and destruction of Boer cannon.

Court of enquiry into the loss of guns cannot be held as position at Ladysmith dangerous.

fighting at Modder River 12th.

from Jacobsdal news of Battle of Magersfonteinon 10th when Black Watch said to be annihilated.

intercepted message from Kekewich to Methuen about position at Kimberley.

said that Red Cross officials from both camps should be allowed on to the field to help the wounded.

Scandinavian Corps was in action and Field Cornet Flygore dead; doctor says Volksrust more salubrious as a hospital for wounded.

ships cannon used at Colenso on 13th.

Schoeman was attached but no losses.

news from Stewart in Swaziland that Bunu is dead.

Boers demand back their ambulances from British.

Kimberley reported very short of food.

General White can hold out no more than 11 days at Ladysmith.

suspected that Marthinus Potgieter a spy.

report that Kuruman taken.

report from Lourenco Marques that English ministry has fallen and that there are 2000 English in Swaziland.

officers implicated in the loss of guns have been suspended.

reported great English force has left Durban to relieve Ladysmith.

General Botha reports brilliant victory at Colenso on 15th.

intercepted orders of Sir Francis Clery for the British plan at Colenso.

reply to the charge that Lt. Charles Pole was taken prisoner under a flag of truce.

intercepted message from Col. B. Hamilton, giving the formation of the baggage train, troops etc.

reported Churchill on board the Induna (No1677) and again (1674) that he has sailed for Durban, having escaped in a coal truck.

American Consul at Pretoria says George Lynch is an accredited war correspondent.

skirmish near Dordrecht.

British attack Molopo on 25th.

Africaner medical students from Edinburgh have arrived Lourenco Marques as an ambulance team.

rumour that Buller has been superceded by Roberts.

Baden-Powell thanks General Snijman for Boer help in carrying wounded and dead from field.

inquiry what to do with the property of Jews who chose to go to Mafeking instead of Z.A. Republic.

cheering message from Joubert to troops.