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

XV.THE DANUBE. B. C. 335.There remained the task of quieting the northern and western borders, awork Philip had ably begun but had not lived to finish. The tribes along theDanube had risen en masse, and those in the mountains of lUyria had bandedtogether. They had heard of the death of Philip, and knew not Alexander.The king headed for Mount Hsemus. Here the barbarians had drawn up infront of the only available defile, and had disposed their wagons in such fashionas to roll them down upon the phalanx. By so arranging his men that theycould form lanes through the ranks to allow some of the wagons to pass, andby ordering the rest to form a tortoise and permit the wagons to roll across it,this singular danger was averted.The enemy was then attacked and dispersed.Beyond Mount Hsemus the Triballians endeavored to get around to his rear,but Alexander turned on them, and in a sharply contested battle at the Lyginussignally defeated them.At the Danube he met his fleet, which had been orderedfrom Byzantium to and up the river. Most of the tribes had taken refuge onan island in the river. Alexander sought to drive them out ; but the steepbanks and rapid current prevented his so doing. He then crossed the Danube— an able performance — and inflicted due chastisement on the Getae. Thiswas followed by the surrender of all the rest, including the refugees on theisland.Alexander's borders to the Danube could be deemed secure.Before Alexander could start on his expedition againstPersia, he saw that he must reduce to subjection some ofthesavao-e tribes on his own borders. These tribes had been inpart subdued by Philip, in part received as allies, in partpunished whenever they attempted inroads on Macedonia,and thus held in temporary check. Now the lUyrians, underClitus, whom Philip had in bloody conflict pushed back ofLake Lychnitis, and the Taulantinians from the coast nearAppolonia and Dyrracchium, under their chief Glaucias,and the Autariatians from the valleys to the north of theselatter, all rose en masse. But even more dangerous were