This signification has
certainly some influence on the nature of the victory. A victory which
is intended to weaken the enemy's armed forces is a different thing from
one which is designed only to put us in possession of a position. The
signification of a combat may therefore have a sensible influence on the
preparation and conduct of it, consequently will be also a subject of
consideration in tactics.

30. CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH ALWAYS ATTEND THE APPLICATION OF THE MEANS.

As there are certain circumstances which attend the combat throughout,
and have more or less influence upon its result, therefore these must be
taken into consideration in the application of the armed forces.

These circumstances are the locality of the combat (ground), the time of
day, and the weather.

31. LOCALITY.

The locality, which we prefer leaving for solution, under the head of
"Country and Ground," might, strictly speaking, be without any influence
at all if the combat took place on a completely level and uncultivated
plain.

In a country of steppes such a case may occur, but in the cultivated
countries of Europe it is almost an imaginary idea. Therefore a
combat between civilised nations, in which country and ground have no
influence, is hardly conceivable.

32. TIME OF DAY.

The time of day influences the combat by the difference between day and
night; but the influence naturally extends further than merely to the
limits of these divisions, as every combat has a certain duration, and
great battles last for several hours. In the preparations for a great
battle, it makes an essential difference whether it begins in the
morning or the evening. At the same time, certainly many battles may be
fought in which the question of the time of day is quite immaterial, and
in the generality of cases its influence is only trifling.

33. WEATHER.

Still more rarely has the weather any decisive influence, and it is
mostly only by fogs that it plays a part.

34. END AND MEANS IN STRATEGY.

Strategy has in the first instance only the victory, that is, the
tactical result, as a means to its object, and ultimately those things
which lead directly to peace. The application of its means to this
object is at the same time attended by circumstances which have an
influence thereon more or less.

35. CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH ATTEND THE APPLICATION OF THE MEANS OF STRATEGY.

These circumstances are country and ground, the former including the
t