782 examples of defensive in sentences

Their defensive mode of warfare is to distribute themselves in all directions among the trees and rocks, from which, by their numbers and unerring aim, they might easily destroy a much larger force than the Dutch could afford to send against them from any of their possessions in the east.

But it does not appear that Michelangelo did more than carry out defensive operations in the manner familiar to his predecessors.

"For keeping or carrying a gun, or powder or shot, or a club, or other weapon whatsoever, offensive or defensive, a slave incurs, says Southern statute book, for each offence, thirty-nine lashes.

If the State has satisfied its political ambitions and is chiefly concerned with keeping its place, the military policy will assume a more or less defensive character.

Our alliances are defensive, not merely in form, but essentially so.

It even seems questionable at the present moment whether we can always reckon on the support of the members of the Triple Alliance in a defensive war.

In the view of these dangers and the circumstance that we are not strong enough to entertain any idea of provoking a battle, the question remains, What are the means of defensive naval strategy to secure protection from a superior and well-prepared enemy, and gradually to become its master?

We should at first carry on a defensive war, and would therefore have to reckon on a blockade of our coasts, if we succeed in repelling the probable English attack.

Such a war will clearly show their value both as purely defensive and as offensive works.

No proof is required that a good Intelligence system is essential to a defensive which is based on the policy of striking unexpected blows.

The soldier must often use the spade in defensive operations, during which he is exposed to a far hotter fire than formerly; while under all circumstances he must shoot more than in bygone days.

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

In a defensive war they will have to undertake the local and mainly passive defence, and the support of the national war.

When on the defensive the duty of the individual is mainly to hold his ground, while the commander's principal business is to utilize the reserves.

Hence, this auxiliary weapon should be given to the infantry in limited numbers, and employed mainly on the defensive fronts, and should be often massed into large units.

Infantry has gained enormously in defensive power owing to modern weapons.

If we observe this principle, we shall often be weaker than the enemy on the less important fronts; this disadvantage may be partly counterbalanced by remaining on the defensive in such a position.

On the defensive it will, of course, often be necessary to engage the attacking artillery, if there is any prospect of success, since this is the most dreaded enemy of the infantry on the defensive; but, on the attack, its chief duty always is to fire upon the enemy's infantry, where possible, from masked positions.

On the defensive it will, of course, often be necessary to engage the attacking artillery, if there is any prospect of success, since this is the most dreaded enemy of the infantry on the defensive; but, on the attack, its chief duty always is to fire upon the enemy's infantry, where possible, from masked positions.

If, therefore, Thomas Roch's invention possessed this power, it assured the offensive and defensive superiority of his native country.

Evan, who had Miss Lavinia in charge, was alert, and rather, it seemed to me, on the defensive; but though Martin asked questions, he was comfortably soothing, and seemed to take in much at a glance.

"Or as a moat defensive to a house Against the envy of less happier lands.

To keep on friendly terms with a powerful next-door neighbour, or to build defensive works high enough to make hostility a safe game, is the lifework of its statesmen and its politicians.

The violence of the Dreyfus affair was not so much due to a Catholic detestation of the Jewish race, but in its root-instincts to a fear of the German people over the frontier making use of French corruption to sap the defensive works which had been raised against them.

A man placed between the offensive and the defensive always assumes this attitude as if to sound the resources of his courage in face of an enemy stronger than himself; in this attitude he may advance or recede.

782 examples of  defensive  in sentences