"By further proclamations of June 16, marked A 1 and A 2, the threat is made in case of damage occasioned to railways and telegraph lines that the principal inhabitants of the villages and districts affected would be held jointly and severally responsible for such damage; moreover, a heavy fine would be imposed, and nothing be paid for goods delivered; also that houses and farms in the neighbourhood would be devastated, and that one or more of the inhabitants would be taken along in trains used for purposes of war. "By these proclamations punishments are threatened for actions whereto a belligerent party has every right, and the infliction of those punishments are by anticipation provided for even for cases wherein no proof whatever of guilt is furnished, private property is confiscated and destroyed, and an attempt is made to make burghers appear against one another. "Against the intent also of both these proclamations, which violate every sense of right, the undersigned desire to record their most strenuous protest. "The Envoys, "W. J. LEYDS. "A. FISCHER. "C. H. WESSELS. "A. D. W. WOLMARANS. "His Excellency the Right Hon. the Marquis of Salisbury, Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, &c., London." Elsewhere the Dutchmen continued to make themselves obnoxious. On the morning of the 27th Major Brooke, R.E., commanding at Kraai Railway Station, had come in for his share of annoyance, some Boers having lodged themselves in a kopje preparatory to pouncing on the rail. The Major with a hundred men promptly went forth to tackle the conspirators, and with the assistance of this small but plucky crew, notable among them the brave fellows, Lieutenant Maurice Griffith and Sergeant Hannam (Volunteer Company Royal Welsh Fusiliers) and Sergeant Southrood (Cape Garrison Artillery), he succeeded in completely routing the Dutchmen, who left five dead on the field. FOOTNOTES: