This combination of the defensive and offensive has many advantages.

The enemy, being forced to take the defensive in his turn, loses much of the moral superiority due to successful offensive operations.

There are numerous instances of this kind of war, "the defensive-offensive," as it is sometimes called, to be found in history.

The last four campaigns of Frederick the Great of Prussia, are examples which may serve as models.
Wellington played a similar part in the Spanish peninsula.
To merely remain in a defensive attitude, yielding gradually to the advances of the enemy, without any effort to regain such positions or provinces as may have fallen into his power, or to inflict on him some fatal and decisive blow on the first favorable opportunity; such a system is always within the reach of ignorance, stupidity, and cowardice; but such is far from being the true Fabian system of defensive war.
"Instead of finding security only in flight; instead of habitually refusing to look the enemy in the face; instead of leaving his march undisturbed; instead of abandoning, without contest, points strong by nature or by art;--instead of all this, the true war of defence seeks every occasion to meet the enemy, and loses none by which it can annoy or defeat him; it is always awake; it is constantly in motion, and never unprepared for either attack or defence.

When not employed in efforts of courage or address, it incessantly yields itself to those of labor and science.