The Art of War by Baron Antoine Henri deJomini

Author:Baron Antoine Henri deJomini [deJomini, Baron Antoine Henri]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Military, Technology & Engineering, Strategy, Military Science, History
ISBN: 9781604593587
Google: mdI6AwAAQBAJ
Amazon: 1853677191
Publisher: Wilder Publications
Published: 2007-07-15T04:00:00+00:00

[30]

The distinction between the importance and the strength of a post must be observed; for it may be very strong and of very little importance, and vice aversá.

* * *

CHAPTER V.

OF SEVERAL MIXED OPERATIONS, WHICH ARE IN CHARACTER PARTLY STRATEGICAL AND PARTLY TACTICAL.

* * *

ARTICLE XXXVI.

Of Diversions and Great Detachments.

The operations of the detachments an army may send out have so important a bearing on the success of a campaign, that the duty of determining their strength and the proper occasions for them is one of the greatest and most delicate responsibilities imposed upon a commander. If nothing is more useful in war than a strong detachment opportunely sent out and having a good ensemble of operations with the main body, it is equally certain that no expedient is more dangerous when inconsiderately adopted. Frederick the Great regarded it as one of the essential qualities of a general to know how to make his adversary send out many detachments, either with the view of destroying them in detail or of attacking the main body during their absence.

The division of armies into numerous detachments has sometimes been carried to so great an extent, and with such poor results, that many persons now believe it better to have none of them. It is undoubtedly much safer and more agreeable for an army to be kept in a single mass; but it is a thing at times impossible or incompatible with gaining a complete or even considerable success. The essential point in this matter is to send out as few detachments as possible.

There are several kinds of detachments.

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