In a planned confrontation with the Persians, Alexander needed a way to synchronize his forces as they converged from different directions. His Science and Technology advisor advised Alexander that they had discovered a dye that would change color after some hours exposure to sunlight. This color change could be used to tell the wing commanders when to attack. Alexander, therefore, placed his forces during the night and had each leader of his split forces tie a strip of cloth soaked with the chemical to their arm, to be uncovered at dawn of the next day. When the color change occurred, the otherwise out of touch forces would execute their missions.
Later in the day, the Persian commander was completely surprised as the Macedonians converged upon him from multiple directions. When he asked his staff how Alexander could coordinate such an attack, the response was "Alexander's Rag Time Band."
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