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can hardly show his wisdom better than by sending out advanced patrols
in front of the ordinary exploring parties to reconnoitre every inch of
ground minutely。 So to be apprised of the enemy's position in advance； and
at as great a distance off as possible； cannot fail to be useful； whether for
purposes of attack or defence； just as it is useful also to enforce a halt at
the passage of a river or some other defile； so that the men in rear may not
knock their horses all to bits in endeavouring to overtake their leader。
These are precepts known； I admit； to nearly all the world； but it is by no
means every one who will take pains to apply them carefully。＇7＇
＇7＇ See 〃Econ。〃 xx。 6。 foll。
It is the business of the hipparch to take infinite precautions while it is
still peace； to make himself acquainted with the details； not only of his
own； but of the hostile territory；＇8＇ or if； as may well betide； he personally
should lack the knowledge； he should invite the aid of others＇9＇those
best versed in the topography of any district。 Since there is all the
difference in the world between a leader acquainted with his roads and one
who is not； and when it comes to actual designs upon the enemy； the
difference between knowing and not knowing the locality can hardly be
exaggerated。
＇8＇ Or； 〃with hostile and friendly territories alike。〃
＇9＇ Lit。 〃he should associate with himself those of the rest〃； i。e。
his colleagues or other members of the force。
So； too； with regard to spies and intelligencers。 Before war commences
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your business is to provide yourself with a supply of people friendly to
both states； or maybe merchants （since states are ready to receive the
importer of goods with open arms）； sham deserters may be found
occasionally useful。＇10＇ Not； of course； that the confidence you feel in
your spies must ever cause you to neglect outpost duty； indeed your state
of preparation should at any moment be precisely what it ought to be；
supposing the approach or the imminent arrival of the enemy were to be
announced。 Let a spy be ever so faithful； there is always the risk he may
fail to report his intelligence at the critical moment； since the obstacles
which present themselves in war are not to be counted on the fingers。
＇10＇ Cf。 〃Cyrop。〃 VI。 i。 39； where one of the Persians； Araspas；
undertakes to play this role to good effect。
But to proceed to another topic。 The enemy is less likely to get wind of
an advance of cavalry； if the orders for march were passed from mouth to
mouth rather than announced by voice of herald； or public notice。＇11＇
Accordingly； in addition to＇12＇ this method of ordering the march by word
passed along the line； the appointment of file… leaders seems desirable；
who again are to be supplemented by section… leaders；＇13＇ so that the
number of men to whom each petty officer has to transmit an order will be
very few；＇14＇ while the section…leaders will deploy and increase the front；
whatever the formation； without confusion； whenever there is occasion for
the movement。＇15＇
＇11＇ i。e。 〃given by general word of command； or in writing。〃 As to the
〃word…of…mouth command；〃 see above； S。 3； 〃Hell。〃
VII。 v。 9； and for the 〃herald；〃 see 〃Anab。〃 III。 iv。 36。
＇12＇ Reading ｛pros to dia p。｝； or if ｛pros to｝ 。 。 。 transl。 〃with a
view to。〃
＇13＇ Lit。 pempadarchs； i。e。 No。 6 in the file。 See 〃Cyrop。〃 II。 i。 22
foll。； iii。 21。
＇14＇ Lit。 〃so that each officer may pass the word to as few as
possible。〃
＇15＇ Cf。 〃Anab。〃 IV。 vi。 6。
When an advanced guard is needed； I say for myself I highly approve
of secret pickets and outposts； if only because in supplying a guard to
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protect your friends you are contriving an ambuscade to catch the enemy。
Also the outposts will be less exposed to a secret attack； being themselves
unseen； and yet a source of great alarm to the enemy； since the bare
knowledge that there are outposts somewhere； though where precisely no
man knows； will prevent the enemy from feeling confident； and oblige
him to mistrust every tenable position。 An exposed outpost； on the
contrary； presents to the broad eye of day its dangers and also its
weaknesses。＇16＇ Besides which； the holder of a concealed outpost can
always place a few exposed vedettes beyond his hidden pickets； and so
endeavour to decoy the enemy into an ambuscade。 Or he may play the part
of trapper with effect by placing a second exposed outpost in rear of the
other； a device which may serve to take in the unwary foeman quite as
well as that before named。
＇16＇ Lit。 〃makes plain its grounds of terror as of confidence。〃
Indeed I take it to be the mark of a really prudent general never to run
a risk of his own choosing； except where it is plain to him beforehand； that
he will get the better of his adversary。 To play into the enemy's hands may
more fitly be described as treason to one's fellow…combatants than true
manliness。 So； too； true generalship consists in attacking where the enemy
is weakest； even if the point be some leagues distant。 Severity of toil
weighs nothing in the scale against the danger of engaging a force superior
to your own。＇17＇ Still； if on any occasion the enemy advance in any way
to place himself between fortified points that are friendly to you； let him
be never so superior in force； your game is to attack on whichever flank
you can best conceal your advance； or； still better； on both flanks
simultaneously； since； while one detachment is retiring after delivering its
attack； a charge pressed home from the opposite quarter cannot fail to
throw the enemy into confusion and to give safety to your friends。
＇17＇ N。B。 Throughout this treatise the author has to meet the case of
a small force of cavalry acting on the defensive。
How excellent a t