ch army. When we consider the
spread of Grecian culture over the East by the parallel military
triumph of Alexander, or the conquest of Gaul by the Roman armies
under Caesar, we are met by political phenomena and a political
success no more striking than the success of the Revolution. The
Revolution did as much by the sword as ever did Alexander or Caesar,
and as surely compelled one of the great transformations of Europe.
But the fact that the great story can be read to a conclusion of
defeat disturbs the mind of the student.

Again, that element fatal to all accurate study of military
history, the imputation of civilian virtues and motives, enters the
mind of the reader with fatal facility when he studies the
revolutionary wars.

He is tempted to ascribe to the enthusiasm of the troops, nay, to
the political movement itself, a sort of miraculous power. He is
apt to use with regard to the revolutionary victories the word
"inevitable," which, if ever it applies to the reasoned, willing
and conscious action of men, certainly applies least of all to men
when they act as soldiers.

There are three points which we must carefully bear in mind when we
consider the military history of the Revolution.

First, that it succeeded: the Revolution, regarded as the political
motive of its armies, won.

Secondly, that it succeeded through those military aptitudes and
conditions which happened to accompany, but by no means necessarily
accompanied, the strong convictions and the civic enthusiasm of the
time.

Thirdly, that the element of chance, which every wise and prudent
reasoner will very largely admit into all military affairs, worked
in favour of the Revolution in the critical moments of the early
wars.

The reader who could make closer acquaintance with this aspect of Mr.
Belloc's work, and it is an aspect, as has been said, of capital
importance, need only turn to the too few pages of _The French
Revolution_, where he will find ample evidence not only of Mr. Belloc's
understanding of the importance of military history, but of his vast
knowledge of military science; and the same may be said of those little
books Mr. Belloc has published from time to time on some of the
outstanding battles of the past, such as _Blenheim_, _Malplaquet_,
_Waterloo_, _Cressy_ and _Tourcoing_.