It is because their combination makes for the reliability of the force that discipline is so much valued and enforced, even to the point of death.

Let us keep this in our mind, that their strength lies in their numbers, concentration, unity, reliance on one another and on their chiefs.

A sudden disaster overtakes that army--the death of a great general, the miscarriage of some plan, a surprise attack, any of the chances of war, and the strength of the army is pierced, the discipline shaken, the sense of security gone.

There is an instinctive movement to retreat; the habit of discipline keeps it orderly at first; the fear grows; all precaution and restraint are thrown aside--the retreat is a rout, the army a rabble, the end debacle.

External discipline in giving them its strength left them without individual resource; internal discipline was ignored.