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An old soldier of one of our generals who failed most

conspicuously in this war, tried once, I remember, to defend him

to me on the ground that he was always "so good to his men." By

this plea, had he but known it, he was only condemning him out of

Sun Tzŭ's mouth.]

13. These are the five besetting sins of a general, ruinous to

the conduct of war.

14. When an army is overthrown and its leader slain, the cause

will surely be found among these five dangerous faults. Let them

be a subject of meditation.

[1] "Marshal Turenne," p. 50.

Chapter IX. THE ARMY ON THE MARCH

[The contents of this interesting chapter are better indicated in

§ 1 than by this heading.]

1. Sun Tzŭ said: We come now to the question of encamping the

army, and observing signs of the enemy. Pass quickly over

mountains, and keep in the neighbourhood of valleys.