strategical problem. It may be taken as a general rule that no question
of grand strategy can be decided apart from diplomacy, and vice versa.
For a line of action or an object which is expedient from the point of
view of strategy may be barred by diplomatic considerations, and vice
versa. To decide a question of grand strategy without consideration of
its diplomatic aspect, is to decide on half the factors only. Neither
strategy or diplomacy has ever a clean slate. This interaction has to
be accepted by commanding officers as part of the inevitable "friction
of war." A good example is Pitt's refusal to send a fleet into the
Baltic to assist Frederick the Great during the Seven Years War, for
fear of compromising our relations with the Scandinavian Powers.

Minor Strategy has for its province the plans of operations. It deals
with--

(1) The selection of the "objectives," that is, the particular forces
of the enemy or the strategical points to be dealt with in order
to secure the object of the particular operation.
(2) The directing of the force assigned for the operation.

Minor Strategy may be of three kinds:--

(1) Naval, where the immediate object is to be attained by a fleet
only.
(2) Military, where the immediate object is to be attained by an army
only.
(3) Combined, where the immediate object is to be attained by army
and navy together.

NOTE.--It will be seen that what is usually called Naval Strategy or
Fleet Strategy, is only a sub-division of a division of strategy, and
that, therefore, strategy cannot be studied from the point of view of
naval operations only.

NOTE.--Naval Strategy, being only a part of General Strategy, is
subject to the same friction as Major Strategy, though in a less
degree. Individual commanders have often to take a decision
independently of the central government, or headquarters; they should,
therefore, always keep in mind the possible ulterior effects of any
line of action they may take, endeavouring to be sure that what is
strategically expedient is not diplomatically inexpedient.

EXAMPLE.--Boscawen's attack on De la Motte on the eve of the Seven
Years War.

NATURE OF OBJECT

The solution of every strategical problem, whether of Major or Minor
Strategy, depends primarily on the nature of the object in view.

All ob