In his famous treatise On war (1832) Carl von Clausewitz may be said to have distilled Napoleon into theory. He is best remembered for his pronouncement that war is a continuation of politics by other means and for his observations on total war : but modern strategist who profess to apply his doctrines would do well to read him again. For Clausewitz, as Professor Rapaport contends, made a distinction between judicious and injudicious war, and the relationship he detected between war and politics really means that war can be waged only in certain circumstances.

Extracts selected from the English translation of Vom Kriege published : London : Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co., 1908 ; and translated by J.J. Graham.

What is war? -- End and means in war -- The genius for war -- Of danger in war -- Of bodily exertion in war -- Information in war -- Friction in war -- Concluding remarks -- Branches of the art of war -- On the theory of war -- Art or science of war -- Methodicism -- Criticism -- On examples -- Strategy -- Elements of strategy -- Moral forces -- The chief moral powers -- Military virtue of an army -- Boldness -- Perseverance -- Superiority of numbers -- The surprise -- Stratagem -- Assembly of forces in space -- Assembly of forces in time -- Strategic reserve -- Economy of forces -- Geometrical element -- On the suspension of the act in war -- On the character of modern war -- Tension and rest -- Introductory -- Character of the modern battle -- The combat in general -- The combat in general (continuation) -- On the signification of the combat -- Duration of combat -- Decision of the combat -- Mutual understanding as to a battle -- The battle -- Effects of victory -- The use of the battle -- Strategic means of utilizing victory -- Retreat after a lost battle -- Introduction -- Absolute and real war -- Interdependence of the parts in a war -- Of the magnitude of the object of the war and the efforts to be made -- Ends in war more precisely defined; overthrow of the enemy -- Ends in war more precisely defined (continuation); imited object -- Influence of the political object on the military object -- War as an instrument of policy.