STRATEGETIC SITUATIONS

A Strategic Situation, and whether in warfare or in Chess-play, is produced by the presence, in any Strategetic Plane, i.e., theatre of conflict, of two or more opposing Strategetic Entireties, i.e., contending armies.

These latter are of four classifications and are denominated as follows:

(a) The Kindred Determinate Force.
(b) The Adverse Determinate Force.
(c) The Kindred Hypothetical Force.
(d) The Adverse Hypothetical Force.

RULE I

Given the Strategetic Entireties present in a given Strategetic Situation, designate the opposing Prime Strategetic Factors and express the relative values of each in the terms of the Strategic Syllogism.

THE STRATEGIC SYLLOGISM

Having classified the existing Strategetic Situation, it is necessary next to designate the opposing Columns of Attack, of Support, and of Manoeuvre.

Then, by comparing these Prime Strategetic Factors, to determine the net advantage, disadvantage, or equality that exist between them and to express this condition in the terms of the resulting Strategic Syllogism.

In the construction of a Strategic Syllogism, the Strategic, i.e., the positional value of each of the opposing Prime Strategetic Factors contained in a given Strategetic Situation, is expressed in terms made up of letters and symbols, viz.,

A	Signifies	Column of Attack.
S	”	Column of Support.
M	”	Column of Manoeuvre.
+	”	Advantage in Position.
-	”	Disadvantage in Position.
=	”	Equality in Position.

The positional values of the several Prime Strategetic Factors are obtained as follows:

COLUMN OF ATTACK

That Column of Attack which is posted upon the superior Strategic front as compared to the front occupied by the immediately opposing formation (cf, Grand Tactics, pp. 117 to 275), has the advantage in position.

This relative advantage and disadvantage in position of the Column of Attack is expressed by the first term of the Strategic Syllogism, viz.:

(I.)

-A

(II.)

-A

In the first instance (I), the White Column of Attack has the advantage and the Black formation has the disadvantage; in the second case (II), this condition is reversed.

COLUMN OF SUPPORT

A Column of Support has the superiority in position, as compared with the adverse Column of Support, whenever it contains more than the latter of the following advantages, viz.:

I. One, or more, Passed Pawns.
II. Two united Pawns, overlapping an adverse Pawn.
III. Two isolated Pawns adjacent to a single adverse Pawn.
IV. Three, or more, united Pawns at their fifth squares, opposed by a like number of adverse Pawns posted on their Normal Base Line.
V. A majority of kindred Pawns on that side of the Board farthest from the adverse King.

The relative advantage and disadvantage of one Column of Support, over the opposing Column of Support, is expressed by the second term of the Strategic Syllogism, thus:

(I.)

-S

(II.)

-S

In the first case (I), White has the advantage and Black has the disadvantage. In the second case (II), this condition is reversed.

COLUMN OF MANOEUVRE

Columns of Manoeuvre are not compared with each other. The advantage of one over another is determined by comparing their respective powers of resistance to the attack of the corresponding adverse Columns of Support.

That Column of Manoeuvre which longest can debar the adverse promotable Factors from occupying a point of junction on the kindred Strategetic Rear, has the advantage.

The relative advantage and disadvantage of the column of Manoeuvre is expressed by the third term of the Strategic Syllogism, viz.:

(I.)

-M

(II.)

-M

In the first case (I), White, has the advantage and Black the disadvantage. In the second case (II), this condition is reversed.

In recording the values of the opposing Prime Strategetic Factors, the terms relating to White are written above and those relating to Black, below the line.

The terms expressing the relative values of the Columns of Attack always are placed at the left; those for the Columns of Support in the center, and those for the Columns of Manoeuvre at the right.

The Strategic Syllogisms are twenty-seven in number and are formulated, viz.:

TABLE OF STRATEGIC SYLLOGISMS

No. 1.	+A+S+M
	-A-S-M
No. 2.	+A+S=M
	-A-S=M
No. 3.	+A+S-M
	-A-S+M
No. 4.	+A=S+M
	-A=S-M
No. 5.	+A=S=M
	-A=S=M
No. 6.	+A=S-M
	-A=S+M
No. 7.	+A-S+M
	-A+S-M
No. 8.	+A-S=M
	-A+S=M
No. 9.	+A-S-M
	-A+S+M
No. 10.	=A+S+M
	=A-S-M
No. 11.	=A+S=M
	=A-S=M
No. 12.	=A+S-M
	=A-S+M
No. 13.	=A=S+M
	=A=S-M
No. 14.	=A=S=M
	=A=S=M
No. 15.	=A=S-M
	=A=S+M
No. 16.	=A-S+M
	=A+S-M
No. 17.	=A-S=M
	=A+S=M
No. 18.	=A-S-M
	=A+S+M
No. 19.	-A+S+M
	+A-S-M
No. 20.	-A+S=M
	+A-S=M
No. 21.	-A+S-M
	+A-S+M
No. 22.	-A=S+M
	+A=S-M
No. 23.	-A=S=M
	+A=S=M
No. 24.	-A=S-M
	+A=S+M
No. 25.	-A-S+M
	+A+S-M
No. 26.	-A-S=M
	+A+S=M
No. 27.	-A-S-M
	+A+S+M

STRATEGIC ELEMENTALS.

Each of the terms contained in the Strategic Syllogism should have its counterpart in a tangible and competent mass of troops.

This principle of Strategetics, when applied to warfare, is absolute, and admits of no exception. The catastrophies sustained by the French armies in the campaigns of 1812, 1813, 1814 and 1815 are each and every one directly due to the persistent violation by Napoleon of this basic truth, in devolving the duties of a column of support and a column of manoeuvre upon a single Strategic Elemental.

In solemn contrast to that fatal and indefensible rashness which cost Napoleon five great armies and ultimately his crown, is the dictum by one whose transcendent success in warfare, is the antithesis of the utter ruination which terminated the career of the famous Corsican.

Says Frederic the Great:

“I adhere to those universal laws which all the elements obey; these, for me are sufficient.”

Singularly enough, it seemingly has escaped the notice of the great in warfare, owing to the subtle mathematical construction of the Chess-board, its peculiar relations to the moves of the Chess-pieces, and of the latter to each other, that: