The element of surprise, which each side strives to interject into its operations, is inherently a foe to routine.

In a routine life, expected things occur--it is the office of routine to arrange that expected things shall occur, and at expected times; in a routine life one is always prepared to see a certain thing happen at a certain time.

Surprise breaks in on all this, and makes unexpected things occur, and therefore finds men unprepared.

It is the office of surprise to catch men unprepared.
Appreciating this, and appreciating the value of starting a war by achieving some great success, and of preventing the enemy from so doing, military countries in recent years have advanced more and more their preparations for war, even in time of the profoundest peace, in order that, when war breaks out, they may be prepared either to take the offensive at once, or to repel an offensive at once.

With whatever forces a nation expects or desires to fight in a war, no matter whether it will begin on the offensive or begin on the defensive, the value to the nation of those forces will depend on how soon they are gotten ready.