Henry Ernest Dudeney/Puzzles and Curious Problems/303 - Crossing the River

Puzzles and Curious Problems by Henry Ernest Dudeney: $303$

Crossing the River

During the Turkish stampede in Thrace, a small detachment found itself confronted by a wide and deep river.

However, they discovered a boat in which two children were rowing about.

It was so small that it would only carry the two children, or one grown up person.

How did the officer get himself and his $357$ soldiers across the river and leave the two children finally in joint possession of their boat?

And how many times need the boat pass from shore to shore?

Sources

• 1932: Henry Ernest Dudeney: Puzzles and Curious Problems ... (previous) ... (next): Crossing River Problem, and Problems Concerning Games and Puzzle Games: $303$. -- Crossing the River
• 1968: Henry Ernest Dudeney: 536 Puzzles & Curious Problems ... (previous) ... (next): Combinatorial & Topological Problems: Miscellaneous Combinatorial Puzzles: $450$. Crossing the River