Field trip to Nahr el-Kalb (Photo: Emily O'Dell)
“I have orders from General Gouraud to proceed to Damascus,” I answered simply. “I am carrying out a plainly limited military assignment. As for political matters, take them up with someone in the rear.”
— General Goybet
This week-end, my students and I journeyed to Nahr el-Kalb to study the site’s ancient inscriptions–but we were just as captivated by the military markers of the 20th century carved into the side of the mountain. For instance, this large stela commemorates the entry of French troops into Damascus, following General Goybet’s victory at Maysalun in July 1920 (معركة ميسلون). The text lists the various army units (including those from North Africa) which took part in the campaign against Damascus–a colonial venture intended “to civilize Syria and the Syrians.”
The General is deeply happy to address his congratulations to General Goybet and his valiant troops: 415th of line, 2nd Algerian sharpshooters, 11th and 10th Senegalese sharpshooters, light-infantry-men of Africa, Moroccan trooper regiment, batteries of African groups, batteries of 155, 314, company of tanks, bombardment groups and squadrons who in the hard fight of 24 of July, have broken the resistance of the enemy who defied us for 8 months. They have engraved a glorious page in the history of our country…
— General Gouraud
