The daily Alaskan., 1915-03-20
STRATEGY IN WAR
Retreats to Lure the Enemy From
 His Base of Supplies.
KNOWN AS FABIAN TACTICS.
Methods That Have Been Used by Warriors Since Long Before the Christian Era - George Washington Was Called the American Fabius.

Christian Era - Geor9e Wasnln9ton
 Was Called the American Fabius.
 After the great war In Europe had broken loose in the summer of 1914 and the allies fell back from their first line in northern France to the Marne a good deal was said and written of "Fa- bian tactics" and when the Germans fell back from the line of the Marine to the Aisne more was said of "Fa- bian tactics" In this country when Washington and the heroic Continental army fell back before the English in superior force and of superior equip ment and perhaps superior discipline. his tactics were called Fabian" In fact General George Washington was called and by historical writers Is still referred to as "the American Fabius."
 It is probably true that many Amer jeans long parted from their school books have forgotten about Fabius, even though whenever an army makes an orderly retreat for the purpose of gaining time or reaching more favor able position they speak nuently of Fabian tacrIcs." It Is a phrase that comes trippingly off the tongue.
 Fabius, as might easily be guessed from his name, was a Roman. He commanded the legions of Rome against the powers of Carthage 200 years before the Christian era. The tactics which came to be called after Fabius were no doubt employed cen turies before Rome was born. Fabian tactics without doubt have been used ever since bodies of men made war, but 1t may be that Fabius so refined or systematized those tactics that 1t is just and worthy they bear his name.
 Fabius in PIT B. c. stood opposite to the hosts or hordes of Carthagin. inns under the brilliant leadership of Hannibal. In battle before Fabius Maximus was called to the supreme command of the Roman troops in the field the Carthaginians had been vic torious. Fabius, profting by what had befalen his predecessors in con- mand, avoided a pitched battle in the open and retreated, fighting as he fell back, holding off the enemy with what are now described as rear guard actions. Drawing the enemy farther and farther from base or the sources of supplies, wearying their troops more than he wearied his own and delaying q battle until he reached ground where his position would give him a great advantage-a position against superior numbers-where the loss in men and morale of the assall- ants must be great and where at the proper moment the counterstroke could be delivered with high promise of success, the tactics of Fabius won.
 In some ways the phrase Fabian tactics has been diverted from its original and proper significance and is made to comprehend any tactics or q particularly shrewd or foxy na- ture. In this connection 1t has been said that Napoleon employed "Fabian tactics" with brilliant success at Aus terlitz. The combined Austrian ana Russian armies greatly extended their line in an effort to turn the right flank of the French army and cut his communications. It seemed as though this move would succeed, for Napoleon permitted 1t to develop without seri- ous resistance. Then he suddenly con- centrated his whole strength at the center, with the exception of a portion of Bernadotte's corps, which he left to deal with the Austrian turning force' and burst through the line, destroying one wing of the Austrian army as 1t retreated.
 Historians of Rome deal at consid- erable length with family called the Fabii. It is narrated that this ancient and renowned family undertook the duty of defending Roman territory against incursions by the Valentines and for this purpose established them selves at place on the Cremara river. The Fabii were drawn into ambush and were all killed. The date of that event is given as B. c. AT.
 A boy of the family Fabii had been left in Rome, and he became the sec ond founder of the family. Fabius Eximus, who won his laurels and his spurs in the second Punic war, was descended from that boy, and there was another famous member of the family whose name was Fabius Pictor, who wrote history of Rome and who is often referred to as the earliest Ro- man historian.-Washing Star.