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TACTICAL THOUGHT
2014 September 29 th
Callwell underlines a “great diversity in tactics and strategy in different Small wars and
different Guerrilla wars” 279 and regarding Intelligence; “The vital importance of
understanding the enemy and the war to embark” 280, however, Callwell recognizes,
echoing several contemporary statements; “Despite Intelligence work …in Small wars
the regular forces are often working very much in the dark” 281 A view of complexity is
also to be noticed; “So different conditions….actions ”282 “It is this extraordinary
diversity of conditions which makes the consideration of small wars so complex and so
difficult to discuss as one general subject” 283
Result and conclusions
The descriptions are of both an umbrella and explanatory character. The potential of
explaining content covers aspects such as strategy, but the focus is on tactics. Fighting
power factors are covered for physical, conceptual factors and moral factors. The
description covers several characteristics and attitude aspects as not directly included.
Participating actors are described both for the regulars and the irregulars. The
description leans primarily on a military focus of the phenomena. The descriptions are
clear and substantial in content and have potential understanding without
complementary sub-explanations or definitions. Although from the 19 th century, a
comprehensive content is outlined, which, in more modern words, could well be a
contemporary discussion on “Irregular Warfare” from the military part of operations.
Thomas Edward Lawrence
Thomas Edward Lawrence’s personal accounts and despatches from the Arab revolt
cover the period of 1918-1919 and were written in 1921. The epos Seven Pillars of
Wisdom 284 has become an unmatched and unique classic concerning Irregular wars seen
from a westerner’s eye, from the actual time period. The book covers 661 pages,
appendixes excluded, and is a personal narrative, not pretending to be impartial. 285
Lawrence uses the terms regulars 286 and irregulars. 287 He also equates rebellion with the
form of an Irregular war, a term he uses; “the Sheriff’s rebellion had been unsatisfactory
for the last moths: (standing still, which, with an Irregular War, was the prelude to
disaster)” 288 Lawrence also uses the term “Guerrilla Warfare” and “mobile columns”,
the latter of regular character. 289 A character of the “irregulars”, not suited for combat in
larger formations, instead the smaller the better, is described. 290
279 Callwell, Small Wars: Their Principles and Practice (1996), p. 23.
280 Ibid. p. 33.
281 Ibid. p. 43.
282 Ibid. p. 43.
283 Ibid. p. 42.
284 Thomas Edward Lawrence, Seven Pillars of Wisdom. A Triumph (Norwalk, CT: The Easton
Press, 1926/1935; New York: Anchor, Imprint of Random House, 1991).
285 Ibid. p. 6.
286 Ibid. p. 65; “Arab regulars”
287 Ibid. p. 137.
288 Ibid. p. 67.
289 Ibid. p. 104.
290 Ibid. p. 136.
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