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The best safeguard against failure in any attempt to enforce pursuit or
conduct a retreat lies in a thorough knowledge of your horse's powers。＇2＇
But how is this experience to be got？ Simply by paying attention to their
behaviour in the peaceable manouvres of the sham fight； when there is no
real enemy to intervenehow the animals come off； in fact； and what
stamina they show in the various charges and retreats。
＇2＇ ｛empeiria｝； 〃empirical knowledge。〃
Or suppose the problem is to make your cavalry appear numerous。 In
the first place； let it be a fundamental rule； if possible； not to attempt to
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delude the enemy at close quarters； distance； as it aids illusion； will
promote security。 The next point is to bear in mind that a mob of horses
clustered together （owing perhaps to the creatures' size） will give a
suggestion of number； whereas scattered they may easily be counted。
Another means by which you may give your troop an appearance of
numerical strength beyond reality consists in posting； in and out between
the troopers； so many lines of grooms＇3＇ who should carry lances if
possible； or staves at any rate to look like lancesa plan which will serve
alike whether you mean to display your cavalry force at the halt or are
deploying to increase front； in either case； obviously the bulk and volume
of the force； whatever your formation； will appear increased。 Conversely；
if the problem be to make large numbers appear small； supposing you
have ground at command adapted to concealment； the thing is simple： by
leaving a portion of your men exposed and hiding away a portion in
obscurity； you may effect your object。＇4＇ But if the ground nowhere
admits of cover； your best course is to form your files＇5＇ into ranks one
behind the other； and wheel them round so as to leave intervals between
each file； the troopers nearest the enemy in each file will keep their lances
erect； and the rest low enough not to show above。
＇3＇ Cf。 Polyaen。 II。 i。 17； of Agesilaus in Macedonia； 394 B。C。 （our
author was probably present）； IV。 iv。 3； of Antipater in Thessaly； 323
B。C。
＇4＇ Lit。 〃steal your troopers。〃 See 〃Cyrop。〃 V。 iv。 48。
＇5＇ Lit。 〃form your decads （squads of ten； cf。 our 'fours'） in ranks
and deploy with intervals。〃
To come to the next topic： you may work on the enemy's fears by the
various devices of mock ambuscades； sham relief parties； false
information。 Conversely； his confidence will reach an overweening pitch；
if the idea gets abroad that his opponents have troubles of their own and
little leisure for offensive operations。
But over and beyond all that can be written on the subject
inventiveness is a personal matter； beyond all formulasthe true general
must be able to take in； deceive； decoy； delude his adversary at every turn；
as the particular occasion demands。 In fact； there is no instrument of war
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more cunning than chicanery；＇6＇ which is not surprising when one reflects
that even little boys； when playing； 〃How many （marbles） have I got in my
hand？〃＇7＇ are able to take one another in successfully。 Out goes a clenched
fist； but with such cunning that he who holds a few is thought to hold
several； or he may present several and appear to be holding only a few。 Is
it likely that a grown man； giving his whole mind to methods of chicanery；
will fail of similar inventiveness？ Indeed； when one comes to consider
what is meant by advantages snatched in war； one will find； i think； that
the greater part of them； and those the more important； must be attributed
in some way or other to displays of craft；＇8＇ which things being so； a man
had better either not attempt to exercise command； or； as part and parcel of
his general equipment； let him pray to Heaven to enable him to exercise
this faculty and be at pains himself to cultivate his own inventiveness。
＇6＇ Cf。 〃Cyrop。〃 IV。 ii。 26； VII。 i。 18。
＇7＇ ｛posinda｝； lit。 〃How many？〃 （i。e。 dice； nuts； marbles； etc。）； cf。
the old game； 〃Buck！ buck！ how many horns do I hold up？〃 Schneid。
cf。 Aristot。 〃Rhet。〃iii。 5。 4。
＇8＇ 〃Have been won in connection with craft。〃 See 〃Cyrop。〃 I。 vi。 32；
〃Mem。〃 III。 i。 6； IV。 ii。 15。
A general； who has access to the sea； may exercise the faculty as
follows： he may either； whilst apparently engaged in fitting out his vessels；
strike a blow on land；＇9＇ or with a make…believe of some aggressive
design by land； hazard an adventure by sea。＇10＇
＇9＇ A ruse adopted by Jason； 371 B。C。 Cf。 〃Hell。〃 VI。 iv。 21。
＇10＇ Cf。 the tactics of the Athenians at Catana； 415 B。C。 Thuc。 vi。
64。
I consider it to be the duty of the cavalry commander to point out
clearly to the state authority the essential weakness of a force of cavalry
unaided by light infantry； as opposed to cavalry with foot… soldiers
attached。＇11＇ It is duty also； having got his footmen； to turn the force to
good account。 It is possible to conceal them effectively； not only between
the lines； but in rear also of the troopersthe mounted soldier towering
high above his follower on foot。
＇11＇ Or； 〃divorced from infantry。〃 In reference to ｛amippoi｝； cf。
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Thuc。 v。 57； 〃Hell。〃 VII。 v。 23。
With regard to these devices and to any others which invention may
suggest towards capturing the foeman by force or fraud； I have one
common word of advice to add； which is； to act with God； and then while
Heaven propitious smiles； fortune will scarcely dare to frown。＇12＇
＇12＇ Or； 〃and then by the grace of Heaven you may win the smiles of
fortune；〃 reading with Courier； etc。； ｛ina kai e tukhe sunepaine｝。 Cf。
〃Cyrop。〃 III。 iii。 20。
At times there is no more effective fraud than a make…believe＇13＇ of
over…caution alien to the spirit of adventure。 This itself will put the enemy
off his guard and ten to one will lure him into some egregious blunder； or
conversely； once get a reputation for foolhardiness established； and then
with folded hands sit feigning future action； and see what a world of
trouble you will thereby cause your adversary。
＇13＇ S。 15 should perhaps stand before S。 13。
VI
But； after all； no man； however great his plastic skill； can hope to
mould and shape a work of art to suit his fancy； unless the stuff on which
he works be first prepared and made ready to obey the craftsman's will。
Nor certainly where the raw material consists of men； will you succeed；
unless； under God's blessing； these same men have been prepared and
made ready to meet their officer in a friendly spirit。 They must come to
look upon him as of greater sagacity than themselves in all that concerns
encounter with the enemy。 This friendly disposition on the part of his
subordinates； one must suppose； will best be fostered by a corresponding
sympathy on the part of their commander towards the men themselves；
and that not by simple kindness but by the obvious pains he takes on their
behalf； at one time to provide them with food； and at another to secure
safety of retreat； or again by help of outposts and the like； to ensure
protection during rest and sleep。
When on active service＇1＇ the commander must prove himself
conspicuously careful in the matter of forage； quarters； water…supply；
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outposts；＇2＇ and all other requisites； forecasting the future and keeping
ever a wakeful eye in the interest of those under him； and in case of any
advantage wo