In this "Free State Hospital," with the ministrations of the matron, Miss Young, and her devoted lady nurses, the same strong essence of unselfishness made the siege of sickness a period of pleasure. Generals, colonels, correspondents and all of the salt of the army went there often to cheer the patients--one of whom was Mr. Oppenheim of the _Daily News_. We four private men, who gave this dinner in our own name to our own friends, have been a great deal criticised, but it is a noticeable fact that the only critics are the men who were not invited to the feast. * * * * * THE FRIEND. (_Edited by the War Correspondents with Lord Roberts' Force._) No. 10] BLOEMFONTEIN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1900. [Price One Penny. GOVERNMENT NOTICE. Notice is hereby given that, communication with the Cape Colony having been restored, the Laws and Regulations of the Customs Convention have been put into force by virture of the proclamation of Field-Marshal Lord Roberts, dated the 20th instant, and that from and after this date Government Notice, No. 106, published in the "Gouvernements Courant" of the 27th October, 1899, by which the Customs dues on provisions and merchandise were temporarily suspended will be considered null and void, in so far as those portions of the State now occupied by Her Majesty's troops are concerned. By order J. H. MEIRING, Collector of Customs. Customs' House, Bloemfontein, 24th March, 1900. * * * * * PROCLAMATION. Whereas it is necessary that all State and private property in the South African Republic and the Orange Free State shall be protected from wanton destruction and damage, NOW THEREFORE; I, FREDERICK SLEIGH BARON ROBERTS OF KHANDAHAR, K.P., G.C.B., G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E., V.C., Field Marshal, Commanding-in-Chief the British Forces in South Africa, do hereby give notice that all persons who, within the territories of the South African Republic or the Orange Free State shall authorise or be guilty of the wanton destruction or damage or the counselling, aiding, or assisting in the wanton destruction or damage of public or private property (such destruction or damage not being justified by the usages and customs of civilised warfare), will be held responsible in their persons and property for all such wanton destruction and damage. Given under my hand at Bloemfontein, this Twenty-sixth day of March, 1900. GOD SAVE THE QUEEN. ROBERTS, Field Marshal, Commanding-in-Chief Her Majesty's Forces in South Africa. * * * * * SIR ALFRED MILNER. BY PERCEVAL LANDON.