THE STUDY OF MILITARY HISTORY. 
411 
directed attack may succeed just because it rests for its success on the 
foundation of a judiciously conceived planjand a badly directed one 
will fail, in spite of the bravery and skill of the subordinate leaders, 
for the opposite reason. The general on the field of battle can, now- 
a-days, only sketch in the broad features of his conception and must 
leave details of execution to those beneath him. His influence, there¬ 
fore, is likely in the future to have more of a strategical character than 
was formerly the case and it is strategy which is pre-eminently taught 
by a study of military history. 
It deals with principles not with details of execution, it is the spirit 
and not the letter of the law which it reveals and while an appreciation 
of the former produces generals, a rigid resistance on the latter may 
develop a pedant and pedantry has led, perhaps, to more disaster in 
war than any other vicious tendency. 
Again, while in the less urgent moments of active service we require 
menjto know minute details, in the supreme crisis of war when their 
own fate and the fate of those they command depends on the soundness 
of a decision which has to be formed on the impulse of the moment, we 
look to them to act almost intuitively, and thus to act means to strike 
in accordance with broad principles which, even if they do not ensure 
victory, at any rate, make it more attainable, which promise the greatest 
results to a success, while they minimize the risk of a disaster. 
Such principles are part of the eternal truths of the world. They 
do not alter with equipment or armament and change but little even 
with the lapse of centuries. They rest ultimately on human nature 
and that is a quantity which has varied but very slightly since the 
world began. It is principles that we seek in military history and in 
commending its study to those who are interested in military affairs, I 
do so in the belief that it will help to enlarge their grasp of military 
science, and while reminding them that they must; ponder over details, 
will teach them how the knowledge they acquire may most wisely be 
applied. 
