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

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

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204 SINGULAR DRILL.review, with its holiday aspect <strong>and</strong> its deadly intent ; <strong>the</strong> hills<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> walls <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> town crowded with myi'iads <strong>of</strong> wonderingbarbarians ; <strong>the</strong> Macedonian soldiers in equal wonder asto what <strong>the</strong>ir chief was about to do, but trusting with blindconfidence that this young king, <strong>of</strong> whom <strong>the</strong>y were so proud,would wield <strong>the</strong>ir skill <strong>and</strong> courage as he could his own goodsword.Never was so curious, so niaguificeut a ruse employedin <strong>war</strong> before ;never since./7'"^ DRILL. X NSlPelium Manoeuvre.The phalangites drilled in perfect quiet, with set teeth <strong>and</strong>purpose, listening intently for <strong>the</strong> comm<strong>and</strong>s which <strong>the</strong> buglesrang out sharp <strong>and</strong> clear. First <strong>the</strong>y sm<strong>art</strong>ly couched <strong>the</strong>irspears at <strong>the</strong> word <strong>of</strong> comm<strong>and</strong>, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>n as sm<strong>art</strong>ly shouldered<strong>the</strong>m, each with <strong>the</strong> thud <strong>of</strong> a perfect manual ;goingthrough <strong>the</strong>ir times <strong>and</strong> motions with <strong>the</strong> precision <strong>of</strong> an inspectionat Pella. Next <strong>the</strong>y faced to <strong>the</strong> right, <strong>and</strong> couched<strong>the</strong>ir spears as if to attack <strong>the</strong> enemy on that front; butinstead <strong>of</strong> so doing were again made to rehearse <strong>the</strong> manual.Again <strong>the</strong> phalanx was faced to <strong>the</strong> left as iffor similar purpose,<strong>and</strong> on each occasion <strong>the</strong> enemy on <strong>the</strong> threatened side

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