Page:The Strand Magazine (Volume 59).djvu/59

 "THE UNCROWNED KING OF ARABIA." THE FRONDED PALMS AT AKABA, KING SOLOMON'S SEAPORT THREE THOUSAND YEARS AGO, AND LAWRENCE'S BASE HEADQUARTERS DURING HIS SENSATIONAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE TURKS IN HOLY ARABIA. THE CAPTURE OF THIS FORMER TURKISH STRONGHOLD WAS ONE OF THE CLEVEREST FEATS OF THE WAR IN THE EAST. IT IS APPROACHED BY A PASS MORE DIFFICULT TO LEAD AN ARMY THROUGH THAN THE KHYBER PASS FROM INDIA INTO AFGHANISTAN. IT WAS DUE TO LAWRENCE'S STRATEGIC GENIUS THAT IT FELL. They were surrounded by throngs of vociferous natives who were welcoming Allenby, when out of the mob stepped the undersized, barefooted, fair-faced man in Bedouin garb. What's this news you've brought?" said Allenby. When Lawrence told him, the General was immensely pleased, because Akaba was the most important point on his right flank. He saluted General Allenby, and in even, low tones, without any more expression on his face than if he were extending an invitation from the Sherif for dinner, reported that the Arabs had captured the seaport at the head of the Gulf of Akaba, where the great fleet of King Solomon rode at anchor nearly three thousand years ago. Lawrence gave all the credit of the victory to the Arabs, and made no refer- ence whatever to the part that he had played in the affair. He conveyed the impression that he was acting as a courier, although, as a matter of fact, the capture of that important point was due almost entirely to his leadership and strategical genius. Google 51 Digitized by The most important Turkish base on the western coast of the Arabian peninsula was at Akaba, where one of the largest Turkish garrisons in the Near East was stationed. Before the Arabian army could advance north and unite with the British forces under Allenby in the campaign to liberate Northern Palestine and Syria, it was necessary for them to capture Akaba. As a result of Lawrence's visit to Egypt the British decided to co-operate more actively with the Arabs than they had done before. Lawrence was sent back to Akaba with unlimited power and resources. In less than seven months he attained such. unexpected success that the British raised him in rank from a lieutenant to a colonel, and offered to make him a general, although he had had almost no military experience in his life and hardly knew the difference between "right incline" and " present arms." HIS PERSONAL HABITS. During the days I spent with Lawrence in Jerusalem, he wore nothing but Bedouin garb. He never seemed aware of the curiosity Original from CORNELL UNIVERSITY