living in safety, in villages or camps under the protection of His
Majesty's forces;

"And whereas the burghers of the late Republics, now under arms
against His Majesty's forces, are not only few in number, but have
also lost nearly all their guns, and war requisites, and are
without proper military organization, and are therefore not in a
position to carry on a regular war, or to make any organized
resistance against His Majesty's forces in any part of the country;

"And whereas the burghers who are now still under arms, although
not in a position to carry on a regular war, continue to make
attacks on small posts and divisions of His Majesty's forces, to
plunder and to destroy farms, and to cut the railway and telegraph
lines, both in the Orange River Colony and in the Transvaal and
other parts of His Majesty's South African possessions;

"And whereas the country is thus kept in a state of unrest, and the
carrying on of agriculture and industries is hindered;

"And whereas His Majesty's Government has decided to make an end of
a situation which involves unnecessary bloodshed and devastation,
and which is ruining the great majority of the inhabitants, who are
willing to live in peace, and are desirous of earning a livelihood
for themselves and their families;

"And whereas it is only just that steps should be taken against
those who still resist, and principally against those persons who
are in authority, and who are responsible for the continuance of
the present state of disorganization in the country, and who