The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-09
BY PRINCE LAzARovICH HREBEL-
IANOvICH.

that all Europe has become practically
one vast battlefield. the scene " stu
pendous conflict, the present war-if the
Judgment Of ola Field Marshal Won
sio!tke or the prophecy OF Napoleon
proves cortcct-is destined to endure
for wears. In any case. because of sheer
momentum it cannot abate during
months 10 come.
The nations engaged. rs viewed from
a distant and peaceful country Ike
America, become mere impersonal
forces-huge Foundations OF human
dynamics They can be measured IN
SO far as calculation is possiblc-only
by methods OF science. with the Gle
ments involved before him like map
spread out. every man possesses the
only available basis upon which to
form an opinion.
Vital Is the question Of roads and
every rher resovce of communication
the lay OF the land, the character OF It's
surface and It's geographical character
istCs. war being i'm the words OF Ma
poleon "a business Of positions And ac-
cording " another axiom of the same
genius. victory being nm affair Of legs
and stomach the means OF nourish-
ment must he considered as well as the
human and metal material. The Tcu-
tonic Power has challenged nearly
every other nation in Europe tho chal-
lensc In effect extending even to Asia.
The entire war means at the disposal
of each Of these great forces or Powers
must he considered. and the logical
use Of those means. In war. though
one way Is the right way, the unfore-
seen is also conditioned by the posi-
tive. in spi'c of that element never to
he ne gleCted that the enemy may prove
to be both irrational and illogical. in
which paradox often lie surprise and
defeat. That army which Is br-ught
into the re"t position for striking de-
clsive hl,~y in the shortest lime and ar
rives with tire fullest stomach and the
freshest legs opens fire with all the
odds in its favor.
First few definitions as used in the
military sense; StrdicDU, tactics, base.
line Of com mHuiCdttOnS, Inc uf opera
tiouS. interior tines. and Criterion lines.
Strategy is the art which brings the
army up To the forces of the enemy
in such "A way and such condition that
the army can 10y a decisive blow crush
the enemy completely. making all fur
Their resistance useless.
Tactics comprises the details az the
battle and is the science of those moves
and actions on the field whereby vic
tory is won, sustaining the least pos
sible loss of life while infiicting the
greatest Nossible loss and shock to the
enemy.
Base-Accordlng To the fine definition
of Col Maud of the British army bas
is the point or line joining a series of
points from whence military operations
originate. Ultimately military opera
tons have their inception in an area
l. r, whole country. from which the
militant organization draws men, arms
food and material Of all description.
The lines of communications are
roads. railroads. rircrs, canals. &C
which connect the army with its base
and which. being the army's feeders
in rations. men and munitions Of war
are Of the most vital Importance. Lines
of communications dictate and Condl-
ton the main lines of advance and Of
retreat. \ line Of operations indicates
an imaginary direct line drawn from
the centre Of the base toward the oh
jective Of the campaign IN the enemy's
country and therefore marks the gen
eral direction Of advance.
Exterior lines refer to the operations
Of several armies or army groups on
lines converging toward the same OBJ
Jective. Interior lines describe opera
tons Of a single army moving from q
centre outward toward several oh.
jective points, The present situa.