operation upon you. The leader, all else being equal, who has the
wit to out-manoeuver the other will win the engagement.

As a rule, an affirmative form of expression is used. Such an order as:
"The supply train will not accompany the division," is defective,
because the gist of the order depends upon the single word "not."

Write your order so it can be read. Don't go about it as though you were
a doctor writing a prescription. Things will go wrong if you do. You
will find some of your troops moving in the wrong direction when you
need them badly.

Be brief. Short sentences are good. They are clear. Conjectures,
expectations, and reasons for measures adopted are weak. They do not
inspire confidence. They should be avoided.

Accept the entire responsibility of your command. If things go wrong,
it's your fault. Correct them. A large number of military men make it
their particular business to find faults in others, with scarcely a
thought for their own. Don't join this club. Reverse the matter.

Avoid such expressions as "attempt to capture," "try to hold," "as far
as possible," "as well as you can," etc. Tell a man what he is to do.
Don't divide any responsibility with any one.

Officers and men of all ranks and grades are given a certain
independence in the execution of the tasks to which they are assigned
and are expected to show initiative in meeting the different situations
as they arise. Every individual, from the highest commander to the
lowest private, must always remember that inaction and neglect of
opportunities will warrant severe censure. Do something that will help
carry out the plans of your commander. The Japanese regulations caution
their commanders to avoid inaction and hesitation.

If you were hunting tigers and permitted a wounded one to move to your
rear and spring upon you, unaware of its presence, you would probably
pay a heavy price for not being on the alert. For a military leader to
be caught unawares is unpardonable.

Napoleon said in another of his maxims: "if the enemy's army were to
appear on my front, or on my right or left, what would I do?" If the
question is difficult for the commander to answer, his troops are not
only poorly placed but are poorly led.

Don't let your force be divided up into detachments and roam all over
the country. This is a very common error with beginners. Avoid
dispersion. Keep your troops together.

You cannot fire on the battlefield with the same acc