Seven Pillars of Wisdom · Chapter
Balancing for a Last Effort explained
Allenby plans an autumn offensive by secretly reinforcing his troops, aiming to deceive the Turks into thinking the danger remains east of the Jordan.
What happens
Allenby plans an autumn offensive by secretly reinforcing his troops, aiming to deceive the Turks into thinking the danger remains east of the Jordan. The Arabs are to feign weakness for six weeks, then cut the railway communications of Palestine at the critical moment. The delicate bluff requires precise timing to avoid a premature Turkish retreat or attack. Lawrence borrows Imperial Camel Corps to bolster the deception, while preparations for the Deraa raid continue despite King Hussein's pique.
Themes in this chapter
War and Guerrilla Tactics
The chapter details a complex deception plan involving feigned weakness and railway cutting to unbalance the Turkish forces.
Honor and Deception
Bluff within bluff requires precise timing and trust; King Hussein's pique threatens the delicate balance of the plan.
Characters to notice
- T.E. Lawrence
Narrator and coordinator of Arab deception efforts; borrows Imperial Camel Corps to feign weakness.
- General Allenby
Plans autumn offensive; rapidly embodies reliefs from India and Mesopotamia to achieve near balance of forces.
- Sherif Hussein
King Hussein shows untimely pique that threatens to disrupt preparations for Deraa.
Key passages
“Allenby, in rapid embodiment of reliefs from India and Mesopotamia, so surpassed hope that he was able to plan an autumn offensive.”
Allenby quickly brought in reinforcements from India and Mesopotamia, exceeding expectations and enabling him to plan a fall offensive.
Describes the logistical buildup for the offensive.
“We might help, by lying quiet for six weeks, feigning a feebleness which should tempt the Turks to attack.”
We could assist by remaining inactive for six weeks, pretending to be weak to lure the Turks into attacking.
Outlines the Arab role in the deception strategy.
“Such bluff within bluff called for most accurate timing, since the balance would have been wrecked either by a premature Turkish retreat in Palestine, or by their premature attack against the Arabs beyond Jordan.”
This layered deception required precise timing, as the balance could be ruined if the Turks retreated too early in Palestine or attacked the Arabs east of the Jordan too soon.
Highlights the critical nature of timing in the plan.