Seven Pillars of Wisdom · Chapter
XXXVIII explained
Lawrence, recovering from dysentery in Abdulla's camp, reconsiders the strategy of irregular warfare and formulates a new theory emphasizing mobility, depth, and avoiding frontal attacks.
What happens
Lawrence, recovering from dysentery in Abdulla's camp, reconsiders the strategy of irregular warfare and formulates a new theory emphasizing mobility, depth, and avoiding frontal attacks. He proposes a march to the Howeitat to raise a mobile force and capture Akaba from the east. Auda abu Tayi arrives at Wejh, dramatically rejecting his Turkish false teeth, and Lawrence decides to proceed with the Akaba plan despite lack of full approval.
Themes in this chapter
War and Guerrilla Tactics
Lawrence outlines a new theory of irregular war: avoid frontal attacks, use mobility and depth, target the enemy's weakest link.
Honor and Deception
Auda's dramatic rejection of Turkish false teeth symbolizes personal honor and rejection of Ottoman influence.
Suffering and Endurance
Lawrence's dysentery and the harsh desert journey planned for the Akaba campaign.
Characters to notice
- T.E. Lawrence
Develops new theory of irregular war; decides to go to Akaba via desert route.
- Emir Feisal
Leads the Arab forces; welcomes Auda and supports the Akaba plan.
- Auda abu Tayi
Arrives dramatically at Wejh; smashes his Turkish false teeth; key ally for the Akaba campaign.
- Sherif Nasir
Resting in Wejh between expeditions; present at the meeting with Auda.
- Mohammed el Dheilan
Auda's politic cousin; part of the party at Wejh.
- Ibn Zaal
Auda's nephew; present at the gathering.
- Joyce
Now in charge at Wejh after Rabegh evacuation.
- Colonel Newcombe
Up country attacking the railway.
Key passages
“irregulars would not attack places, and so remained incapable of forcing a decision. Secondly, that they were as unable to defend a line or point as they were to attack it. Thirdly, that their virtue lay in depth, not in face.”
Lawrence argues that irregular forces cannot attack or defend fixed positions; their strength is in dispersal and mobility.
Core of Lawrence's new guerrilla strategy.
“Our ideal was to keep his railway just working, but only just, with the maximum of loss and discomfort.”
The goal is to keep the Turkish railway barely functional, causing maximum attrition.
Strategic objective of harassing the Hejaz Railway.
“Auda caught his hand and kissed it, and they drew aside a pace or two and looked at each other—a splendidly unlike pair, typical of much that was best in Arabia, Feisal the prophet, and Auda the warrior.”
Feisal and Auda meet and immediately respect each other, representing the ideal of Arab leadership.
Symbolic meeting of prophet and warrior.
“I had forgotten, he explained, Jemal Pasha gave me these. I was eating my Lord's bread with Turkish teeth!”
Auda smashes his false teeth given by Jemal Pasha, refusing to eat with Turkish gifts.
Dramatic display of rejection of Ottoman influence.
“I wrote a letter full of apologies to Clayton, telling him that my intentions were of the best: and went.”
Lawrence apologizes to Clayton but proceeds with his own plan to go to Akaba.
Lawrence's independent decision to pursue the Akaba campaign.
