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Wherein consists the golden mean； will not be hard to find； since
〃every man a standard to himself；〃＇1＇ applies； and your sensations are
an index to prevent your fellows being overdone through inadvertence。
＇1＇ The phrase is proverbial。 Cf。 Plat。 〃Theaet。〃 183 B。
But now supposing you are on the march in some direction； and it is
uncertain whether you will stumble on the enemy； your duty is to rest
your squadrons in turn； since it will go hard with you； if the enemy
come to close quarters when the whole force is dismounted。＇2＇ Or；
again； suppose the roads are narrow； or you have to cross a defile；
you will pass； by word of mouth； the command to diminish the front；＇3＇
or given； again； you are debouching on broad roads； again the word of
command will pass by word of mouth； to every squadron； 〃to increase
their front〃； or lastly； supposing you have reached flat country； 〃to
form squadron in order of battle。〃 If only for the sake of practice；
it is well to go through evolutions of the sort；＇4＇ besides which it
adds pleasure to the march thus to diversify the line of route with
cavalry mavouvres。
＇2＇ See 〃Hell。〃 V。 iv。 40 for a case in point。
＇3＇ Or； 〃advance by column of route。〃 See 〃Hell。〃 VII。 iv。 23。
＇4＇ Or； 〃it is a pleasant method of beguiling the road。〃 Cf。 Plat。
〃Laws；〃 i。 625 B。
Supposing； however； you are off roads altogether and moving fast over
difficult ground； no matter whether you are in hostile or in friendly
territory； it will be useful if the scouts attached to squadrons＇5＇
rode on in advance； their duty being； in case of encountering pathless
clefts or gullies； to work round on to practicable ground； and to
discover at what point the troopers may effect a passage； so that
whole ranks may not go blindly roaming。＇6＇
＇5＇ ｛ton upereton｝ = 〃ground scouts；〃 al。 〃orderlies。〃 Ordonnances；
trabans （Courier）。 See Rustow and Kochly； p。 140。 〃Cyrop。〃 II。 i。
21； II。 iv。 4； V。 iii。 52； VII。 v。 18； and VI。 ii。 13； 〃Anab。〃 I。
ix。 27； II。 i。 9； where 〃adjutants；〃 〃orderlies〃 would seem to be
implied。
＇6＇ Al。 〃to prevent whole divisions losing their way。〃 Cf。 〃Anab。〃
VIII。 iii。 18。
Again； if there is prospect of danger on the march； a prudent general
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
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
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 whic