 Complete the following phrase:  From the third century BC, the Roman legion added a skirmisher type of soldier to its tactical formation. The Velites were light infantry armed with a short sword the gladius or pugio, a small round shield, and several small javelins. These javelins were called veruta singular verutum. The Velites typically drew near the enemy, hurled javelins against their formation, and then retreated behind the legions heavier infantry. The Velites were considered highly effective in turning back war elephants, on account of discharging a hail of javelins at some range and not presenting a block that could be trampled on or otherwise smashed  unlike the close-order infantry behind them. At the 