Page:Frontinus - The stratagems, and, the aqueducts of Rome (Bennet et al 1925).djvu/273

 STRATAGEMS, III. vi. 7-vii. 4

tioii by troo])S under the coniniaiid of Crateius, the Athenian Cleonynius made an assault on the town and hurled within its walls missiles inscribed with messages stating that Cleonymus had come to liberate their state. At the same time certain prisoners whom he had won over to his side were sent back to disparage Craterus. By this plan he stirred up internal strife among the besieged and, bringing up his troops, gained possession of the city.^

'II. On DivKRTiXG Streams and Contaminating Waters

PuBLius Servilius diverted the stream from which the inhabitants of Isaura drew their water, and thus forced them to surrender in consequence of thirst.^ • Gains Caesar, in one of his Gallic campaigns, deprived the city of the Cadurci of water, although it was surrounded by a river and abounded in springs ; for he diverted the springs by subterranean channels, while his archers shut off all access to the river.^

Lucius Metellus, when fighting in Hither Spain, diverted the course of a river and directed it from a higher level against the camp of the enemy, which was located on low ground. Then, when the enemy were in panic from tiie sudden flood, he had them slain by men whom he had stationed in ambush for this very purpose.*

At Babylon, which is divided into two parts by the river Euphrates, Alexander constructed both a ditch and an embankment, the enemy supposing that the earth was being taken out merely to form the embankment. Alexander, accordingly, suddenly

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