...

KW>> 5. The general, unable to control his irritation, will launch his
KW>> men to the assault like swarming ants, with the result that
KW>> one-third of his men are slain, while the town still remains
KW>> untaken. Such are the disastrous effects of a siege.

 RW> YEp, and here in the new world we have "remember the
 RW> alamo!" a perfect example of this.

 The fortified position has always been the easiest to defend,
 and the hardest to take. The Mexican Army could have taken the
 Alamo easily if they used cannon against it. Whether they held
 off on the cannon or it didn't arrive until late, I don't know.
 But once they did use the cannon the Alamo fell easily.

 A narrow passage, where the attackers are limited in access is
 another example. A few can stop a multitude. The Spartan 300
 at Thermopylae were the prime example of that. That was both
 narrow and fortified.

 Though in the actual battles the estimates of Greek strength
 were from about 5000 to 11000, and at the final battle, about
 1400 to 3000. Using the 1400 figure, only 300 were Spartans,
 though. The rest Thespians and Thebans.

 Go back to the Roman Bridge. When the Etruscans attacked Rome
 they were stopped at a bridge by three Romans. They delayed the
 invasion long enough for the Roman engineers to knock down the
 bridge and save Rome. There is a painting, "Oath of Horatii" in
 the Louvre, and a smaller version by the same artist at the
 Toledo Museum of Art, depicting the three soldiers taking an
 oath to defend Rome to the death.

 The Bridge at Remagan was another example.



BOB KLAHN bob.klahn@sev.org   http://home.toltbbs.com/bobklahn

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