Their strength became split in diverging directions -- due partly to divided minds at the top, but also, ironically, to dazzling initial success in all directions. Instead of keeping a single line of operation that threatened alternate objectives, they were led to pursue several lines of operation, each too obviously aiming at a single objective, which thus became easier for the devender to cover. Moreover, in each case the attacker's direction became obvious at the same time that his drive was becoming a precarious strech of his own supply line.