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ON THE THEORY OF WAR.
CHAPTER I.BRANCHES OF THE ART OF WAR WAR in its literal meaning is fighting, for fighting alone is the efficient principle in the manifold activity which in a wide sense is called War.

But fighting is a trial of strength of the moral and physical forces by means of the latter.

That the moral cannot be omitted is evident of itself, for the condition of the mind has always the most decisive influence on the forces employed in War.
The necessity of fighting very soon led men to special inventions to turn the advantage in it in their own favour: in consequence of these the mode of fighting has undergone great alterations; but in whatever way it is conducted its conception remains unaltered, and fighting is that which constitutes War.
The inventions have been from the first weapons and equipments for the individual combatants.

These have to be provided and the use of them learnt before the War begins.