m, and while Jack Somerton lies in his bed in
that field hospital in the invested camp at Ladysmith we will return to
the British troops in other parts of South Africa.

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It will be remembered that on the receipt of Kruger's ultimatum England
had despatched a large army over the 6000 miles of water which cut her
off from South Africa, and this force had arrived at its destination in
due course, armed and ready for war, and accompanied by supplies. In
addition, local colonial forces were rapidly enlisted, for it was
apparent to all that no one could approach so close to the Boers in
slimness and astuteness in fighting as these hardy young sons of the old
country, who, finding themselves crowded out by the more fortunate ones,
had betaken themselves to this fair land of South Africa to set up new
homes. And with them, to do all and every arm of the service justice,
must be classed the gallant volunteers from Australia, Canada, and New
Zealand. For the most part used to a rough life in the bush, they
proved most valuable scouts, and were as fine a body of men as could be
met with.

Thus it will be seen that we had a large army in the field, and when it
is recollected that some 10,000 troops were hemmed in at Ladysmith,
while others kept the foe at bay in Cape Colony, Kimberley, and
Mafeking, it will be realised that England was well represented.

A glance at the map of South Africa will show the four railway systems
leading into or close by the two republics in arms against us. Those
who know the country through which they run believed that General
Buller, the able leader of the British forces, would invade the Orange
Free State by way of the Orange River, and thus draw off the investing
forces from Ladysmith and the other besieged towns.

But a little consideration will show that such a task was all too
formidable for the army we had accumulated. To begin with, the Boers
far outnumbered us--not that that damped the spirits of our men, but it
was a fact to be seriously reckoned with. Then Cape Colony was seething
with sedition, and a revolt was to be feared unless troops were there to
keep the rebels in check. But perhaps the greatest difficulty was that
this necessity for troops in all parts of the country, and along the
railway to the Orange River, the absolute importance of keeping the
communications open from the advancing army right aw