[X Fretensis]

Just as our entry into WWII is considered Dec 7 1941. Not Dec 8 when war was legally declared. It is the act of aggression that denotes the start of war, not the paperwork.

[PeaRidge]

Then you would agree that the first act of aggression “denotes the start of war”.

How does one then define aggression?

First to fire a pistol? A rifle? A cannon? First to fire twice in a row? First to fire on military? Militia?

First to fire on a ship? On a fort?