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

BUILDING CITIES. 355neers, whom he had sent out with a vanguard, had undertakento build two bridges of boats. They had not completed themto the farther bank, for Mazieus with live thousand cavalryand two thousand Greek mercenaries, under orders fromDarius, was guarding the river. But they had the worksubstantially done. This force under Mazaius was the farthestoutpost of the new army which Darius had raised todefend his kingdom. On hearing of Alexander's arrival,Mazaeus at once decamped. He could do no good in disputingthe passage, for Darius was already prepared to meet theinvader, and anxious for the encounter. The military theoryunder which thePersians seemed to be acting, was thatof allowing Alexander to come into the very heart of thekingdom, where, presumably, if beaten, he could be moreutterly destroyed. And in this view Mazaius' orders wereconfined to reconnoitring and reporting Alexander's movements.Delay was the last thing Darius wished. The bridgeswere completed, and one other which Mazaeus had brokendown was repaired.Alexander laid the foundation of a city, Nicephonium, atthis spot, before he crossed into Mesopotamia, a work whichconsumed some weeks. This constant founding of cities wasin pursuance of a clearly defined policy. It had three objects,— one, to provide an asylum for the wounded or invalidedMacedonian soldiers who were no longer fitted for thefield ; again, to form a chain of military posts on the line ofcommunications ; and the third, to build up in the countrya knowledge of Hellenic arts and methods.In so founding acity its outline was first drawn up by the engineers upon thesite selected, then the location for a citadel was chosen andprotected by a ditch and rampart, and gradually made strongthen the inhabitants of the surrounding country were invitedto come in and settle under the protection of the garrison, and