The Offensive, being positive in its aim is naturally the more effective form of war (_i.e._, it leads more directly to a final decision), and, as a rule, should be adopted by the stronger Power.
The Defensive, being negative in its aim, is naturally the stronger form of war; _i.e._, it requires less force, and, as a rule, is adopted by the weaker Power.
NOTE.--The general truth of this proposition is not affected by apparent exceptions where the contrary appears to be true.
_The Offensive must not be confused with the Initiative._ It is possible to seize the Initiative, under certain conditions, by taking a defensive position from which the enemy is bound to dislodge us or abandon the operation.
In most cases where the weaker side successfully assumes the offensive, it is due to his doing so before the enemy's mobilization or concentration is complete, whereby the attacking force is able to deal in succession with locally inferior forces of the enemy.
The advantages of the Offensive are well known.
(1) That it grows weaker as it advances, by prolonging its communications. (2) That it tends to operations on unfamiliar ground. (3) That it continually increases the difficulty of retreat.
(1) Proximity to base. (2) Familiar ground. (3) Facility for arranging surprise by counter attack.
NOTE.--In modern Naval warfare these advantages--that is, the advantages of fighting on your own ground--are specially high as giving greater facility for the use of mine and torpedo.
The disadvantages are mainly moral or when the enemy's objective or line of operations cannot be ascertained, but this disadvantage can be neutralised when it is possible to secure an interior position.
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DEFENSIVE.
True Defensive means waiting for a chance to strike.
NOTE.--When the Dutch burnt our ships at Chatham, we were not acting on the defensive, we had laid them up and were doing nothing at all.
The strength and the essence of the defensive is the counter-stroke.
A well designed defensive will always threaten or conceal an attack.
A general defensive policy may consist of a series of minor offensive operations.
The maxim is: If you are not relatively strong enough to assume the offensive, assume the defensive till you become so--