the cavalry general(骑兵队长)-第7章
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more fitly be described as treason to one's fellow…combatants than true
manliness。 So； too； true generalship consists in attacking where the enemy
is weakest； even if the point be some leagues distant。 Severity of toil
weighs nothing in the scale against the danger of engaging a force superior
to your own。＇17＇ Still； if on any occasion the enemy advance in any way
to place himself between fortified points that are friendly to you； let him
be never so superior in force； your game is to attack on whichever flank
you can best conceal your advance； or； still better； on both flanks
simultaneously； since； while one detachment is retiring after delivering its
attack； a charge pressed home from the opposite quarter cannot fail to
throw the enemy into confusion and to give safety to your friends。
＇17＇ N。B。 Throughout this treatise the author has to meet the case of
a small force of cavalry acting on the defensive。
How excellent a thing it is to endeavour to ascertain an enemy's
position by means of spies and so forth； as in ancient story； yet best of all；
in my opinion； is it for the commander to try to seize some coign of
vantage； from which with his own eyes he may descry the movements of
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The Cavalry General
the enemy and watch for any error on his part。＇18＇
＇18＇ As； e。g。 Epaminondas at Tegea。 See 〃Hell。〃 VII。 v。 9。
Whatever may be snatched by ruse； thief fashion；＇19＇ your business is
to send a competent patrol to seize； or again where capture by coup de
main＇20＇ is practicable； you will despatch a requisite body of troops to
effect a coup de main。 Or take the case： the enemy is on the march in some
direction； and a portion of his force becomes detached from his main body
or through excess of confidence is caught straggling； do not let the
opportunity escape； but make it a rule always to pursue a weaker with a
stronger force。＇21＇ These； indeed； are rules of procedure； which it only
requires a simple effort of the mind to appreciate。 Creatures far duller of
wit than man have this ability： kites and falcons； when anything is left
unguarded； pounce and carry it off and retire into safety without being
caught； or wolves； again； will hunt down any quarry left widowed of its
guard； or thieve what they can in darksome corners。＇22＇ In case a dog
pursues and overtakes them； should he chance to be weaker the wolf
attacks him； or if stronger； the wolf will slaughter＇23＇ his quarry and make
off。 At other times； if the pack be strong enough to make light of the
guardians of a flock； they will marshal their battalions； as it were； some to
drive off the guard and others to effect the capture； and so by stealth or fair
fight they provide themselves with the necessaries of life。 I say； if dumb
beasts are capable of conducting a raid with so much sense and skill； it is
hard if any average man cannot prove himself equally intelligent with
creatures which themselves fall victims to the craft of man。
＇19＇ e。g。 defiles； bridges； outposts； stores； etc。
＇20＇ e。g。 a line of outposts； troops in billets or bivouac； etc。
＇21＇ 〃It is a maxim； the quarry should be weaker than the pursuer。〃
＇22＇ Zeune cf。 Ael。 〃N。 A。〃 viii。 14； on the skill of wolves in
hunting。
＇23＇ For ｛aposphaxas｝ Courier suggests ｛apospasas｝； 〃dragging off
what he can。〃
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V
Here is another matter which every horseman ought to know； and that
is within what distance a horse can overhaul a man on foot； or the interval
necessary to enable a slower horse to escape one more fleet。 It is the
business rather of the cavalry general to recognise at a glance the sort of
ground on which infantry will be superior to cavalry and where cavalry
will be superior to infantry。 He should be a man of invention； ready of
device to turn all circumstances to account； so as to give at one time a
small body of cavalry the appearance of a larger； and again a large the
likeness of a smaller body； he should have the craft to appear absent when
close at hand； and within striking distance when a long way off； he should
know exactly not only how to steal an enemy's position； but by a master
stroke of cunning＇1＇ to spirit his own cavalry away； and； when least
expected； deliver his attack。 Another excellent specimen of inventiveness
may be seen in the general's ability； while holding a weak position himself；
to conjure up so lively an apprehension in the enemy that he will not
dream of attacking； or conversely； when； being in a strong position himself；
he can engender a fatal boldness in the adversary to venture an attack。
Thus with the least cost to yourself； you will best be able to catch your
enemy tripping。
＇1＇ Or； 〃sleight of hand〃； and for ｛kleptein｝ = escamoter see 〃Anab。〃
IV。 vi。 11； 15； V。 vi。 9。
But to avoid suspicion of seeming to prescribe impossible feats； I will
set down； in so many words； the procedure in certain crucial instances。
The best safeguard against failure in any attempt to enforce pursuit or
conduct a retreat lies in a thorough knowledge of your horse's powers。＇2＇
But how is this experience to be got？ Simply by paying attention to their
behaviour in the peaceable manouvres of the sham fight； when there is no
real enemy to intervenehow the animals come off； in fact； and what
stamina they show in the various charges and retreats。
＇2＇ ｛empeiria｝； 〃empirical knowledge。〃
Or suppose the problem is to make your cavalry appear numerous。 In
the first place； let it be a fundamental rule； if possible； not to attempt to
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delude the enemy at close quarters； distance； as it aids illusion； will
promote security。 The next point is to bear in mind that a mob of horses
clustered together （owing perhaps to the creatures' size） will give a
suggestion of number； whereas scattered they may easily be counted。
Another means by which you may give your troop an appearance of
numerical strength beyond reality consists in posting； in and out between
the troopers； so many lines of grooms＇3＇ who should carry lances if
possible； or staves at any rate to look like lancesa plan which will serve
alike whether you mean to display your cavalry force at the halt or are
deploying to increase front； in either case； obviously the bulk and volume
of the force； whatever your formation； will appear increased。 Conversely；
if the problem be to make large numbers appear small； supposing you
have ground at command adapted to concealment； the thing is simple： by
leaving a portion of your men exposed and hiding away a portion in
obscurity； you may effect your object。＇4＇ But if the ground nowhere
admits of cover； your b
