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

344 GAZA BESIEGED.with liis fleet. Vessels covild not approach his fortress. Gazawas some two miles inland, — Strabo says but seven stades ;the coast was marshy and bad for landing ; the fleet here wasuseless. Batis was satisfied that he was safe.Alexander, on his arrival, camped near the weakest-lookingpart of the wall on the south side, and ordered suitable enginesto be built for its reduction. The engineers were ofopinion that no towers could be erected from which the wallsGaza.could be successfully reached and battered down, owing to theheight of the ground on which they were built above the levelof the plain. But Alexander would consider no difficultywhatever. After Tyre, was there any city which could resisthim? He began the construction of a mound around thecity, beginning on the south side where the walls seemed leaststout ; and here, too, the mound was largest. In an almostincredibly short time this mound had — probably only inplaces — risen to a height such that the engines could be setat work upon the walls. It Is not improbable that there wereseveral of these mounds.