erritory and inhabitants of the whole theatre of war; next the time
of the day, and the time of the year as well; lastly, the weather,
particularly any unusual state of the same, severe frost, &c.

36. THESE FORM NEW MEANS.

By bringing these things into combination with the results of a
combat, strategy gives this result--and therefore the combat--a special
signification, places before it a particular object. But when
this object is not that which leads directly to peace, therefore a
subordinate one, it is only to be looked upon as a means; and therefore
in strategy we may look upon the results of combats or victories, in all
their different significations, as means. The conquest of a position
is such a result of a combat applied to ground. But not only are the
different combats with special objects to be considered as means, but
also every higher aim which we may have in view in the combination of
battles directed on a common object is to be regarded as a means. A
winter campaign is a combination of this kind applied to the season.

There remain, therefore, as objects, only those things which may be
supposed as leading DIRECTLY to peace, Theory investigates all these
ends and means according to the nature of their effects and their mutual
relations.

37. STRATEGY DEDUCES ONLY FROM EXPERIENCE THE ENDS AND MEANS TO BE
EXAMINED.

The first question is, How does strategy arrive at a complete list of
these things? If there is to be a philosophical inquiry leading to an
absolute result, it would become entangled in all those difficulties
which the logical necessity of the conduct of War and its theory
exclude. It therefore turns to experience, and directs its attention on
those combinations which military history can furnish. In this manner,
no doubt, nothing more than a limited theory can be obtained, which
only suits circumstances such as are presented in history. But this
incompleteness is unavoidable, because in any case theory must either
have deduced from, or have compared with, history what it advances with
respect to things. Besides, this incompleteness in every case is more
theoretical than real.

One great advantage of this method is that theory cannot lose itself in
abstruse disquisitions, subtleties, and chimeras, but must always remain
practical.

38. HOW FAR THE ANALYSIS OF THE MEANS SHOULD BE CARRIED.

Another question is, How far should theory go in its analysis of the
means? Evidently only s