Mus Mus.

This is coolbert:

I have repeated a number of times in previous posts that somethings in warfare just never change.

Here is another example.

During the reign of the greatest martial Egyptian pharaoh, Thutmose III, an insurrection of recalcitrant vassals occurred in what was at the time Canaan. Later to become Palestine and the modern Israel. Marching north to subdue the vassals, Thutmose had to fight a battle against his opposition at Megiddo [Armageddon] [1479 B.C.]. When faced with three routes [two roads but three approaches] through the mountains, Thutmose choose the one that led through Mus Mus pass. Taking this route, Thutmose surprised his more numerous enemies and was able to defeat them. As the chronicles from ancient Egypt say:

"There were two routes to Megiddo a long, easy and level road around the hills, which the enemy expected Thutmose to take, and a route which was narrow, difficult and cut through the hills. His generals advised him to take the easy road through the hills, saying 'horse must follow behind horse and man behind man also, and our vanguard will be engaged while our rearguard is at Aaruna without fighting' But Thutmose's reply to this was: 'As I live, as I am the beloved of Ra and praised by my father Amon, I will go on the narrow road. Let those who will, go on the roads you have mentioned; and let anyone who will, follow my Majesty' Now, when the soldiers heard this bold speech they shouted with one accord 'We follow thy Majesty whithersoever thy Majesty goes'."

"Thutmose led his men on foot through the hills "horse behind horse and man behind man, his Majesty showing the way by his own footsteps". It took about twelve hours for the vanguard to reach the valley on the other side and another seven hours before the last troops emerged. Thutmose himself waited at the head of the pass till the last man was safely through."

And from the protestations of the generals of Thutmose:

"'Now two (other) roads are here. One of the roads ( behold, it is [to the east of] us, so that it comes out at Taanakh. The other ( behold, it is to the north side of Djefti, and we will come out to the north of Megiddo. Let our victorious lord proceed on the one of [them] which is [satisfactory to] his heart, (but) do not make us go on that difficult road!' - - Inscription from the Amen Temple at Karnak. - - J. B. Pritchard Ancient Near Eastern Texts, 1969:"

Thutmose did take the difficult route and was victorious. To see an interesting site on the Battle of Megiddo, click here. Has interesting links as well.

Move ahead to the year 1918. British forces under General Allenby are moving north into Turkish controlled Palestine to destroy the Turkish army. The British send their Australian cavalry in force and this cavalry fights a decisive battle at Megiddo. Yes, the same Megiddo that Thutmose fought at over 3400 years earlier. And to gain access through the mountains, the Australian cavalry makes passage through Mus Mus pass. This decisive battle finally routed the Turks in Palestine and allowed British dominion to be established, the Australians at the battle of Megiddo being led by the Australian General Chauval.




"In the final campaign he was able to effect a secret redeployment of three of his mounted divisions, launch a surprise attack on the enemy, win the Battle of Megiddo and follow up this victory with one of the fastest pursuits in military history -- an astonishing 167 km in just three days. It was not just a great victory, but one of the greatest of all time. This time he succeeded in destroying the Turkish army at last. At a cost of 533 battle casualties, the Desert Mounted Corps had taken over 70,000 prisoners. "

This rate of advance by the Australian cavalry was and is the fastest advance of any military force in history, unsurpassed by military of antiquity or even modern times.

coolbert.