Wavell Writes on Allenby

New Zealand Listener, Volume 4, Issue 84, 31 January 1941, Page 5

Wavell Writes on Allenby

of the most successful generals in the last war was Allenby. His campaigns in Palestine and Syria which ended in the capture of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Turkish armies were brilliant examples of the war of manoeuvre. They stood out by contrast against the dull immobility of mass warfare on the Western Front. Allenby the man was no less interesting than Allenby the soldier, His bursts of temper were notorious throughout the army. And yet his greatest interests in life were simple things -wild flowers and birds, gardening and children. The life of such a man has all the elements of an interesting biographical study.

Such @ study has now been written. Its interest for us at this moment is immensely increased by the fact of its author being the Commander of the British forces in the Near East, General Sir Archibald Wavell, The book’s title is "Allenby: A Study in Greatness." It was to have been a full life in two volumes, but the outbreak of war and the authors duties therein

interrupted its completion. The present yolume ends with the 1918 campaigns. It discusses, broadly speaking, two main aspects of Allenby’s life-the formation and development of his personal character, and his military technique. The first makes an interesting psychological study, and incidentally reveals General Wavell as a shrewd observer of human nature, possessed of real insight and singular ability as a writer. The second-the military aspect-is of special significance at the present time, when General Wavell is himself executing a campaign which has many striking similarities with that of Allenby in Palestine. Both involve an advance along a narrow coastal route, both make use of swift outflanking manoeuvres, both depend for success very largely on an element of surprise achieved by the most careful preparation and months of special training, both have to contend as much against natural forces of heat, sand and lack of water as against enemy arms. Above all, Wavell, like Allenby, appreciates the need for mobility if warfare is to be in any sense decisive. The only difference is that whereas Allenby used cavalry, Wavell has a highly mechanised army. The difference is immaterial. The important point is the conception of mobility. Throughout his book one feels General Wavell studying this idea, examining its application by Allenby, contrasting its complete breakdown in the entanglement of huge armies in France. His own problem, implicit through the book, has been the materialisation of this idea in terms not of cavalry and camel-corps, but of tanks and aeroplanes and motor lorries. There developed the strategy which has led to Bardia-(Book Talk, 4YA, January 8.)