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In a word, the Germans were counting upon being able

to perform that very effective piece of major tactics which consists in grasping the initiative, and forcing the enemy to conform to your move- ments rather than to carry out his own plans. The advantage of such a scheme is of course that you know the mind of your enemy —you set it working—and understand the intention of his acts. If he is conforming to your initiative, you have, so to speak, his battle-plan in your pocket. If he is acting on his own initiative, you never know when and where he is coming at you. Therefore force him to toil after you, and never allow him time and breath to act on his own.

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