creation or maintenance of a favorable military
situation from the standpoint of relative position, there may,
therefore, profitably be included an examination into:

(a) The relation which may exist between the geographical location of
the subdivisions of one's own forces and

(1) Those of the enemy,

(2) Geographical areas under one's own control, and
positions within those areas,

(3) Geographical areas not under one's own control, and
positions within those areas,

(4) Areas coveted or in dispute,

(5) Fixed actual and potential repair and operating bases
and sources of supply and replenishment, own and enemy,
controlled or otherwise.

(b) The relation existing among the geographical locations listed
immediately above, including the effect of possible changes in
control.

(c) The bearing of the sun and moon, and the direction of the wind and
sea.

(d) The length and vulnerability of possible lines of communication.

(e) The time and distance, and resulting relative speeds, involved in
movements necessary to change or to maintain an existing relation.

(f) The measures incident to adequate freedom of action.

A more detailed analysis of the factors influencing relative position
is made in Section I-B of the Estimate Form (Chapter VI).

* * * * *

In connection with the factor of consequences as to costs, the
requirement as to acceptability is a weighing of expected gains and of
reasonably anticipated losses, a balancing of the one against the
other, with due attention to the demands of future action, (see page
61).

Military movement normally involves an inescapable expenditure of
military resources. The characteristics of the theater, alone, will
exact their due toll, even if no enemy be present. In the presence of
the enemy, such expenditures may increase with great rapidity. The
fundamental consideration here is whether the resultant losses are
disproportionate to the gains.

Avoidance of movement is frequently the correct decision, because
movement, if it offers no advantages, is scarcely justifiable even if
it entails no material loss. Movement, merely for the sake of moving,
is not a profitable military operation. However, the conduct of
military operations without major movement is a concept inherently
defensive (page 75), even apathetic, whose outcome, against an
energetic enemy, can rare