Correspondents include State Presidents; under Secretary, Pretoria; Commandant General Joubert; Generals Botha, Bredenkamp, Breijtenbach, Burgers, Cronje, De la Rey, Du Toit, Prinsloo, Smuts; Assistant Generals Jan De Beer, Du Preez, Ferreira, Franeman, Grobler, Lemmer, Meyer, Snijman, Steyn, Wessels; Chief Commandant Ferreira; Commandants Beukes, De Beer, Jan du Plessis, Eloff, Engelbrecht, Fourie, Jacobs, Kriegler, Luckhoff, Muller, Schutte, Spruyt, P.D. Swart, Van Dam, Vermaas, Viljoen, Visser, Captains R.R. Achtertang and Jooste; Veldcornets Emmett, J.S. Kock; Commandant of Police, Nylstroom; Director of Telegraphs, Bloemfontein, landdrosts of Aliwal North, Barkly West, Christiana, Dordrecht, Heidelberg, Lichtenburg, Pietersburg, Potchefstroom, Rustenburg, Vrijheid, Wolmaranstad and Zeerust, Lords Roberts and Salisbury; Doctors P.E. Alessandri, J. Jorissen, Lawrence and A. Fisher, Advocate Keet, Captain Leon, Mrs Meyer, Piet Potgieter, Count de Villebois-Mareuil and A.D.W. Wolmarans. Also Standard, Johannesburg and Volkstem.

The main events of the month were the relief of Kimberley and of Ladysmith. Due to sickness and privation, it had become imperative for Ladysmith to be relieved and after an initial defeat at Vaalkrantz on February 5th the British forces pressed on and entered the town on February 28th, although the main Boer army escaped. On February 15th the advance of Frenchs army entered Kimberley, but British victory marred by the seizure of the provisions train by De Wet. General Cronje was forced to retreat from Magersfontein, surrounded at Padeberg and all attempts to help him failed. He was forced to surrender on February 27th. At Mafeking the British cut their lines S.E. to the brick fields and cattle, captured by the Baralong from the Boers.

Subjects in the telegrams include:

English bombard Zeerust.

from Sim to News, Pretoria comes news of Boer wounded and that Churchill has done all he can for them (No. 2572).

English request list of prisoners taken 19-27 January.

2nd-reinforcements needed at the Tugela.

reported enemy will attack Molendrift.

complaints that Boer prisoners treated badly on a warship in Simons Bay.

assurances from Snyman to Cronje that Mafeking tightly besieged.

Wolmarans has seen both generals on the Tugela and plans have been made.

accusation made that British destroy homes and farms and defenceless women and children (2623).

3rd enemy move in strength.

Buller says Battle of Colenso lost because of lack of artillery and that the value of scouting should be emphasized.

4th Tobias Smuts pleads for reinforcements.

trouble amongst the generals on Boer side.

Prinsloo asked to take supreme command.

5th complaints that Meyer not supporting Smuts against serious attack.

Meyer reproached also by Joubert for tardiness.

Meyer dislikes Prinsloos appointment.

position critical at Colesburg and Stormberg.

from London telegram received to effect that no citizens of the Republics will be charged with high treason but that if British P.O. Ws treated badly, the Presidents will be held personally responsible.

official report of Battle of Spionkop from Buller to the governor of Natal.

5th President Pretoria tells Cronje, Prinsloo, Burger and Meyer to go to the help of Smuts.

6th Joubert says Kop must be taken.

British deny charges of harming Boer civilian property.

7th fight continues.

Natal Advertiser says defects in the British military system shown up in South Africa; the Kop has been taken by the Boers.

De Wet fighting at Magersfontein.

heavy fighting at Koedoesberg with strong assault by the Lancers.

British give assurance that Boer P.O.W. treated well in Simons Bay.

situation critical at Koedoesberg.

reported Kimberley very short of food.

8th Botha asks reinforcements but later announces that battle is over and Boer losses not too great and the enemy have been driven back over the Tugela.

urgent that French cannon be repaired.

Meyer informs his wife that battle is successfully over.

Meyer still complains of Prinsloos appointment.

reported Ladysmith in dire straits.

Long Tom is working well as reported from De la Reys laager.

Father de Lacey ordered not to carry letters for military prisoners from Johannesburg.

Botha gives news of the battle to his wife.

9th enemy held at Koedoesberg and cannot get through to Kimberley.

De Wet at Magersfontein thinks he can hold the enemy at Koedoesberg and that they had the best of the fighting on 8th.

trouble in obtaining clearance at Lourenco Marques for ambulance.

Kimberley shelled again.

10th De la Rey asks help.

enemy retreat at Koedoesberg.

Leon says big gun must be withdrawn as enemy fire too heavy.

burgers complain about having to pay for their own transport.

De la Rey says he will hold on as long as he can but that enemy troops are on the march and have reached Kamfersdam.

Grobler says he has taken Bastards Nek.

11th-burgers hold on at Abramskraal; enemy approach Boshof.

De la Rey writes report of the fighting to his wife.

German government angry at seizure of Herzog, Bandesrath and General on charges of carrying contraband.

C.H. Perrin sent light bomb filled with sand to Baden Powell asking for whisky.

which he received and for this has been court-martialled.

Burger writes to his wife concerning his movements.

De la Rey says enemy suffered great loss.

12th General Janse van Rensburg defends his request for more guns at the Crocodile River.

French engineer Leon has been wounded in the head.

Botha says he had fought with the Lancers.

at Colenso enemy attack expected at Boschrand.

Grobler reports success at Colesberg.

13th Modder River cut off from various centres.

enemy in strength at Koffiefontein.

reported Kimberley desperate.

Boer guns do good work at Kimberley.

enemy attack at Ramoutsa successfully repelled with losses to them, not the Boers.

urgent that De Wet be strengthened.

President in Bloemfontein does not want to take men from Colesburg.

request for ammunition from Molopo, as Perrins bombs still not working well.

enemy at Fowlsdal with the intention of relieving Kimberley.

Captain Leon recovering after an operation.

President Bloemfontein says no time to get help to Cronje, who must just turn the enemy; Meyer says looks as if enemy go to Boschrand.

battle is on at Rensburg Siding.

Snyman at Molopo asks what is to be done with goods of British who fled to avoid serving with the Boers.

Russian and Dutch ambulances held up at Lourenco Marques.

Meyer says enemy too strong to hold.

15th report enemy 15, 000 strong.

enemy at Riet River, reported enemy are inside Kimberley.

16th news form Lourenco Marques that a batch of Jews (of drink and gold-buying syndicate) are on their way to Transvaal and include H. Cohen. They are to be stopped but Mrs Mendelsohn allowed through.

enemy march out of Kimberley in strength in the direction of Boshof.

Commandant Spruyt writes to his wife that enemy are being pushed back at Koffiefontein to near the Modder River.

all men and horses in certain districts are ordered to Warrenton.

heavy fighting at Olifantsfontein.

17th-news that Cronje has left Magersfontein and Scholtznek and the way to Kimberley now open to the enemy.

reinforcements have been sent to Fourteen Streams for Du Toit.

British promise to treat deserters well.

18th Botha asks for more men as situation is bad and cant rely on Freestaters.

Major Erasmus and Lt. Malan will be tried for allowing the guns to be captured.

Botha is very concerned about English might.

President Pretoria to President Bloemfontein that all is now in hands of the Lord.

things go badly on Tugela.

19th looks as if enemy will drive through to Bloemfontein.

Du Toit says position impossible.

Meyer complains that burghers are slipping away; horse positions at Kimberley serious for Boers.

20th position hopeless and Cronje is surrounded.

Vermaas suggests surrender.

complaints made to Lord Roberts that civilian property is being burned.

Dordrecht recaptured by enemy.

Commandant Vermaas says horses are weak and asks help from Burger and Meyer.

21st- De Wet forced to give up his position - what is Cronje to do?

situation critical at Fourteen Streams.

Meyer says enemy are across the river.

22nd- Botha and Meyer say they expect battle soon against strong enemy force.

President Bloemfontein says he is anxious about Cronje.

Burger writes to his wife about his movements.

enemy seen near Mafeking.

Froneman says he will try to relieve Cronje.

23rd De Wet says he will try to retake positions so as to help Cronje.

Meyer says fight at Colenso has gone well and enemy have been driven back.

Meyer asks new telescope as old one was shot.

State Mining Engineer in Johannesburg asks for military law to be proclaimed in mines so as to keep law and order.

Joubert asks where contain burgers are as situation dangerous.

enemy has made temporary bridge over Tugela to enable their armoured train to bring suppliers.

men at DuToits lager unwilling to fight on longer.

Meyer says heavy bombardment at Colenso.

Visser says he cannot help Cronje.

Joubert asks De la Rey to break the oil line at De Aar to prevent supplies reaching the English.

Botha says effort to help Cronje has failed and that Bloemfontein be put in a state of defence.

24th-Cronje asks where reinforcements are.

Meyer says he thinks enemy will come by train, at which he intends to shoot.

25th-enemy on Vryheid-Zulu border.

Sebele says if Boers cross the railway he will fight.

burgers badly in need of clothes, shoes etc.

Grobler at Colesberg says heavy fighting:

all predikants and their congregations are to be asked to pray nightly for relief of Cronje and all remaining burgers are being called upon.

Grobler has gone to intercept enemy at Zeekoeirivier.

26th-colonial burgers taken prisoner at Colesburg say they were forced to fight by the British.

Meyer thinks position more hopeful; rumour that English troops are at Vryheid.

Meyer says Long Tom is being set up to be in action in the morning; 27th Kaffirs restless at Taung.

Cronje surrounded.

heavy fighting Colenso.

Meyer asks more ammunition reinforcements.

28th panic at Norvalsport station where burghers and wagons await transport.

rumour that Cronje has surrendered.