Long before day broke the infantry began to move off in huge masses. The men were in the best and highest of spirits, expecting easy victory. To this cheerfulness the general opinion of the Staff that the enemy were on the point of retreating contributed greatly. Gradually the dense columns opened out into skirmishing order, and the eagerly-looked-for day began to break, radiant, clear, intensely hot, over the distant ridges of the Drakensberg. [Illustration: COMMON AND SHRAPNEL SHELLS. Fig. 1 shows a "common shell;" on exploding, its fragments are hurled in all directions, and if charged with a high explosive, such as lyddite, the mere concussion caused by the release of the gases will cause death at a considerable distance. Shrapnel shell (Fig. 2) is filled with metal balls, which, on the explosion of the charge of powder, B, are flung forward in the face of the enemy. Fig. 3 represents the cartridge, of cordite, used in howitzers. Both shells are here shown with fuses attached, which may be arranged to fire the charge either after the lapse of a given number of seconds, or on impact. The fuse communicates with the charge through the channel, C.] [Sidenote: Bombardment of Fort Wylie.] [Sidenote: DEC. 15, 1899.] _Opening of the Battle._] The crash of the naval 12-pounders, opening fire on Fort Wylie at 4,000 yards, began the battle at 4·45. They fired slowly till the day grew higher and all preparations were completed, when they poured in a terrific storm of shells and shrapnel. On their right the 14th and 66th Field Batteries and six naval 12-pounders under Colonel Long took up the bombardment. There was still no sign of life from the long, indistinct lines of Boer entrenchments, flickering through the heat-mist which rose under the burning sun from the parched ground. Far away and well out of range a few small groups of Boers could be made out through field-glasses, apparently watching the British artillery fire. So complete was the silence of the enemy that the conjecture that the position had been abandoned became almost a conviction. [Illustration: [_Photo by the Biograph Company._ GENERAL BULLER WITNESSING THE FIRING OF THE NAVAL GUNS IN THE BATTLE OF COLENSO.] [Sidenote: Artillery pushed forward.] [Sidenote: The Boers open fire.] [Sidenote: [DEC. 15, 1899.]