But however frequent and however important these views of supply may be, the subsistence of the troops always remains a completely different activity from the use of the troops, and the former has only an influence on the latter by its results.
The other branches of administrative activity which we have mentioned stand much farther apart from the use of the troops.

The care of sick and wounded, highly important as it is for the good of an Army, directly affects it only in a small portion of the individuals composing it, and therefore has only a weak and indirect influence upon the use of the rest.

The completing and replacing articles of arms and equipment, except so far as by the organism of the forces it constitutes a continuous activity inherent in them--takes place only periodically, and therefore seldom affects strategic plans.
We must, however, here guard ourselves against a mistake.

In certain cases these subjects may be really of decisive importance.

The distance of hospitals and depots of munitions may very easily be imagined as the sole cause of very important strategic decisions.