General McClellan had marched from Washington with no object but an offensive-defensive campaign to afford the capital protection; he was now enabled to undertake anew the invasion of Virginia.

It must, before all things, develop the attacking powers of its army, since a strategic defensive must often adopt offensive methods.

This last statement may be regarded as too strongly expressed, as it seems the opinion of Northern writers that Lee, in these movements, aimed only to maintain a strict defensive, and, by means of breastworks, simply keep his adversary at arm's length.

The natural result of granting this request will be that true safety will never be attained on the Sinai Front by a pure defensive, and that the Irak undertaking will certainly fritter away owing to want of driving power or to delays.

The intended passive defensive will not be improved by the theatrical attack with one division suggested by General von Kress.

The intended passive defensive will not be improved by the theatrical attack with one division suggested by General von Kress.

After these elaborate defensive works the Belgians laughed at any one taking Antwerp, the impregnable fortress of Western Europe.