In that case, interior lines should always be adopted, unless we have a vast superiority in number.

Double exterior lines, with corps several days' march asunder, must be fatal, if the enemy, whether acting on single or double interior lines, take advantage of his position to concentrate his masses successively against our isolated forces.

The Roman armies under the consuls Flaminius and Servilius opposed Hannibal on exterior lines, the one by Florence and Arrezzio, and the other by Modena and Ariminum.

Hannibal turned the position of Flaminius and attacked the Roman armies separately, gaining a complete and decisive victory.

Such also was the character of the operations of the French in 1795, under Pichegru and Jourdan; they met with a bloody and decisive defeat.