by Onasander
[5] A marching formation that is compact and rectangular — not very much longer than its width — is safe and easy to manage for every emergency. A too greatly extended line of march may at times produce panic and apprehension due to uncertainty, for sometimes the leaders, after descending from mountains into treeless and level regions, observing those in the rear still descending, have thought the enemy were attacking, so that they have been on the point of marching against their own men as enemies, and some have even come to blows.
[6] Λαμβανέτω δὲ τὴν θεραπείαν καὶ τὰ ὑποζύγια καὶ τὴν ἀποσκευὴν ἅπασαν ἐν μέσῃ τῇ δυνάμει καὶ μὴ χωρίς· ἂν δὲ μὴ τὰ κατόπιν ἀσφαλῆ πάνυ καὶ εἰρηναῖα νομίζῃ, καὶ τὴν οὐραγίαν ἐκ τῶν ἐρρωμενεστάτων καὶ ἀνδρειοτάτων συνιστάσθω, μηθὲν διαφέρειν αὐτὴν οἰόμενος πρὸς τὰ συμβαίνοντα τῆς πρωτοπορείας.
[6] The general must place his medical equipment, pack animals, and all his baggage in the centre of his army, not outside. Should he consider that his rear is not quite secure and undisturbed he should form his rear guard of the most vigorous and courageous soldiers, realizing that, in the light of experience, the rear is no less important than the front.
[7] Προπεμπέτω δὲ ἱππεῖς τοὺς διερευνησομένους τὰς ὁδούς, καὶ μάλισθ’, ὅτ’ ἂν ὑλώδεις καὶ περικεκλασμένας λόφοις ἐρημίας διεξίῃ· πολλάκις γὰρ ἐνέδραι πολεμίων ὑποκαθέζονται, καὶ λαθοῦσαι μὲν ἔστιν ὅτε τὰ ὅλα συνέτριψαν τῶν ἐναντίων πράγματα, μὴ λαθοῦσαι δὲ διὰ μικρᾶς φροντίδος φρόνησιν μεγάλην ἐμαρτύρησαν τῷ πολεμίῳ στρατηγῷ.
[7] He must send ahead cavalry as scouts to search the roads, especially when advancing through a wooded country, or a wilderness broken up by ridges. For ambuscades are frequently set by the enemy, and sometimes failure to detect them brings complete disaster to the opposing side, while their discovery, by a slight precaution, attests to the general of the enemy great prudence on the part of his adversary.
[8] τὴν μὲν γὰρ πεδιάδα καὶ ψιλὴν ἡ πάντων ὄψις ἱκανὴ προερευνήσασθαι· καὶ γὰρ κονιορτὸς ἀναφερόμενος μέθ’ ἡμέραν ἐμήνυσεν τὴν τῶν πολεμίων ἔφοδον, καὶ πυρὰ καιόμενα νύκτωρ ἐπύρσευσεν τὴν ἐγγὺς στρατοπεδεῖαν.
[8] For in a level and treeless country a general survey is sufficient for a preliminary investigation; for a cloud of dust announces the approach of the enemy by day, and burning fires light up a near-by encampment at night.
[9] Ἀγέτω δὲ τὰς δυνάμεις, μὴ μέλλων μὲν ἐκτάξειν εἰς μάχην, ἐὰν ἐπείγηταί τι φθάνειν συντομώτερον, εἰ ἀσφαλὲς εἶναι νομίζοι, καὶ νύκτωρ· μέλλων δὲ κρίνειν ἅμα τῷ σύνοπτον γενέσθαι τοῖς πολεμίοις εὐθὺς τὰ πράγματα διὰ μάχης σχολῇ προΐτω καὶ μὴ πολλὴν ἀνυέτω· πολλάκις γὰρ πρὸ τῶν κινδύνων ὁ κόπος ἐδαπάνησεν τὴν ἀκμὴν τῶν σωμάτων.
[9] If the general is not about to form his line of battle, but is hurrying to be the first to arrive at a given point, he should lead his army by night marches also, provided he thinks it safe. But if he intends to decide the issue by battle as soon as he comes in sight of the enemy, he should at once advance slowly and not try to march too far; for in many cases, before the actual fighting, fatigue lessens men’s physical fitness.
[10] Διοδεύων δὲ συμμαχίδα γῆν παραγγελλέτω τοῖς στρατεύμασιν ἀπέχεσθαι τῆς χώρας, καὶ μήτ’ ἄγειν τι μήτε φθείρειν· ἀφειδὲς γὰρ πλῆθος ἅπαν ἐν ὅπλοις, ὅτ’ ἂν ἔχῃ τὴν τοῦ δύνασθαί τι ποιεῖν ἐξουσίαν, καὶ ἡ ἐγγὺς ὄψις ἀγαθῶν δελεάζει τοὺς ἀλογίστους ἐπὶ πλεονεξίαν· μικραὶ δὲ προφάσεις ἢ ἀπηλλοτρίωσαν συμμάχους ἢ καὶ παντελῶς ἐξεπολέμωσαν.
[10] When passing through the country of an ally, the general must order his troops not to lay hands on the country, nor to pillage or destroy; for every army under arms is ruthless, when it has the opportunity of exercising power, and the close view of desirable objects entices the thoughtless to greediness; while small reasons alienate allies or make them quite hostile.
[11] τὴν δὲ τῶν πολεμίων φθειρέτω καὶ καιέτω καὶ τεμνέσθω· ζημία γὰρ χρημάτων καὶ καρπῶν ἔνδεια μειοῖ πόλεμον, ὡς περιουσία τρέφει. προανατεινέσθω μέντοι πρῶτον, ὃ μέλλει ποιεῖν· πολλάκις γὰρ ἡ τοῦ μέλλοντος ἔσεσθαι δεινοῦ προσδοκία συνηνάγκασε, πρὶν ἢ παθεῖν, ὑποσχέσθαι τι τοὺς κινδυνεύοντας ὧν πρότερον οὐκ ἐβουλήθησαν ποιεῖν· ἐπειδὰν δ’ ἅπαξ πάθωσιν, ὡς οὐδὲν ἔτι χεῖρον ὀψόμενοι τῶν λοιπῶν καταφρονοῦσιν.
[11] But the country of the enemy he should ruin and burn and ravage, for loss of money and shortage of crops reduce warfare, as abundance nourishes it. But first he should let the enemy know what he intends to do; for often the expectation of impending terror has brought those who have been endangered, before they have suffered at all, to terms which they previously would not have wished to accept; but when they have once suffered a reverse, in the belief that nothing can be worse they are careless of future perils.
[12] εἰ δὲ πολὺν ἐν τῇ πολεμίᾳ μέλλει καταστρατοπεδεύειν χρόνον, τοσαῦτα καὶ τοιαῦτα φθειρέτω τῆς χώρας ὧν αὐτὸς οὐχ ἕξει χρεῖαν, ἄττα δὲ ἀναγκαῖα φυλαχθέντα τοῖς φιλίοις ἔσται, τούτων φειδέσθω.
[12] If he intends to encamp for some time in the enemy’s country, he must destroy only things of such a number and sort as he himself will not need; whatever, if preserved, will be of advantage to his friends he should spare.
[13] Τῶν δὲ δυνάμεων ἐκπεπληρωμένων μήτ’ ἐπὶ τῆς ἰδιοκτήτου μήτ’ ἐπὶ τῆς ὑπηκόου μήτ’ ἐπὶ τῆς συμμαχίδος καθεζόμενος ἐγχρονιζέτω χώρας· τοὺς γὰρ ἰδίους ἀναλώσει καρποὺς καὶ ζημιώσει πλέον τοὺς φίλους ἢ τοὺς πολεμίους· μεταγέτω δ’ ὡς θᾶττον, ἐὰν ἀκίνδυνα ᾖ τὰ οἴκοι, τὰς δυνάμεις· ἐκ γὰρ τῆς πολεμίας, εἰ μὲν εἴη δαψιλὴς καὶ εὐδαίμων, τροφὴν ἕξει καὶ ἄφθονον, εἰ δὲ μή, τήν γε φιλίαν οὐ λυμανεῖται, πολλὰ δ’ ὅμως καὶ ἀπὸ λυπρᾶς τῆς ἀλλοτρίας ἕξει πλεονεκτήματα.
[13] When the army is recruited to full strength, he must not settle down and stay either in his own country, or in that of a subject nation, or in that of an ally; for he will consume his own crops, and do more damage to his friends than to his enemies. He should lead out his forces over the frontier as soon as possible, if matters are safe at home; for from the enemy’s country, if it is fertile and wealthy, he will have abundant provisions, but if it is not, he will at least not be injuring a friendly country, and he will still derive great gain even from the distress of the ho
stile country.
[14] Φροντιζέτω δὲ περί τε ἀγορὰς καὶ τῆς τῶν ἐμπόρων καὶ κατὰ γῆν καὶ κατὰ θάλατταν παραπομπῆς, ἵν’ ἀκινδύνου τῆς παρουσίας σφίσιν οὔσης ἀόκνως παρακομίζωσι τὸν εἰς τὰ ἐπιτήδεια φόρτον.
[14] He should consider the matter of supplies, and the convoying of his merchants by land and sea, that they may arrive safely at his base of supplies, and that they may without hesitation transport their cargoes of provisions.
VII. Περὶ τοῦ ὅταν διὰ στενῶν μέλλῃ τὸ στρατόπεδον ἄγειν
VII. ON LEADING AN ARMY THROUGH NARROW DEFILES
[1] Ἐπειδὰν δὲ ἤτοι διὰ στενῶν μέλλῃ ποιεῖσθαι τὴν πάροδον ἢ δι’ ὀρεινῆς καὶ δυσβάτου χώρας ἄγειν τὸν στρατόν, ἀναγκαῖον προεκπέμποντά τι μέρος τῆς δυνάμεως προκαταλαμβάνεσθαι τάς τε ὑπερβολὰς καὶ τὰς τῶν στενῶν παρόδους, μὴ φθάσαντες οἱ πολέμιοι καὶ καταστάντες ἐπὶ τῶν ἄκρων κωλύσωσι τὴν διεκβολὴν ποιεῖσθαι.
[1] Whenever the general intends to march through a narrow pass, or to lead his army over mountainous and difficult country, he must send ahead part of his force to occupy the mountain-passes and the defiles, lest the enemy, coming first, make a stand on the summits and prevent the army from crossing.
[2] τὸ δ’ αὐτὸ πεφροντίσθω, κἂν αὐτὸς δεδίῃ πολεμίων εἰσβολήν· οὐ γὰρ δὴ δρᾶσαι μὲν χρήσιμον, φυλάξασθαι δὲ παθεῖν οὐκ ἀναγκαῖον, οὐδὲ φθάσαι μὲν αὐτοὺς εἰσβαλόντας εἰς τὴν πολεμίαν ἐπεῖγον, ἀποκλεῖσαι δὲ τοὺς ἐναντίους ἐπὶ σφᾶς ἰόντας οὐ προνοητέον.
[2] This he should observe even if fearing an attack by the enemy. For naturally it is not advantageous to take the initiative, without also recognizing the necessity of taking precautions against injury; nor is it necessary to outstrip the enemy in making an invasion into his country, without taking measures to prevent the enemy from marching against one’s own country.
VIII. Περὶ τοῦ ποιεῖν χάρακα
VIII. ON MAKING A PALISADED CAMP
[1] Ἐν δὲ δὴ τῇ τῶν ἐχθρῶν καταστρατοπεδεύων χάρακα περιβαλέσθω καὶ τάφρον, κἂν ἐφ’ ἡμέραν μέλλῃ τὴν παρεμβολὴν θήσειν· ἀμετανόητος γὰρ ἡ τοιαύτη καὶ ἀσφαλὴς στρατοπεδεία διὰ τὰς αἰφνιδίους καὶ ἀπρολήπτους ἐπιβολάς. καθιστάτω δὲ φύλακας, κἂν μακρὰν εἶναι νομίζῃ τοὺς πολεμίους, ὡς ἐγγὺς ὄντων.
[1] When encamping in the territory of the enemy, the general should fortify his camp with a palisade and a ditch, even if planning to remain in camp but one day; for on account of sudden and unexpected attacks, a fortified camp of this sort will be safe and never regretted. He should place guards, even if he believes the enemy to be at a great distance, just as if they were at hand.
[2] ὅποι δ’ ἂν μέλλῃ πολυχρόνιον τίθεσθαι τὴν παρεμβολὴν οὐκ ἀντεπιόντων τῶν πολεμίων, ἐπὶ τῷ φθείρειν τὴν χώραν ποιούμενος τὴν μόνην ἢ καὶ καιροῖς ἐφεδρεύων βελτίοσιν, ἐκλεγέσθω χωρία μὴ ἑλώδη μηδὲ νοτερά· τὰ γὰρ τοιαῦτα ταῖς ἀναφοραῖς καὶ ταῖς ἀπὸ τῶν τόπων δυσωδίαις νόσους καὶ λοιμοὺς ἐμβάλλει στρατεύμασι, καὶ πολλῶν μὲν ἐκάκωσε τὰς εὐεξίας, πολλοὺς δὲ ἀπώλεσεν, ὥστε μὴ μόνον ὀλίγον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἀσθενὲς ἀπολείπεσθαι στράτευμα.
[2] Whenever the enemy are not attacking, and he intends to encamp for some time, either for the purpose of ravaging the country, or to await a more advantageous time for battle, he must choose a locality that is not marshy, nor damp; for such places by their rising vapours and rank smell bring disease and infection to the army, and both impair the health of many and kill many, so that the soldiers are left few in number and weakened in strength.
IX. Περὶ τοῦ συνεχῶς ὑπαλλάσσειν τὰ ἄπληκτα
IX. ON CONTINUALLY CHANGING CAMP
[1] Χρήσιμον δέ που καὶ σωτήριον στρατοπέδῳ μηδ’ ἐπὶ τῆς αὐτῆς μένειν παρεμβολῆς, ἐὰν μὴ χειμαδεύῃ καὶ τοῖς σκηνώμασι διὰ τὴν ὥραν τοῦ καιροῦ πεπολισμένη τυγχάνῃ· αἱ γὰρ τῶν ἀναγκαίων ἐκκρίσεις ἐπὶ τῶν αὐτῶν γιγνόμεναι χωρίων ἀτμοὺς διεφθορότας ἀναπέμπουσαι συμμεταβάλλουσιν καὶ τὴν τοῦ περιέχοντος ἀέρος χύσιν.
[1] The general will find it advantageous and healthful for his army not to remain long in the same camp, unless it is winter and the army happens to be in huts on account of the time of year; for the necessary bodily excrement, deposited in the same place, gives off rank vapours and taints all the surrounding air.
[2] ἐν δὲ ταῖς χειμασίαις γυμναζέτω τὰ στρατόπεδα καὶ πολεμικὰ καὶ σύντροφα ποιείσθω τοῖς δεινοῖς, μήτ’ ἀργεῖν ἐὼν μήτε ῥᾳθυμεῖν· ἡ μὲν γὰρ ἀργία τὰ σώματα μαλθακὰ καὶ ἀσθενῆ κατεσκεύασεν, ἡ δὲ ῥᾳθυμία τὰς ψυχὰς ἀνάνδρους καὶ δειλὰς ἐποίησεν· αἱ γὰρ ἡδοναὶ δελεάζουσαι τῷ καθ’ ἡμέραν συνήθει τὰς ἐπιθυμίας διαφθείρουσι καὶ τὸν εὐτολμότατον.
[2] In winter quarters he should exercise his army and train it to be skilled in war and accustomed to danger, permitting no idleness nor relaxation; for idleness makes the body soft and weak, while relaxation makes the soul cowardly and worthless; since pleasures, capturing the passions by the enticement of daily habit, corrupt even the most courageous man.
[3] ὅθεν οὐ μακρὰν ἀπάγειν τοὺς ἄνδρας τῶν πόνων· ἐπειδὰν γὰρ μετὰ χρόνον ἀναγκάζωνται πρὸς τὰ πολεμικὰ χωρεῖν, οὐθ’ ἡδέως ἐξίασιν οὔτ’ ἐπὶ πολὺ μένουσιν, ἀλλ’ ἐκδεδιῃτημένοι ταχὺ μὲν ὀρρωδοῦσι, πρὶν ἢ καὶ πείρασαι τὰ δεινά, ταχὺ δὲ καὶ πειράσαντες ἀποχωροῦσιν, οὔτ’ ἐλπίζειν οὔτε φέρειν τοὺς κινδύνους δυνάμενοι.
[3] For this reason the soldiers must never be without occupation. When after some time spent in idleness they are compelled to go against the enemy, they do not go willingly nor do they long stand their ground, but because they have departed from their former habits, they quickly become dismayed, even before making trial of danger, and even if they do make trial, they quickly retreat, being incapable either of feeling hope or of sustaining the stress of battle.
X. α´. Περὶ τοῦ δεῖν γυμνάζειν τὸν στρατὸν ἀδείας οὔσης
X. (1) THE NEED FOR CONTROLLING THE ARMY IN TIME OF PEACE
[1] Διόπερ ἀγαθοῦ στρατηγοῦ καὶ τὰ χρήσιμα τότε κατασκευάζειν, ὅτ’ οὐκ ἐπείγουσιν αἱ τῶν ἐκ παρατάξεως ἀγώνων ἀνάγκαι, καὶ τὰ ἄχρηστα διὰ τὴν τῶν σωμάτων ἄσκησιν ἐπιτάτ�
�ειν. ἱκανὴ γὰρ στρατοπέδοις ἄνεσις, κἂν σφόδρα ταλαίπωροι ὦσιν, ἢ μὴ διὰ τῶν δεινῶν εἰς τὸ ἀληθινὸν ἀγώνισμα πεῖρα. γυμναζέτω δὲ τοιοῖσδέ τισι τρόποις.
[1] On this account it is the duty of a good general to prepare what is useful for war, when the necessity of a pitched battle is not pressing. He should also assign unproductive tasks to keep the army in good condition. For it is sufficient relaxation for soldiers, even if they are very weary, to exercise in arms without the dangers involved in a real battle. The general should train his troops in some such manner as the following.
[2] Ἐκταττέτω πρῶτον ἀναδοὺς τὰ ὅπλα πᾶσιν, ἵν’ ἐν μελέτῃ σφίσιν ᾖ τὸ μένειν ἐν τάξει, καὶ ταῖς ὄψεσι καὶ τοῖς ὀνόμασι συνήθεις ἀλλήλοις γιγνόμενοι, τίς ὑπὸ τίνα καὶ ποῦ καὶ μετὰ πόσους, ὑπ’ ὀξὺ παράγγελμα πάντες ὦσιν ἐν τάξει· καὶ τάς τε ἐκτάσεις καὶ συστολὰς καὶ ἐγκλίσεις ἐπὶ λαιὰ καὶ δεξιά, καὶ λόχων μεταγωγὰς καὶ διαστήματα καὶ πυκνώσεις, καὶ τὰς δι’ ἀλλήλων ἀντεξόδους καὶ εἰσόδους, καὶ τὰς κατὰ λόχους διαιρέσεις, καὶ τὰς καταταξεῖς καὶ τὴν ἐπὶ φάλαγγα ἐκτείνουσαν καὶ τὴν ἐπὶ βάθος ὑποστέλλουσαν, καὶ τὴν ἀμφιπρόσωπον μάχην, ὅτ’ ἂν οἱ κατ’ οὐρὰν ἐπιστρέψαντες πρὸς τοὺς κυκλουμένους μάχωνται, καὶ τὰς ἀνακλήσεις ἐκδιδασκέτω.