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

472 SOGDIANA IN ARMS.Dajins, the Sacse were reported to have joined in the insurrection;and Oxyartes, Catanes, Chorienes, Haustanes andmany other noted chiefs wereScythian Archers.fostering it.Alexander understoodthat this was stillpart and parcel of the insurrectionof the seven towns,and now fully comprehendedthe gravity of his situation.But he also saw that hemust protect himself againstan invasion of the Scythians befoi-e he could turn onSpitamenes. He was therefore fain to content himselfwith sending: against the rebels a force under Andromachus,Menedemus, and Caranus, consisting of eight hundred Greekmercenary cavalry and fifteenhundred Greek mercenary infantry.To these he associated (Arrian says placed overthem) an interpreter, Pharnuches, who had shown himselfclever in dealing with the barbarians. For he believed thepopulation in bulk to be more inclined to peace than war.This force, at all events, he felt could create a diversion sufficientto enable him to finish the Jaxartes problem beforeturning southward.It was plain that the Scythian question must be settled beforethe Bactrian.Alexander could not turn back from theJaxartes except distinctly as conqueror. The body of Scythianson the other shore was as yet small, but vast hordeswere probably assembling on the desert in their rear.Shouldhe retire without making them feel the weight of his hand,he would have the most troublesome ofenemies on his heels,so soon as he retired. Now, as always, Alexander took thebroadest views of the military problem before him. Thedetails were secondary.To compel a favorable outcome to