Moltke on the Art of War: Selected Writings by Hughes Daniel

Author:Hughes, Daniel [Hughes, Daniel]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Publisher: Presidio Press
Published: 2009-03-11T16:00:00+00:00

Independence of Subordinate Commanders

Because of the diversity and the rapid changes in the situations in war, it is impossible to lay down binding rules. Only principles and general points of view can furnish a guide.

Prearranged designs (Schema) collapse, and only a proper estimate of the situation can show the commander the correct way. The advantage of the situation will never be fully utilized if subordinate commanders wait for orders. Only if leaders of all ranks are competent for and accustomed to independent action will the possibility exist of moving large masses with ease. The absence of these characteristics inevitably leads to loss of time.

In time of peace, the habit of acting in accordance with correct principles can be learned only if every officer is allowed the greatest possible independence. In that case, the practical intelligence of subordinate commanders will understand how to act in war according to the wishes of the superior commander, even when the latter cannot expressly state his will because of time and conditions.

In doubtful cases and in unclear conditions (which occur so often in war), it will generally be more advisable to proceed actively and keep the initiative than to await the law of the opponent.12 The opponent frequently can see our situation just as incompletely as we can see his, and will occasionally give way where the actual situation itself would not have required it.

Leaders of individual parts of the army must remember the old rule always to march in the direction of the cannon thunder. Tasks {Aufträge) prescribing another direction must be reexamined to ascertain whether they were issued under conditions that did not foresee the ensuing engagement. In most cases, support rendered on the battlefield is of more value than execution of a special task. In the face of a tactical victory all other considerations recede into the background.

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