p.501 We have seen that the decisive act in war is battle, and
the decisive factor the armed force; also that the reciprocal national object is security and the reciprocal military aim
is to destroy or to neutralise and to weaken the opposing armed force.
VII.
To Neutralise the Opposing Armed Force by Postponing Battle.
In war the balance between the opposing armed forces constantly changes
under military, political and economic influences. Hence by one or both sides battle is often postponed to await a more favourable
opportunity.
p.507 It will be seen that the military aim in postponing battle,
whether by the flanking fleet or the so-called "fleet in being," is to attack whenever a favourable opportunity offers.
p.508 The German theory of war holds that the chief aim in
war at sea is the control of the sea communications, and in accord with that view that "the British Fleet could fulfil
its chief duties by simply concentrating on the exits from the North Sea."
p.509 This completes the illustration of the primary
military aim which seeks to destroy in battle, or to neutralise the action of the opposing
armed force by threatening, evading or postponing battle.
