The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-13
STRATEGY IN WAk
Retreats to Lure the Enemy From
His Base Of Supplies.
KNOWN AS FABIAN TACTICS.
Methods That Have Been ussd by
wsrriers Since lons Before the
Christian Era George Washington
Was Called the American Fahius.

Christian Era George Washington
Was Called the Amsriean 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 q
good deal was said and written of "Fa-
bian tactics" and when the Germans
Tell bnck from the line of the Marne
TO the Aisne more was said of 'Fa.
tian 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 We're called Fabian" In
fact General George Washington was
called and by historical writer's is still
referred to as the American Fabius."
1t Is probably true that many Amer
leans 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 n more favor
able position they speak fluently OF
Fabian tactics" 1t is phrase that
comes trippingly or the tongue.
Fabius. as might easily be guessed
from his name. was Roman. He
commanded the legions of Rome
against the powers of Carthage 200
years before the Christian era. The
yvh fnh %
Fabius We're no doubt employed CEN
turtles 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 it is
ipst and worthy they hear his name.
Fabius In oil b. C. stood opposite
uo the hosts or hordes of Carthagin-
lans under the brilliant leadership of
Hannibal In battle before Fabius
Mayimus was called to the supreme
command of the Roman troops In the
field the Carthaginians had been vic
torious. Fabius. profiting by what
had befallen his predecessors in com.
mond. avoided 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 battle until he reached
ground where his pc:'ition would give
him great a6vantage-a position
against superior numbers-where the
loss in men and morale of the assail
ants must be great and where al
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 OF
particularly shrewd or foxy" ma
ture. In this connection it has been
said that Napoleon employed "Fabiar
tactics" with brilliant success at Aus
terlitz. The combined Austrian and
Russian armies greatly extended theiI
line in an effort to turn the right
flank of the French army and cut his
communion tions. 1t seemed as though
this move would succeed. for Napoleon
permitted it to develop without seri
Gus resistance. Then lie suddenly con
centrated his whole strength at the
center, with the exception Of portion
Of Bernadottes corps. which he left ia
deal with the Austrian turning force
and burst through the line. destroying
one wing of the Austrian army as il
retreated.
Historians of Rome deal at consid
cradle length with family called the
Fabii. 1t 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 Mt place OH the Cremara river
The Fabii were drawn into ambush
and were all killed. The date of that
event is given as Is. 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