Show of Force Read Online Free

Sam couldn’t describe it very well that day so long ago, and I didn’t begin to comprehend what he meant until the next day. People, or countries, that have power can also decide when to use it or when to sit back and let others suffer.
    The other thing that’s really hit home is the section at the War College on the German General Staff. Some of them never saw a battlefield. As warlike as the German nation was supposed to be, they realized that brains were the key to victory. Battles were fought daily by unknown men who either died or survived to the next battle. But victory was in the planning, the strategy, in understanding your enemy, and all that had to be done before armies met or fleets steamed into each other’s range. You could almost say it was predetermined and the forces that met in battle were just carrying out the plans of brilliant people sitting far away from the scene to determine which staff was smarter. Hell, the Germans educated their staff better than anyone else in the world. They had to think for themselves. I found the line from Prince Frederick Charles that I had written down for some reason. He was tongue-lashing a major who apparently had not been thinking for himself—“His Majesty made you a major because he believed you would know when not to obey orders.” I have to keep remembering that I have more firepower in this force than any other commander has ever had before. At the same time I’m deciding how to use that power, I’ve got to remember that each captain and each group commander has to have his own opportunity to make decisions. If I keep them tied into the central computer, they won’t have the same opportunity to protect their ships if an attack is heavy enough to exhaust the computer’s ability to defend the force. If there’s one thing I’ll have to keep telling myself every hour, it’s to let them make their own decisions when it becomes evident that my own staff has reached their capacity.
    I should spend more time worrying about Alex and his forces. The Russians have never gathered a strike force like this before. It is the first time they’ve shown that they are more than an antisubmarine navy. They are going on the attack, and Alex Kupinsky is one of the most brilliant officers I have ever known. And the Russians have followed so much of the organization of the German General Staff. I don’t think they have ever had the combined brilliance of that staff, especially the one with which Hitler started the war, because the Soviets have always believed finally in sheer quantity when all else seems to have failed. No one can produce cannon fodder like the Russians. But with all the educating they have done in the very fine schools Alex has told me about, I really believe that deep down they will always be suspicious of delegating responsibility and that their lesser commanders will not be able to operate on their own. It’s the same story of centralization of authority that has been the key to power in the Kremlin for so long. I’ll bet Alex is following Gorenko’s orders, just as they were worked out in the Kremlin, and that he’ll feel me out a bit first and then come charging right across the Indian Ocean like they’ve been charging across open fields for centuries. They’ve always been able to drive out invading armies either by sheer numbers of troops or the ability to hold out until winter. No one but Russians can survive a war during the Russian winter.
    But I don’t think, even with all their schools, and Alex’s abilities, that they understand winning in the open ocean. That’s where America has a tradition and Alex has learned that lesson more than once. I’m going to read more about the General Staff, though. Perhaps there’s something I haven’t seen yet.
    I’ll stop here. I’m rambling. Too many loose thoughts, but perhaps I’ve come across something and just don’t know it yet. I’ll read this over in an hour or so.

    M Y DEAREST  D AVID