the cavalry general(骑兵队长)-第11章
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generals；＇12＇ in attacking a force which they imagine to be inferior to their
own； will advance with a ridiculously insufficient force；＇13＇ so that it is
the merest accident if they do not experience the injury they were minded
to inflict。 Conversely； in attacking any enemy whose superiority is a well…
known fact； they will bring the whole of their force into action。
＇12＇ Or； 〃one knows of generals；〃 e。g。 Iphicrates at Oneion； 369 B。C。
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
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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；
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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。
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＇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 th
