Why a nominal coalition commander may lack control

How could an international coalition accept one commander yet still fail to coordinate?

National forces could formally accept the commander while continuing to act independently, including beginning attacks at different times.

A follow-up challenges whether the hypothetical invading powers could cooperate. The Boxer Rebellion is used as an analogy for accepting a nominal German commander while retaining national freedom of action. The account describes allies agreeing to plans and then operating independently. Its example of forces attacking the capital at different times illustrates the coordination problem.