Tactics
It was a happy day on animal farm. Nine lovely (and very cute I might add) puppies were born to the dogs. The animals felt so happy for them and broke out into "Beasts of England" which they sang in excess of 21 times. Muriel bleated a wonderful ballad in dedication and the dogs were given double rations in congratulations to the dogs. The sheep broke into "Four legs good, Two legs bad" and all the animals celebrated their new family (except of course for Benjamin who said that a long lived donkey like himself had no need for parties) but otherwise there was a general aura of happiness and well-being. These proceedings continued until a shadow fell over the room. Napoleon walked in and said to the dogs: "I would like to educate the puppies myself."
The dogs said no immediately but as Napoleon continued to talk, they saw the opportunity that they could give to their puppies. Then, as if to drive the point home, Squealer ran in and said:
"You do not imagine comrades, that comrade Napoleon would harm these puppies? Comrade Napoleon only wishes the well-being of these puppies!"
The animals could not argue with this so they all agreed that the puppies should go to Napoleon for special education. How wrong they were.
The puppies were eager for their first day of "school" as Napoleon called it. They lived now with Napoleon in his luxurious suite of hay and with their own private rations bucket. They did not remember their real parents and thought that this was their real family and a very nice one at that. Just then, Napoleon walked in and told then to settle down and listen.
"My young comrades, I bring you here today to start training."
"Training for what?" asked one puppy.
"I am sorry to tell you that Snowball has betrayed our farm. He was plotting with Jones to overtake the farm. I am gratified though, to tell you that you will be the heroes that will save us all. Your training with me and comrade Squealer will teach you to hold out against the evil lies that are being spread by Snowball"
For many years, the puppies took lessons every day in secret that went like this.
The puppies would wake up in the morning for lessons with Squealer.
"Young comrades" he would say, "today we will learn of the dangers of Snowball's designs. Imagine if Snowball did build his windmill, what then? We would spend all our time quarrying and building to the point where there would be no food for us and we would starve. In our weakened state, Jones would come back! What then comrades? Surely you do not want Jones back?"
Even though the puppies did not know what Jones was like, they did not like the idea of having him back so they agreed with Squealer. In the rare case that they didn't, they were beaten and kicked until they saw the "truth" of Squealer's words.
In the afternoon, they took combat training with Napoleon. He taught them to come to him when he whistled and how to kill in a brutal manner. When they failed, they were also beaten and so they learned to gut and quarter a foe. Never once did they question Napoleon or Squealer's judgement for it was all they knew. On the fateful night of the banishment of Snowball, they never once thought of the joy they were born into when they banished him.
Mercer