...   
      
   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   
      
   ... It's the cats' house.  We just pay the mortgage.   
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