ABSTRACT
W ELLINGTON'S CAUTON is understandable, for although it was only ten days after Echalar that the armistice of Pleiswitz was ended, the vagaries of communication meant that it was not until 3 September that word came that the armies of Austria now marched alongside the allies. As far as Wellington was concerned, his was the only allied army actively engaged against the French — and now was not the time to strike, for the situation was no different from that which had made him hold back before Soult's attack. And besides, an invasion of France would only succeed if mounted from several directions simultaneously.
