264 THE WAR OF THE BAVARIAN SUCCESSION, 1778-9CastramHrie et de Tactique, which was completed on 12 November
1770, and printed in German translation in 1771 as Grundsatze der
Lagerkunst und Taktik. Frederick composed the work with two ends
in mind: to widen the mental perspectives of his generals beyond their
immediate arm of service, and to draw attention to the dominant role
played by positions in modern war:Warfare... has become more refined, difficult and dangerous,
because we are now fighting against something more than men... We must get it into our heads that the kind of war we will
be waging from now on will be a question of artillery duels and
attacking defended positions. (Oeuvres, XXIX, 3, 4)
Copies of the Grundsatze were given to the Inspectors, and
circulated by them in conditions of secrecy among the generals and
the regimental and battalion commanders.
Frederick developed his strategic ideas in his private Reflexions
sur lesProjets de Campagne. These were finished on 1 December 1775,
and the note scriptum in dolore refers to an onset of rheumaticky
pains which afflicted him at the time. The Reflexions were cast in the
form of a wide-ranging survey, exploring possible responses to the
cases of:(a) offensive war with the help of Russian auxiliaries
(b) war between equally balanced forces
(c) a vigorously conducted defensive war
It is evident that the wary circumspection of Frederick's new tactical
schemes did not apply in the same measure in the strategic sphere.
The offensive war against Austria was intended to carry off the prize
of Bohemia, and among the various strategies 'the most sure in its
effect, and at the same time the most difficult to carry out, will be to
transfer the theatre of war to the Danube, so as to compel the court of
Vienna to withdraw its main forces from Bohemia. This will facili-
tate the task of the Prussian army which is due to invade that
kingdom' (Oeuvres, XXIX, 76).
By now the military power of Austria had become identified with
the ambitions of Maria Theresa's eldest son, Joseph II, who was made
Emperor and co-regent in 1765. Frederick had hoped to be able to
renounce the active trade of arms, but in Joseph he was confronted as
if by the spectre of his own youth, come to trouble him in his old age.
He was only too well aware that 'young princes are more difficult to
decipher than the most dissembling of private individuals' (to Maria
Antonia of Saxony, 10 August 1766, Oeuvres, XXIV, 120).
In 1769 Frederick responded most willingly to Joseph's desire to
arrange a meeting. Old Fritz was eager both to take the measure of his