T. E. Lawrence Correspondence – Page 276

To Major General A. P. Wavell. 9. 2. 23 Dear Wavell I am reading your book, and liking it very much. My first vanity, when I got it, was to look up myself in the index! I apologise for this : but so many people have either overdone or underdone the very business that it's a real pleasure to see a fair statement of the case; it's a tit-bit that sends back my apology. You have thrown several of your rare flowers at my person : this wasn't necessary, but the author has only too good an opinion, ... you know! The author has even giv... his rotten prose. I haven't, of course, yet got very far. Indeed I've only turned it over and ... with a sheep appetite the tit-bits : they have more life in them, & assure serves me I'm going right through, checking each move with the map. I fancy there will be more lessons in the Palestine Campaigns than in the Trench ones. Your hope you kept the enemy always in the picture. War-books so often leave them out : and neither Liman nor Kress is very instructive. No, India is not good. We are seven miles from Karachi. I have passed a lot of self-denying ordinances, one of which keeps me within camp-bounds, another forbids me the cantoon, a third prevents my ever sitting down on another bed than my own ... machine as a plaster saint ; but even tha wasn't enough. After a year of rather evident non-notice the G.O. sent for me, & stepped ... on my face. However, he's made up amends for be ... arranged his reversion, from Mudros in 1915. Wonder- ful how they get back, isn't it?) and Salm...nd, knowing that, stepp... in and saved me. So all is well, & my conduct sheet still white. And I'm lucky it will be En- cased in 1920. The only decent thing about India is the climate here : never cold enough for an overcoat, or not enough for a sun-helmet. A marvellous relief after Ara- bia and Egypt. I'm glad you h..ve the mechanical side to play with. It will completely change the face of future tactics, I think and hope. The abolition of the rifle shall we say? A v..ry good riddance. Give my regards to Berty and Clayton, if you meet them some while. That fat-head, Philby, is going to write a book against Gertrude & me. Cat & puppy, it was. Will he call us soul-affinities? Fat-head again to him.