f others (9)--those best versed in the topography of any district.
Since there is all the difference in the world between a leader
acquainted with his roads and one who is not; and when it comes to
actual designs upon the enemy, the difference between knowing and not
knowing the locality can hardly be exaggerated.

(8) Or, "with hostile and friendly territories alike."

(9) Lit. "he should associate with himself those of the rest"; i.e.
his colleagues or other members of the force.

So, too, with regard to spies and intelligencers. Before war commences
your business is to provide yourself with a supply of people friendly
to both states, or maybe merchants (since states are ready to receive
the importer of goods with open arms); sham deserters may be found
occasionally useful. (10) Not, of course, that the confidence you feel
in your spies must ever cause you to neglect outpost duty; indeed your
state of preparation should at any moment be precisely what it ought
to be, supposing the approach or the imminent arrival of the enemy
were to be announced. Let a spy be ever so faithful, there is always
the risk he may fail to report his intelligence at the critical
moment, since the obstacles which present themselves in war are not to
be counted on the fingers.

(10) Cf. "Cyrop." VI. i. 39, where one of the Persians, Araspas,
undertakes to play this role to good effect.

But to proceed to another topic. The enemy is less likely to get wind
of an advance of cavalry, if the orders for march were passed from
mouth to mouth rather than announced by voice of herald, or public
notice. (11) Accordingly, in addition to (12) this method of
ordering the march by word passed along the line, the appointment
of file-leaders seems desirable, who again are to be supplemented by
section-leaders, (13) so that the number of men to whom each petty
officer has to transmit an order will be very few; (14) while the
section-leaders will deploy and increase the front, whatever the
formation, without confusion, whenever there is occasion for the
movement. (15)

(11) i.e. "given by general word of command, or in writing." As to the
"word-of-mouth command," see above, S. 3; "Hell." VII. v. 9; and
for the "herald," see "Anab." III. iv. 36.

(12) Reading {pros to dia p.}, or if {pros to}... transl. "with a
view to."

(13) Lit. pempadarchs, i.e. No. 6 in the file. See "Cyrop." II. i. 22
foll., iii. 21.

(14) Lit.