ABSTRACT
The fate of Mack's army shows clearly how completely the framers of the plan failed to appreciate either the strategical or the political situation. By advancing to the Black Forest they hoped to forestall Napoleon in gaining military possession of South-Western Germany. But in thinking to surprise Napoleon they lent themselves to being completely surprised. Napoleon was able to cross in succession the Southern tributaries of the Danube, beginning with Inn. Beguiled by a false rumour that Napoleon had been recalled to the Rhine by a rising at Paris, he stuck fast to Ulm, and only Werneck's division moved out on 13th to the comparative safety of Heidenheim. On November 27th the Allies began their move on Brunn, driving in the French outposts from Wischau, and coming up to Austerlitz by the evening of December 1st, Napoleon had made great efforts to concentrate all available troops, and was able to put nearly 70,000 men into the field against 80,000 Allies.
