“That greatest of all advantages—TIME!”—Frederic the Great.
“Ask me for anything except—TIME.”—Napoleon.
“Time is the cradle of hope, the grave of ambition, the solitary counsel of the wise and the stern corrector of fools. Wisdom walks before it, opportunities with it and repentance behind it. He that hath made it his friend hath nothing to fear from his enemies, but he that hath made it his enemy hath little to hope even from his friends.”—Anon.
The absolute advantage of Time consists in being able to move while the adversary must remain stationary.
The conditioned advantage in Time i.e., the Initiative, consists in artificially restricting the adverse ability to move.
Advantage in Time is divided into two classes:
- I. The Initiative.
- II. Absolute.
The Initiative treats of restrictions to the movements of an army, due to the necessity of supporting, covering or sustaining Points or corps d’armee, menaced with capture by adverse corps offensive.