Subj : Pakistan To : BOB KLAHN From : Richard Webb Date : Sun Jan 16 2011 00:55:38 HI Bob, On Sat 2039-Jan-15 12:20, BOB KLAHN (1:123/140) wrote to RICHARD WEBB: 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. BK> The fortified position has always been the easiest to defend, and BK> the hardest to take. The Mexican Army could have taken the Alamo BK> easily if they used cannon against it. Whether they held off on the BK> cannon or it didn't arrive until late, I don't know. But once they BK> did use the cannon the Alamo fell easily. I've read conjecture having it both ways on the question of the cannon on that one. But, as you note, a fortified position, or a narrow passage are both showstoppers. BK> Go back to the Roman Bridge. When the Etruscans attacked Rome they BK> were stopped at a bridge by three Romans. They delayed the invasion BK> long enough for the Roman engineers to knock down the bridge and BK> save Rome. There is a painting, "Oath of Horatii" in the Louvre, BK> and a smaller version by the same artist at the Toledo Museum of BK> Art, depicting the three soldiers taking an oath to defend Rome to BK> the death. YEp, destroy the bridge then troops have to figure another way in . More later when I'm not getting my rear end kicked by this bug. Regards, Richard --- timEd 1.10.y2k+ * Origin: (1:116/901) .