But put aside, for a moment, the question of what material and personnel are available. When a plan, conveying a general idea, has come under the critical examination of the Higher Command to the extent of being "passed" for the commencement of detailed preparation, it has then to be _gradually built up_ from the operational point of view. Additions will almost always be necessary as the investigation proceeds, and some time will elapse before the plan can be considered as complete in every particular. A further duty then devolves upon the operational staff. They must produce the orders necessary to give effect to the plan as detailed in its final edition. [Sidenote: Writing of the Orders] This again is no small affair. The writing of orders is a high art in itself. Orders must not be too centralized or too cut-and-dried. Ample allowance must be made for initiative, while realising that mere go-as-you-please methods are likely to lead to disaster. It is usually the unexpected that happens in war. A single set of orders cannot cover every eventuality. And even if it could, nobody would have either the time or inclination to wade through such a voluminous document. This is clearly enough exemplified in legal matters. Laws are framed to cover every possible case, but as often as not they fail to attain such success. Even so, how many ordinary folk can be bothered to wade through a legal document? What with the alternatives, and saving clauses, such publications are dull to a degree. The marriage laws are {67} typical of this. A man may not marry his grandmother. That clause was presumably inserted for the discomfiture of that unique individual who _might_ contemplate such a peculiar alliance. The issue of orders needs careful training and much experience. Orders must be fool-proof--that is the guiding axiom. If an order is misunderstood it is ten chances to one that the fault lies with the man who gives the order. If I have sorely tried the patience of the reader it is because of my endeavour to emphasise the point that the order "carry on" is not sufficient to put a suggestion into execution in the matter of a few hours. New situations have to be met by fresh dispositions, and this fact has come very much to the fore in these days of strife. The operations on the Flanders coast were the outcome of some months of hard work--mental as well as manual. A few details of the plan may now be worthy of consideration.