Attack and Defense

Before going into details about attack and defense, Clausewitz summarizes earlier discussed topics: superior numbers, decisive engagements, comparative advantage, and leadership.

We previously pointed to the great importance of superior numbers in an engagement and, concurrently, of superior numbers in general from the point of view of strategy. In its turn, that implies the importance of relative strength, on which we must now add a few detailed observations. An impartial student of modern conflict must admit that superior numbers are becoming more decisive with each passing day.