410 
THE STUDY OP MILITARY HISTORY. 
It scarcely comes within the scope of what I have to say to-night, 
but it is possible to give special and unique interest to educational 
exercises by an attempt to reproduce a fac-simile of some foreign 
battles on our soil at home. Just as a situation analogous to such a 
one as that which preceded the crossing of the Sambre by Napoleon in 
1815, can be placed before us on the maps of a war game, so may it 
be at least partially revivified on the hills and valleys round our 
garrison towns. 
If troops are not to be had, and it is not often that they can be 
present in sufficient numbers, the positions of imaginary units may be 
shown by flags and orders may be written just as though the men were 
there in the flesh. And this brings me to another method of in¬ 
struction in Austria which had, I thought, good results. Officers 
were given a small force, the different component parts of which were 
represented by various coloured flags. Thus a%vhite banderole may 
have stood for a battalion, a red one for a battery and a blue one 
perhaps for a squadron. 
General and special ideas were drawn up and orders were written 
out as they are at a war game. Then the banderoles were placed to 
mark the positions selected for the troops on the ground itself. 
Sketches of the position showing the manner in which it had been 
occupied were then made and a criticism was given on the ground just 
as is the case after a field-day at Aldershot. We have done the same 
sort of thing in this country in the form of “ staff rides ” and I think 
those who had the privilege of taking part in such exercises will "agree 
with me that there is a great deal of instruction to be gained from them. 
The interest will be heightened, if it is possible to say to an officer 
after the work is over, “ Well you were confronted with much the same 
difficulties and on much the same sort of ground, as faced Graham at 
Barossa, or Yalentine Baker at Tashkessen.” 
His curiosity will be roused, if you add, “ This is what happened,” 
or This is how so and so got out of the scrape.” Although the 
similarity may not be always complete, still the introduction of even 
the small amount of realism, and human nature, indicated here will tend 
to waken attention and adds piquancy to what otherwise is apt to be 
regarded as a dull academic exercise. The touchstone of facts applied 
even to this slight extent, quite changes the attitude of many a man's 
mind and awakens sympathies and interests which would otherwise go 
on slumbering indefinitely. 
Finally, in these days of long ranges and wide distances, we must 
remember that the strategical nature of operations has acquired an 
enhanced value. It is not possible any longer even for comparatively 
subordinate leaders to influence the character of the fight, or to make 
good deficiencies of plan by a quick or clever tactical movement. 
Tactics in the presence of the enemy are now elevated^very nearly to 
the height of strategical movements which direct the great blows of a 
campaign. 
Strategy relies on tactics to achieve its objects,fbut thelbest tactics 
will but rarely atone for a false strategical situation. Similarly, a well 
