The Need for Organisational Resilience - Chapter 1

position, keeping in hand a strong reserve that is well concealed and ready to fall at the

decisive moment upon a point where the enemy least expects to meet it.

8. It is difficult to state with precision what is the best method for forcing a hostile army to

abandon its position. A perfect order of battle would unite the double advantages of the

using weaponry and the moral effect produced by an onslaught. A skilful mixture of

deployed lines and columns, acting alternately as circumstances require, is always a

good combination. In the practical use of this system many variations will arise from

differences in the coup-d’oeil of commanders, the morale of officers and soldiers, and

their familiarity with manoeuvres and use of weaponry of all kinds, from varying localities.

9. It is essential in an offensive battle to drive the enemy from his position and to cut him up

as much as possible. The best means of accomplishing this is to use as much material

force as can be accumulated against him. It sometimes happens, however, that the direct

application of main force is of doubtful value; better results may follow from manoeuvres

to outflank and turn whichever wing is nearest the enemy’s line of retreat. When

threatened thus, he may retire, whereas he would fight back strongly, and successfully, if

attacked by main force.

10. The combination of these two methods – the frontal attack by the main force and the

turning manoeuvre – renders victory more certain than the use of either separately; but

too extended a movement must always, and in every case, be avoided, even when

dealing with an inferior enemy.

11. The manner of driving an enemy from his position by main force is as follows: Throw his

troops into confusion with heavy and well directed artillery fire; increase confusion with

vigorous cavalry charges; and follow up the advantages gained by pushing forward a

mass of infantry, well covered to the front by skirmishers and flanked by cavalry.

12. From all this it’s possible to arrive at the following truth: “that the most difficult as well as

the most certain of all the means the assailant may use to gain victory consists in

strongly supporting the first line with troops of the second line, and these with the

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