On War Chapter Summary & Analysis - Book III, Of Strategy in General, Chapters VII-XVIII Summary

Book III, Of Strategy in General, Chapters VII-XVIII Summary and Analysis

The next twelve chapters run in fairly brief succession through the various elements of strategy. Chapter VII concerns perseverance and its necessity in long combat. Chapter VIII covers superiority of numbers. What counts as superiority of numbers is determined by the strategy one picks. Of the more material factors, superiority of numbers is of great importance. In the end, when one's superiority of numbers is great enough, it overwhelms all other factors. One must enter the field with an army as strong as possible. Without superiority of numbers, one must increase the relative strength of one's force per soldier often by changing the setting of battle in time and space. Chapter IX covers the surprise, which is part of gaining relatively superiority. It is also important for its moral effects. It requires both secrecy and rapidity and is easier to pull off in home territory and in a short time...
(read more)