tinct from the rest of the
national community. The memorable way in which the Romans in the second
Punic War attacked the Carthaginan possessions in Spain and Africa,
while Hannibal still maintained himself in Italy, is a most instructive
subject to study, as the general relations of the States and Armies
concerned in this indirect act of defence are sufficiently well known.

But the more things descend into particulars and deviate in character
from the most general relations, the less we can look for examples and
lessons of experience from very remote periods, for we have neither the
means of judging properly of corresponding events, nor can we apply them
to our completely different method of War.

Unfortunately, however, it has always been the fashion with historical
writers to talk about ancient times. We shall not say how far vanity
and charlatanism may have had a share in this, but in general we fail
to discover any honest intention and earnest endeavour to instruct
and convince, and we can therefore only look upon such quotations and
references as embellishments to fill up gaps and hide defects.

It would be an immense service to teach the Art of War entirely by
historical examples, as Feuquieres proposed to do; but it would be full
work for the whole life of a man, if we reflect that he who undertakes
it must first qualify himself for the task by a long personal experience
in actual War.

Whoever, stirred by ambition, undertakes such a task, let him prepare
himself for his pious undertaking as for a long pilgrimage; let him give
up his time, spare no sacrifice, fear no temporal rank or power, and
rise above all feelings of personal vanity, of false shame, in order,
according to the French code, to speak THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND
NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH.

BOOK III. OF STRATEGY IN GENERAL

CHAPTER I. STRATEGY

IN the second chapter of the second book, Strategy has been defined as
"the employment of the battle as the means towards the attainment of the
object of the War." Properly speaking it has to do with nothing but the
battle, but its theory must include in this consideration the instrument
of this real activity--the armed force--in itself and in its principal
relations, for the battle is fought by it, and shows its effects upon
it in turn. It must be well acquainted with the battle itself as far as
relates to its possible results, and those mental and moral powers which
are the most importan