Message From Roberts

The dispatch from Lord Roberts in full is as follows: "Ian Hamilton's column reached the Springs yesterday en route to Heidelburg, where they will join hands with Buller's troops, who reached Paardekop yesterday and will be at Standerton tomorrow, thus opening up communication between Pretoria and Natal and preventing any joint action between the Transvaalers and the people of the Orange River colony. Baden Powell reported from Rustenburg that he found the leading Boers very pacific and cordial on his return journey hence. Commandant Steyn and two actively hostile field cornets had been captured during his absence. Lord Edward Cecil, the administrator of the Rustenburg district, has to date collected 3,000 rifles. The commissioner at Kroonstad reports that 31 rifles have been handed in at Wolmaranstad."