Board Thread:Speculation House/@comment-26900424-20150924223054/@comment-4010415-20150924230904

Recall part of Ozpin and Ironwood's conversation in Welcome to Beacon:

Ironwood: But if what Qrow said is true...

Ozpin: If what Qrow said is true, then we will handle it tactfully.

Qrow has been feeding them information. He has been spying on what Cinder and the White Fang are up to. I'm pretty sure when he sent Ozpin the message "Queen has pawns" he was talking about Cinder, not Raven.

Meanwhile, Ozpin seems to be acting as leader of the faction that's fighting against Cinder. He has been the one calling the shots and acting as a chessmaster.

Ozpin: She's right. As much as I too would love to end this situation once and for all, we must remember that this may go beyond Vale. Beyond Beacon. And if this truly is part of some master plan for which we know not the final move, we mustn't be so bold. Nor can we risk the spread of panic.

Ironwood: I have served you faithfully for years... but if you mean to tell me that your plan is to hold the defenses, and wait—!

Ozpin: (abruptly stands from his chair) It is not! You're a general, James. So tell me, when you prepare to go to war, which do you send in first? The flag bearers, or the scouts?

^ Field Trip. "She's right" = "Glynda's right"

Side note: The reason Ozpin sent Team RWBY with Oobleck to the southeast quadrant was because he was using them as scouts.