For when a king leads all orders are given by him: he himself gives the necessary order to the polemarchs,Commanders of the six morae, according to Xen. Const. Lac. 11.4 they to the commanders of battalions, these to the captains of companies, these again to the commanders of platoons, and these to the platoons.

So the special orders, if they wish to give any, proceed in the same way, and reach their destination quickly; for almost the whole army of the Lacedaemonians consists of officers over officers, and the responsibility for the execution of orders devolves upon many.