Alexander : a history of the origin and growth of the art of war from ...

xivPREFACE.created to conform to the relations of the authorities. Suchis the chart of Aornus. The larger part of the Eastern conquestsof Alexander are practically inaccessible to the moderntraveler, and no geographer has been able to secure morethan general accuracy. The local topography is quite unknown.In such cases the chart is merely suggestive, and isinserted as it were as a part of the text. Helpfulness to thereader has been sought rather than artistic excellence. Thereare some slight variations between charts and maps, but noneof moment. The scales of miles may not in all cases bequite exact. There is an occasional variation between chartand text. In such cases the text is to be followed. Themaps and charts are usually north and south.The relativesizes of the blocks of troops are not meant to be accurate.Sometimes exaggeration is resorted to to make the meaningof a manoeuvre more plain.Accuracy is not always possible.The peculiar use of the charts is to elucidate the text. Betweencharts and text it is hoped that the book will be easyto read, and the author believes that a single perusal of thebattle of Arbela will make its general features as plain asthose of the battle of Gettysburg. Lest any part of thebook should prove duU, so that the reader may desire to exerthis right to skip, short arguments at the heads of the chaptershave been provided, specific enough to preserve the continuityof the narrative.The cuts ofuniforms, arms and siege-devices will be foundinteresting. Most of them have their origin in old architecturalor ceramic decoration. The dress and arms of the soldiersare largely taken from Kretchmar-Rohrbach's Trachtender Vblker, whose materials are copied from the ruins and therelics of the ancient world.Among very recent writers, the author desires to acknowledgehis indebtedness to Prince Galitzin, whose just com-