In the year 1805 it was the battle of Austerlitz that was decisive and, therefore, the previous possession of Vienna and two-thirds of the Austrian States, was not of sufficient weight to gain for Buonaparte a peace but, on the other hand also, after that battle of Austerlitz, the integrity of Hungary, still intact, was not of sufficient weight to prevent the conclusion of peace. If Buonaparte in the year 1812, either before or after taking Moscow, had been able to give the Russian army of 120,000 on the Kaluga road, a complete defeat, such as he gave the Austrians in 1805, and the Prussian army, 1806, then the possession of that capital would most probably have brought about a peace, although an enormous tract of country still remained to be conquered. On the other hand, in 1814, the allies would not have gained everything by taking Paris if Buonaparte had still remained at the head of a considerable army but as his army had nearly melted away, therefore, also in the year 18 the taking of Paris decided all. If the Germans had reached Paris, in 1792, there-in all human probability-the war with the Revolutionary party would have been brought to an end at once for a season it was not at all necessary at that time to beat their armies beforehand, for those armies were not yet to be looked upon as potent powers in themselves singly. Now, what is this overthrow? It does not always imply as necessary the complete conquest of the enemy's country. THE aim of war in conception must always be the overthrow of the enemy this is the fundamental idea from which we set out.
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