1.4.1. Shy, John. “Jomini.” In Makers of Modern Strategy: from Machiavelli to the Nuclear Age, edited by Peter Paret. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press,1986, 143-155 and 164-176.
Basic ideas (p. 146):
Strategy is the key to warfare
All strategy is controlled by invariable scientific principles; and
These principles describe offensive action to mass forces against weaker enemy forces at some decisive point, if strategy is to lead to victory.
Background (p. 148):
GEN Henry Lloyd
only an undivided army moving on a single line of operations kept as short and safe as possible can hope to avoid defeat.
Napolean did not think highly of Lloyd
Lloyd's theory could not explain why Italian army won at the end of the 7 Years war (when spread out too far)
Illustration based on Prussian Campaign under Frederick.. Jomini gave scathing assessment that neither Lloyd nor Tempelhof went far enough in their strategy
Don't worry about Saxon flank and don't make plans based on resupply needs. "War can supply War" - Caeser
What is a decisive point? It is the point, if attacked, that will seriously injure or weaken the enemy. p. 154. Often supply lines or flanks.
Section III: Lines of Operation
Natural
Strategic choice: where to fight, with what force,and for wht objective?
War as it can be planned on a map
Included "Accidental" line of operations... acknowledgment that chance plays a role in war.
Most wartime commanders make bad choices because they are blinded by common sense and do not appropriately follow the strategy
Interior or inside LOO: refers to having an inner position between two opposing forces; requires strategic judgement from employing commander.
Not good at critical analysis of his own theory
Strategy does not work when fighting "civil, religious, national war, or war of opinion (organized assassination)
Strategic applicability remains ambiguous... downside of simplicity p. 175.