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

CHANGES. 393two companies, and placed reliable Companions incommand,supplementing the small offices with the old pages, who hadalready learned something of war.This gave him a largercadre which he could fill by drafts from the Oriental nations.Up to this time the Macedonians had always broken camp tothe sound of the trumpet, Alexander now introduced a systemof signals, partly by torches at night and smoke by day,given from a masthead erected near his headquarters. Hethus evaded giving the enemy notice of his intentions, andmade them clearer to his men. Prior to Arbela, the Macedoniansand Greeks always marched to battle chanting thepjean.At that battle Alexander, it will be remembered, gaveorders that the troops should not raise the battle-cry untilinstructed to do so, when it would have all the more effect.This was noted and acted on in after days. The reinforcementswhich Alexander received consisted of men, all ofwhom knew their trade, and could at once fall into the ranks.But they had to learn discipline. Alexander could teachthem that better than any one alive. It is always hard toimpose new rules on old and successful soldiers. Alexanderwisely chose a time when reinforcements were arriving, andnew elements were being introduced into the army to inauguratehis changes.Xenophon, speaking of certain officers, says :" Proxenesof Bceotia was made to command honest people ;he had notthat which is essential to inspire adventurers with respect orfear.Clearchus, on the other hand, always hard and cruel,could obtain from his soldiers only that sort of sentimentwhich children have for a schoolmaster." This is a crisp distinction,which every man in service has noticed.was of a different stamp.conquered peoples he was alike happy,AlexanderIn his treatment of his army or of" I have not come toAsia," said he, " to destroy nations ; I have come here that