PRELIMINARIES OF A CAMPAIGN
Nature of the preparations for a campaign—Mobilization—Concentration—Influence of considerations of policy—King William in 1866 anxious to avoid war—Problems solved by the Prussian staff in preparation for the campaign: calculation of the force required—Its distribution in the theatre of war—Choice of points of concentration; formation of two armies in 1866 inevitable—Movement of troops to the points selected; transport by rail and subsequent marches—Position on June 6th—Opening of campaign postponed for political reasons—Delay leads to better knowledge of Austrian movements, and corresponding modification of Prussian arrangements—King William finally decides for war—Invasion of Saxony—Position of Prussian armies on June 22nd—Summary
THE CRITICS
Difficulties which beset the judgment of the conduct of a campaign—Insufficiency of the attainable knowledge of the motives which guided the commanders—Reserve therefore incumbent on the military critic—Illustration of hasty judgment—Impartiality consists only in the attempt to understand
PART II
THE GENERAL STAFF AND THE ARMY
THE SPIRIT OF PRUSSIAN MILITARY INSTITUTIONS