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BOOK VI.

THE FAILURE OF THE BRIDGES.

By November, 1917, Allenby was ready to open a general attack against the Turks along his whole front. The Arabs should have done the same in their sector: but I was afraid to put everything on a throw, and designed instead the specious operation of cutting the Yarmuk Valley Railway, to throw into disorder the expected Turkish retreat. This half-measure met with its due failure.

  • Chapter 70.—Allenby takes the stage (365) his staff (365) our proper role (367) my private hesitation and its reasons (368).
  • Chapter 71.—An unworthy choice (369) Sherif Ali ibn el Hussein (370) Abd el Kadir (371) a questionable adherent (372).
  • Chapter 72.—New retainers (373) old retainers (374) Lloyd and Wood (375) our caravan gets off, but offers lamely (376).
  • Chapter 73.—A Sherari finds a job and finds himself (377) a night march (379) the railway (380) Auda (381) a false alarm (382).
  • Chapter 74.—Tribal politics (383) our march (384) desert manners which nearly put an end to us (385) willing help (388).
  • Chapter 75.—On the road (389) Turks and English (390) we get two great volunteers (391) more accidents (392) a scratchy night in tents (393) denouncing a fear (394) calmness (395).
  • Chapter 76.—Azrak (396) check (397) hiding (399) ready (400).
  • Chapter 77.—Apprehension (401) a forced march (403) we attain the bridge at last (404) a panic (405) and a failure (406).
  • Chapter 78.—A new idea (407) mine-laying (408) hunger, drizzle and the cold sap our patience (409) a long moment (410).
  • Chapter 79.—Distractions, wise and foolish (412) the mine goes off embarrassingly well (413) a rescue (415) we get away (416).
  • Chapter 80.—Reconditioning Azrak (417) provisions (418) visitors (419) our leader (420) Azrak nights (421) a digression (422).
  • Chapter 81.—A Turkish garrison (423) in detention (424) an argument (425) persuasions (426) which go too far (427) the earned wages of rebellion (428) gentling a broken will (429).
  • Chapter 82.—The rake's progress (430) I want to get away (431) in my own despite (432) riding non-stop right to Akaba (433) another break-down (434) I find healing in Jerusalem (435).
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