1920-22 Draft of the Seven Pillars of Wisdom – Page 165

The image contains a handwritten text which reads: We must beat Turkey + Syria - so two main attacks are planned with "feints" + the Western flank based south of the reservoirs of the Tigris, push south - combined with a "sea flank" to cut Turkey's southern shore. But first we must seize the ports - start with Haifa + Res Said - to menace the flank of Turkey. So we wanted to get to Aleppo at once - and if up of Kut el Amara - they must have held the defensive there: so we must up north at once via Marash, Mosul etc to cut Turkey's communications North-South to Aleppo. Then - tow the Black Sea front we must also keep up pressure to make - Massing round Guns (if Turkish troops E left some around) had orders to hold the lines - at last up north. The Turkish positions East were vain - (except round Medina where Allied pressure was applied) + the Governor Djemal had a big job to draw the Turkish teeth before these contemplated operations to S'ria - we thought we deserved the credit if Nuri Sami Pav made strovers that they would abandon (?) Turkish and Greek - tho' supplies would be shorter on the Constantinople side. To take Aleppo meant a second Egyptian op'n. hav'er - The Russians might have to difficult not of trouble that was no "speed despatch": There were no enormous reserves left "under arms," and until re-inforcements arrived no big op'n could be done - I should say 3 months (?) both British + French to Ism and they could have "feelers" out by that time marshals some sort of troops to move off a train. This (?) from the way it looks now destined to continue to strike first for the way south in Turkey and to land there under to make Russian run feared for security of Constantinople from East. Then - at Erzerum - a situation - if they could us take a division fro' the Turkish forces: - Now we had a go time to make a time access to the complete demolition of we were not to leave time was for us to keep wasted (?) shew left sight - and ten months in side - date certain matter at ... for no is in as a matter of fact so bade - we had no idea (?) to date - there not in a little fk was not so satisfactory - when it was very after, propartion wishing look in bridge: We was a failing very hard, as affairs were ... in ... Turkey & now ... battle lines - a most difficult line of ... the main end on the confused morassed or forme. The weather actions ... The weather actions were to be ... - weather condition not ... havn'g to come very last or from ... The Turks had also had the unwilling to ... well - British officers promised to have any ... (?) the Turks - their own for we should ... in a more - (for instance the day of the fall of Baghdad in winter? ?) a bit of the lent - things got in a large form, and then we did about (?) five times - the Turks had at the start then (?) would ... But it's a shade easier up a Turkish - be round - to a start once more to ... Port said not to Ismailia. On the march by the key was known whether many men could be ... their (?) - ought to be (?) this arrangements, a new supply (?) and large supplies - of ... (?) way miles - towards 15 (?) from it a nine station with ... their (?) could not have received from Damascus - and each thousand fro' Medina. The improved Alesha - Mascu has formed a natural defensive position from my ... + scarcely is around is situ - it might have bothering them we started it was to fight for (?) now than we had to be the desert (?) and no it was decided (?) with us to have enough for them we could detach the fro' the sheiks were - officers in were in the way. At Ismailia they would march capital on a hundred miles (?) ... The British leaders have not (?) the matter. Now Berlin had one ended in the desert + have considered "must have" - in the blast - The troops in the north would now step up + detailed "law in the interests would" - fro' without two called off. It was Zionists would received (?) fro' Palestine are usual law - then donatives in there where men it (?) the spring. Naturally, a deser