Seven Pillars of Wisdom · Chapter
CXVI explained
The Arab forces converge at Sheikh Saad, capturing Turkish stragglers and receiving news of Bulgaria's surrender.
What happens
The Arab forces converge at Sheikh Saad, capturing Turkish stragglers and receiving news of Bulgaria's surrender. Talal, Auda, and Nuri Shaalan lead successful raids on Ezraa, el Ghazale, and other positions. The chapter depicts the mass uprising of Arab tribes, the imminent collapse of the Turkish Fourth and Seventh Armies, and the approaching end of the war.
Themes in this chapter
War and Guerrilla Tactics
The chapter details coordinated raids, demolitions, and the use of local tribes to harass retreating Turkish columns.
Suffering and Endurance
The harsh conditions of the march, cold nights, and the strain of managing feuding tribes are emphasized.
Futility and Meaning
Lawrence reflects on the madness of war and the fleeting nature of the cause as the end approaches.
Characters to notice
- T.E. Lawrence
Narrator and strategist, coordinating the Arab forces and assessing the military situation.
- Emir Feisal
Mentioned as the leader whose army is now a legendary force in the villages.
- Sherif Nasir
Overshot the main force in the dark; later coordinates with local tribes.
- Auda abu Tayi
Boasts of capturing el Ghazale by storm, taking prisoners and a train.
- Nuri Shaalan
Reports capturing four hundred prisoners and equipment; leads a sweep toward Deraa.
- Tallal
Leads the attack on Ezraa, causing Abd el Kader to abandon the place.
Key passages
“The parties of the night returned, full of spoil. Ezraa had been feebly held by Abd el Kader, the Algerian, with his retainers, some volunteers and troops. When Talal came the volunteers joined him, the troops fled, and the retainers were so few that Abd el Kader had to abandon the place without fighting.”
The night raiders came back laden with loot. Ezraa was weakly defended by Abd el Kader and his small force; when Talal arrived, the volunteers switched sides, the regular soldiers ran away, and Abd el Kader fled without a fight.
Describes the easy capture of Ezraa due to defections and weak defense.
“Auda came, boasting. He had taken el Ghazale by storm, capturing a derelict train, guns and two hundred men, of whom some were Germans.”
Auda arrived proudly, claiming he had stormed el Ghazale and seized an abandoned train, artillery, and two hundred prisoners, including some Germans.
Highlights Auda's successful raid and the capture of German soldiers.
“An English aeroplane flew round and round, wondering if we were the Arab force. Young spread out ground signals, and to him they dropped a message that Bulgaria had surrendered to the Allies.”
A British plane circled overhead, uncertain if we were the Arab army. Young laid out identification signals, and the plane dropped a message announcing Bulgaria's surrender to the Allies.
Shows communication between Arab forces and British air support, and the news of Bulgaria's capitulation.