After defining these terms and explaining their meaning and application, it is deemed best to illustrate their use by reference to well-known and striking historical examples.
_The theatre of a war_ embraces not only the territory of the two belligerent powers, but also that of their allies, and of such secondary powers as, through fear or interest, may be drawn into the contest.

With maritime nations it also embraces the seas, and sometimes crosses to another continent.

Some of the wars between France and England embraced the two hemispheres.
_The theatre of operations_, however, is of a more limited character, and should not be confounded with the theatre of war.

In general, it includes only the territory which an army seeks, on the one hand, to defend, and on the other, to invade.

If two or more armies be directed towards the same object, though by different lines, their combined operations are included in the same theatre but if each acts independently of the others, and seeks distinct and separate objects, each must have its own independent theatre of operations.
A war between France and Austria may embrace all Italy and Germany, but the theatre of operations may be limited to only a portion of these countries.