How to influence men : the use of psychology in business / by Edgar James Swift.

  • Swift, Edgar James, 1860-1932.
Date:
1927
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: How to influence men : the use of psychology in business / by Edgar James Swift. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    opposed to him was found. These biographical portraits described in minute detail the way in which the mind of each of these generals worked. Some were daring, others overcautious. So carefully were the descriptions worked out that in an emergency, having identified the oppos- ing commander, Napoleon knew what chances he might safely take. With this great military leader it was intelli- gence using information which had been patiently and thoughtfully acquired for future use, and that is what in- telligence always does. One of Nelson’s orders of the day in the campaign of Trafalgar^ is worth mentioning, since it shows how fully this great leader had mastered naval history. “Indeed, nothing is so remarkable in this immortal memorandum,” says Corbett, “as the way in which it seems to gather up and co-ordinate every tactical principle which had ever proved effectual.” “No day,” wrote Nelson in this brief memorandum, “can be long enough to arrange a couple of fleets and fight a decisive battle according to the old [approved] system. . . . I shall form the fleet into three di\dsions in three lines. One division shall be composed of twelve or fourteen of the fastest two-decked ships, wliich I shall always keep to windward, or in a situation of advantage. ... I con- sider it will always be in my power to throw it into the bat- tle in any part I may choose. . . . With the remaining part of the fleet formed in two lines I shall go at them at once. ... I think it will surprise and confound the enemy. They won’t know what I am about.” ^ And they did not. For more tlian two hours Nelson’s unusual tactics kept the French commanders guessing. They could not under- stand from his bewildering method what his various di- visions were going to do. “But when it was clear that the 1 See The Campaign of Trafalgar, by Julian S. Corbett, pp. 348-349. (Longmans, Green.) 2 Ibid., pp. 346-347.