THE FIELD HOSPITAL TRAIN AT THE BATTLE OF COLENSO.] [Sidenote: [DEC. 15, 1899.] It is noteworthy that in the fighting no estimate whatever could be arrived at as to the Boers' strength. Whether they numbered 10,000, 15,000, or 20,000, no one knew, and no one could even guess. It was evident that the trenches and the position generally were very strongly held. The ranges are believed to have been carefully measured, and wire entanglements had been constructed close to the enemy's works, so that storming them would have been a matter of exceptional difficulty, even without the swift and deep river as a further obstacle in their front. It does not appear that the Boers weakened their force surrounding Ladysmith during the action. The garrison there probably did not expect a battle, and so made no move. [Illustration: [_Photo by the Biograph Company._ HELIOGRAPHING INTO LADYSMITH. General Buller was able to keep up communication with Ladysmith, as Lord Methuen was with Kimberley, by means of the heliograph, an apparatus for reflecting sunlight in flashes indicating letters and words.] As serious as the loss of over a thousand men in the none-too-strong relief column was the loss of ten guns. This reduced Sir Redvers Buller's available artillery to the contemptible total of twenty field pieces. It is wonderful that the Boers made no attempt whatever to follow up their victory; instead, they seemed perfectly satisfied with the results that had been obtained. But had they pressed vigorously upon the British flanks during the retirement, they might have greatly increased the casualties in our ranks, and, perhaps, have converted defeat into catastrophe. It is certain that they were strong enough to do this had they been well directed, and their own mobility was such that they could have had no fear of any untoward consequences resulting to themselves from such a course of action. [Illustration: [_Photo by the Biograph Company._ A NOVEL FEATURE OF THE BATTLEFIELD: THE BIOGRAPH CAMERA IN OPERATION DURING THE BATTLE OF COLENSO.] [Illustration: FIRST AID TO THE WOUNDED: THE ARMY MEDICAL CORPS AT WORK UNDER A HEAVY FIRE AT COLENSO.] [Sidenote: DEC. 15, 1899.] _Conduct of the Wounded._] [Sidenote: Scarcity of water.]