egic operations of
the Arm, from subordinate leaders has been already discussed above,
and it will be clear that only a thorough comprehension of the whole
situation will enable the individual to act opportunely when such
moments may arrive. It is not merely a general military education
which will be required, but greatly increased endurance, boldness,
and, above all, a wider understanding for the whole connection of the
great operations, and the power of judging a military situation with
accuracy, which must prevail through all ranks, down to the leader of
an independent patrol. The whole method of observation and the results
deduced therefrom will assume quite a different form when managed by
Officers who have learnt to understand and to judge operations on a
large scale. Without such training only isolated facts will be
reported--deductions will not be drawn. There will be no
discrimination between important and unimportant details, and the
Officer himself will not be able to come to a correct decision as to
the direction in which to pursue his mission. But this is exactly what
it is most important that all Officers should be relied on to perform.
They must understand how, from a given mass of observations, to deduce
the strength, bearing, and condition of the enemy in general, to
divine the probable connection of his operations, and hence to
determine the most important points and directions in which to follow
up any available clue.

If an Officer comes upon an outpost or an occupied position, he
should be able from the indications on the spot and from his map to
determine where the flanks are likely to rest, and hence on what point
to direct his further advance.

If he happens on troops at rest or on the march, he must be able to
decide whether it is more important to follow or watch their
subsequent movements, or to carry out his reconnaissance in some other
direction. He must, in fact, judge what it is of the greatest
importance for the superior staff to know when his instructions in
face of altered circumstances leave him in momentary uncertainty.

Such illustrations could be extended indefinitely, but the sum of all
points to the same conclusion--viz., that a comprehensive military
education, and at least a general grasp of the principles of the
Higher Strategy, are essential for every reconnoitring Officer. The
history of previous campaigns points the same moral by innumerable
examples, and how much more f