the cavalry general-第9节
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Cf。 〃Hell。〃 VI。 v。 51。
＇13＇ Lit。 〃an absolutely weak force。〃
Now； my maxim would be precisely converse： if you attack with a
prospect of superiority； do not grudge employing all the power at your
command； excess of victory＇14＇ never yet caused any conqueror one pang
of remorse。
＇14＇ Or； 〃a great and decided victory。〃 Cf。 〃Hiero；〃 ii。 16。
But in any attempt to attack superior forces； in full certainty that；
do what you can； you must eventually retire； it is far better； say I；
under these circumstances to bring a fraction only of your whole force
into action； which fraction should be the pick and flower of the
troops at your command； both horses and men。 A body of that size and
quality will be able to strike a blow and to fall back with greater
security。 Whereas； if a general brings all his troops into action
against a superior force； when he wishes to retire； certain things
must happen： those of his men who are worse mounted will be captured；
others through lack of skill in horsemanship will be thrown； and a
third set be cut off owing to mere difficulties of ground； since it is
impossible to find any large tract of country exactly what you would
desire。 If for no other reason； through sheer stress of numbers there
will be collisions； and much damage done by kicks through mutual
entanglement； whereas a pick of horse and men will be able to escape
offhand；＇15＇ especially if you have invention to create a scare in the
minds of the pursuers by help of the moiety of troops who are out of
action。＇16＇ For this purpose false ambuscades will be of use。
＇15＇ Or； 〃by themselves；〃 reading ｛ex auton｝； as L。 Dind。 suggests。
Cf。 Polyb。 x。 40。 6； or if as vulg。 ｛ex auton｝ （sub。 ｛kheiron｝；
Weiske）； transl。 〃to slip through their fingers。〃
＇16＇ Zeune and other commentators cf Liv。 v。 38 （Diod。 xiv。 114）； but
the part played by the Roman subsidiarii at the battle of the
Allia； if indeed 〃una salus fugientibus；〃 was scarcely happy。
Would not 〃Hell。〃 VII。 v。 26 be more to the point？ The detachment
of cavalry and infantry placed by Epaminondas 〃on certain crests；
to create an apprehension in the minds of the Athenians〃 in that
quarter of the field at Mantinea was a ｛mekhanema｝ of the kind
here contemplated。
Another serviceable expedient will be to discover on which side a
friendly force may suddenly appear and without risk to itself put a
drag on the wheels of the pursuer。 Nay； it is self…evident； I think；
that； as far as work and speed are concerned； it is the small body
which will assert its superiority more rapidly over the larger； and
not vice versanot of course that the mere fact of being a small body
will enable them to endure toil or give them wings； but simply it is
easier to find five men than five hundred； who will take the requisite
care and pains with their horses； and personally practise of their own
accord the art of horsemanship。
But suppose the chance should occur of entering the lists against an
equal number of the enemy's cavalry； according to my judgment it were
no bad plan to split the squadron into divisions；＇17＇ the first of
which should be commanded by the squadron…leader； and the other by the
ablest officer to be found。 This second…officer will for the time
being follow in rear of the leading division with the squadron leader；
and by and by； when the antagonist is in near proximity； and when the
word of command is passed； form squadron to the front and charge the
hostile ranks＇18＇a manouvre calculated； as I conceive； to bring the
whole mass down upon the enemy with paralysing force； and to cause him
some trouble to extricate himself。 Ideally speaking； both
divisions＇19＇ will be backed by infantry kept in rear of the cavalry；
these will suddenly disclose themselves； and rushing to close
quarters； in all probability clench the nail of victory。＇20＇ So at any
rate it strikes me； seeing as I do the effects of what is unexpected
how； in the case of good things； the soul of man is filled to
overflowing with joy； and again； in the case of things terrible；
paralysed with amazement。 In proof of what I say； let any one reflect
on the stupor into which a body of men with all the weight of
numerical advantage on their side will be betrayed by falling into an
ambuscade； or again； on the exaggerated terror mutually inspired in
belligerents during the first few days； of finding themselves posted
in face of one another。
＇17＇ Or； 〃troops。〃
＇18＇ Possibly on flank。 See Courier； p。 35； on Spanish cavalry
tactics。
＇19＇ Lit。 〃supposing both divisions to be backed by footmen；〃 etc。
＇20＇ Or； 〃achieve a much more decisive victory。〃 Cf。 〃Cyrop。〃 III。
iii。 28。
To make these dispositions is not hard； the difficulty is to discover
a body of men who will dash forward＇21＇ and charge an enemy as above
described intelligently and loyally； with an eager spirit and
unfailing courage。 That is a problem for a good cavalry general to
solve。 I mean an officer who must be competent to so assert himself in
speech or action＇22＇ that those under him will no longer hesitate。
They will recognise of themselves that it is a good thing and a right
to obey；＇23＇ to follow their leader； to rush to close quarters with
the foe。 A desire will consume them to achieve some deed of glory and
renown。 A capacity will be given them patiently to abide by the
resolution of their souls。
＇21＇ ｛parelontas｝； in reference to S。 18 above； ｛parelaunoi｝； 〃form
squadron to the front。〃
＇22＇ 〃To be this； he must be able as an orator as well as a man of
action。〃 Cf。 〃Mem。〃 II。 ii。 11。
＇23＇ Cf。 Tennyson's 〃The Charge of the Light Brigade〃：
Their's not to make reply；
Their's not to reason why；
Their's but to do and die。
To turn to another matter； take the case in which you have two armeis
facing one another in battle order； or a pair of fortresses＇24＇
belonging to rival powers； and in the space between all kinds of
cavalry manouvres are enacted； wheelings and charges and retreats。＇25＇
Under such circumstances the custom usually is for either party after
wheeling to set off at a slow pace and to gallop full speed only in
the middle of the course。 But now suppose that a commander； after
making feint＇26＇ in this style； presently on wheeling quickens for the
charge and quickens to retirehe will be able to hit the enemy far
harder； and pull through absolutely without scathe himself most
likely； through charging at full speed whilst in proximity to his own
stronghold （or main body）； and quickening to a gallop as he retires
from the stronghold （or main body） of the enemy。 If further； he could
secretly contrive to leave behind four or five troopers； the bravest
and best mounted of the squadron； it would give them an immense
advantage in falling upon the enemy whilst wheeling to return to the
charge。＇27＇
＇24＇ Al。 〃fields and farmsteads between。〃
＇25＇ Or； 〃retirements；〃 see 〃Horsemanship；〃 viii。 12； 〃Cyrop。〃 V。 iv。
8； 〃Hell。〃 IV。 ii。 6； 〃Ages。〃 ii。 3。
＇26＇ Or； 〃having precluded in this fashion。 See Theocr。 xxii。 102：
｛ton men anax ataraxen etosia khersi prodeiknus Pantothen｝；
〃feinting on every side〃 （A。 Lang）。 Al。 〃having given due warning
of his intention。〃 Cf。 Aristot。 〃H。 A。〃 ix。 37。
＇27＇ Cf。 Aristoph。 〃Knights；〃 244 （Demosthenes calls to the
hipparchs＇？＇）：
｛andres eggus 。 all' amunou； kapanastrephou palin｝。
IX
To read these observations over a few times will be sufficient； but
for giving them effect the officer will need perpetually to act as
circumstances require。＇1＇ He must take in the situation at a glance；
and carry out unflinchingly whatever is expedient for the moment。 To
set down in writing everything that he must do； is not a whit more
possible than to know the future as a whole。＇2＇ But of all hints and
suggestions the most important to my mind is this： whatever you
determine to be right； with diligence endeavour to perform。 For be it
tillage of the soil； or trading； or seafaring； or the art of ruling；
without pains applied to bring the matter to perfection； the best
theories in the world； the most correct conclusions； will be
fruitless。
＇1＇ ｛pros to para
