The art of war, as generally considered, consists of five purely military branches-viz: strategy, grand tactics, logistics, engineering and tactics. A sixth and essential branch, hitherto unrecognized, might be termed Diplomacy in its Relation to War. Although this branch is more naturally and intimately connected with the profession of a statesman than with that of a soldier, it cannot be denied that if it be useless to a subordinate general it is indispensable to every general commanding an army: it enters into all the combinations which may lead to a war, and has a connection with the various operations to be undertaken in this war and in this view, it should have a place in a work like this.
The present work has been translated from the French and translators have endeavored to render their author into plain English, without mutilating or adding to his ideas, attempting no display and making no criticisms. |
