Defended by four almost bottomless ditches, nevertheless it is a certainty that coming generations of Americans must stand in arms, not only to repel foreign aggression, but to uphold even the integrity of the Great Republic; and with the hand-writing of coming events flaming on the wall, posterity well may heed the solemn warning of by-gone centuries: “_As man is superior to the brute, so is a trained and educated soldier superior to the merely brave, numerous and enthusiastic._” * * * * * _“The evils to be apprehended from a standing army are remote and in my judgment, not to be dreaded; but the consequence of lacking one is inevitable ruin.”--Washington._ CONTENTS PAGE PREFACE VII INTRODUCTORY XIII CHESS GENERALSHIP 3 GRAND RECONNAISSANCE 23 Military Examples 28 ORGANIZATION 45 Military Examples 59 TOPOGRAPHY 73 Military Examples 85 MOBILITY 97 Military Examples 116 NUMBERS 123 Military Examples 127 TIME 139 Military Examples 142 POSITION 147 Military Examples 158 PRIME STRATEGETIC MEANS 169 PRIME STRATEGETIC PROPOSITION 185 _“The progress of Science universally is retarded, because sufficient attention is not paid to explaining essentials in particular and exactly to define the terms employed.”--Euclid._ * * * * * _“The first care of the sage should be to discover the true character of his pupils. By his questions he should assist them to explain their own ideas and by his answers he should compel them to perceive their falsities. By accurate definitions he should gradually dispel the incongruities in their earlier education and by his subtlety in arousing their doubts, he should redouble their curiosity and eagerness for information; for the art of the instructor consists in inciting his pupils to that point at which they cannot endure their manifest ignorance._