s for formulating the plans of
the commander concerned, and, accordingly, for determining his own
action. They can also be used as a basis for rendering sound opinions,
when requested of the commander, as to plans and actions contemplated
by higher authority. The principles are in like manner applicable for
purposes of historical study involving analysis of operations of the
past.

CHAPTER IV

THE APPLICATION OF THE FUNDAMENTAL MILITARY PRINCIPLE

(Objectives--Their Selection and Attainment)

Section I of Chapter IV discusses the major components of all
military problems.

Section II deals with the fundamental considerations having to
do, generally, with the first of these components, i.e., the
selection of correct military objectives; the application,
more specifically, is reserved for Chapter VI.

Section III deals with the fundamental considerations having
to do, generally, with the second of the two major components,
i.e., the determination of effective military operations for
the attainment of such objectives; the application, more
specifically, is reserved for Chapter VII.

The selection of objectives has a secondary application, also,
to the discussion in Chapter VII, while the determination of
operations has a similar application to that in Chapter VI.
Both subjects, i.e., as to objectives and as to operations,
have application also to Chapter IX.

The chart on page ii shows these relationships.

I. MAJOR COMPONENTS OF MILITARY PROBLEMS.

In the two preceding chapters, the study of the natural mental
processes has brought to notice that, to meet the requirements of
suitability, feasibility, and acceptability as to consequences in the
proper solution of a military problem, it is first necessary to
establish a sound basis for that solution. Such a basis involves an
understanding of the appropriate effect desired and of relative
fighting strength (see pages 29 and 30).

In each situation an understanding of the appropriate effect desired,
from the standpoint of suitability, requires:

(1) A grasp of the salient features of the situation,
favorable and unfavorable, including the perplexity inherent
therein,

(2) A recognition of the incentive to solution of the
problem, i.e., a realization of the desire or need for
attaining a certain effect, an objective (page 36) which will
be the main