Seven Pillars of Wisdom · Chapter
CX explained
Lawrence and his forces attack the Mezerib station, using artillery and machine-guns to force a surrender, then plunder the station and cut telegraph lines.
What happens
Lawrence and his forces attack the Mezerib station, using artillery and machine-guns to force a surrender, then plunder the station and cut telegraph lines. They delay an attack on the Shehab bridge due to food and visitors, and later move to break the Palestine Railway, enduring an air raid. The chapter ends with the capture of Mezerib station and the decision to prioritize the bridge.
Themes in this chapter
War and Guerrilla Tactics
The coordinated use of artillery, machine-guns, and telegraph cutting to disable Turkish infrastructure.
Suffering and Endurance
Lawrence endures an air raid and a bomb splinter wound, continuing despite the shock.
Futility and Meaning
The plundering frenzy and the decision to delay the bridge attack highlight the chaotic and uncertain nature of the campaign.
Characters to notice
- Captain Pisani
Unfolds his guns and fires high explosive at Mezerib station.
- Nuri Said
Walks forward to receive the surrender of Turkish soldiers; later arrives with Nasir to discuss strategy.
- Sherif Nasir
Arrives with Nuri Said to consider the attack on Mezerib and the bridge.
- Tallal
Arrives at a gallop and advances carelessly toward the Turkish station, nearly getting shot.
- Sherif Abdulla
Leads the charge at Mezerib; finds grain, flour, and booty.
- Joyce
Stays at Tell Arar as covering force with Nuri Said's men.
- Peake
His main line demolition is mentioned as standing for a week.
- T.E. Lawrence
Narrates the events; cuts telegraph lines; is hit by a bomb splinter but not seriously wounded.
Key passages
“So Pisani unfolded his willing guns and smashed in a few rounds of point-blank high explosive. Under their cover, with our twenty machine-guns making a roof overhead, Nuri walked forward, gloved and sworded, to receive the surrender of the forty soldiers left alive.”
Pisani fired his artillery at close range, and with machine-gun cover, Nuri advanced to accept the surrender of the remaining Turkish soldiers.
Describes the tactical use of firepower to force a surrender.
“Young and I cut the telegraph, here an important network of trunk and local lines, indeed the Palestine army’s main link with their homeland.”
Lawrence and Young severed the telegraph lines, which were crucial for the Turkish army's communication with Palestine.
Highlights the strategic importance of cutting communications.
“The Turks’ hopeless lack of initiative made their army a “directed” one, so that by destroying the telegraphs we went far towards turning them into a leaderless mob.”
Because the Turkish army lacked initiative, destroying their telegraphs effectively rendered them leaderless.
Lawrence's analysis of Turkish military weakness.
“My business was to see every one with news, and let him talk himself out to me, afterwards arranging and combining the truth of these points into a complete picture in my mind.”
Lawrence's role was to gather intelligence by listening to all informants and synthesizing their reports into a coherent understanding.
Describes Lawrence's method of intelligence gathering.
“The blood was running down my arm: perhaps if I did not look at it I might carry on as if I were unhurt.”
Lawrence, bleeding from a wound, decided to ignore it and continue as if uninjured.
Shows Lawrence's determination and stoicism under fire.
