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

XXV.GAZA AND EGYPT. SEPTEMBER, B. C. 332, TO SPRING,B. C. 331.From Tyre Alexander marched to Gaza on the way to Egypt. This town,the outpost protecting the road to Egypt, under Batis, made stern resistance tothe conqueror. It was captured only after a two months' siege, and by theerection of mounds and works of remarkable extent. The garrison was exterminated,and Batis treated with unnecessary cruelty. From here Alexanderwent to Egypt, which he found no difficulty in reducing. He laid out Alexandria,and visited the temple of Jupiter Ammon. He might have kept on toCarthage, but learning of Darius' new army, he turned back. The ^geanfleet had completed its work, and Alexander had possession of the whole Mediterraneanand its coast. He could advance into the interior with safety.It was early September. All Syria except Gaza had submittedto Alexander. But Gaza must be reduced. This citywas situated near the edge o£ the desert on higher groundthan the level of the plain and on an artificial eminence sixtyfeet high, and was by far the most formidable place in southernSyria, a bidwark, as it were, which dominated the roadfrom Damascus to Egypt, from the Red Sea to Tyre, and hadbeen the fortress from which the restless population of thatcountry had been controlled by Persia. It had been intrustedby Darius to one of his most faithful servants, and victualedfor a long siege by the Eunuch Batis, its commander, who,with a eye single to his master's interest and honor, believedthat he could hold the fort with his Persian garrison andArab contingent, and thereby keep the Egyptians in subjectionuntil Darius could again gather a new army, and come inhis might to chase this overbearing adventurer from the sacredsoil of Asia. Batis knew that Alexander had captured Tyre