Norwich bulletin., 1917-12-26
FACTS AND COMMENT

in 1916, Sir Archibald Murray, the new British commander in Egypt, started to push a railroad across the desert from the canal to the frontier of Palestine. Added to the natural difficulties of construction in an un- inhabited and waterless region, the Turko German airmen were an ever present menace and hostile army of 1S,000 men under General Kress won Kressenstein was advancing. This army, however, was soundly beaten at with a loss of 300 in killed and wounded and 4.960 captured. .So pre- cipitate was the retreat that the Turkish base at Fl Arish near the border of Palestine had to be aban- doned and with little opposition the British forces pushed their railway with it's accompanying water mains to Rafa on the frontier. Early in 1917 rtisaIeri, but here the tide turned and Murray suffered a defeat before Gaza that forced him to Withdraw for that campaign, especially as the hot months were at hand in which mili tary operations are impossible in that country.
 Gen. AiIenby who now succeeded MarFay had won great name for himself in the famous retreat from Mons, and it was with the greatest reluctance that Gen. Haig. parted with his tried and trusted leader for what was to prove more important service elsewhere. No sooner was the hot season past than the British forces finder their new commander were back at their old task of discomfort ing the Turks. Beersheba. the south ernmost Turkish base, fell November first after fierce resistance While southwest was in progress, the cav airy had fetched wide circuit through the desert to the eastward and fell on the rear of the fortified camp. Eighteen hundred prisoners British were established forty miles from Jerusalem. Gaza fell five days later and the invaders now held sea- port. Then with the British and the lon and Jaffa were taken and the ar mics were on three sides of .Jefusa- lem. Here the Turkish defense stiff fened and with artillery and machine Bethlehem and en the Mount of Olives as well as before the walls of the Holy City itself the fall or the city was postponed for three weeks, This was due in large measure to hesita- ton on the part of the attacking forces to bring their artillery to bear tfi the sacred places, factor that the Turks had counted on in psacins their guns as' they did. The defenses were therefore in great part taken at the point of the bavonet the Turks evac- uated the city Dec. 8 wfiile yet there was d way open. and on the tenth Cieferal Allsnby With the cooperat- ing French and Italian commanders made the formal entry into the Holy City that now after seven hundred years of Moslem rule had definitely passed into Christian keeping.
 The taking Of Jerusalem brings eitidly to mind the long Series of wars and sieges that have cehtered about the fafnous city. Even as Bel giuffl has been called the Cockpit Of the battle ground of Asia. This little fand only fifty miles in width was the only pathway for war and commerce between the peoples of Egypt and Mesopotaffffa, for the deserts of Ara bia have ever been difficult for cara vans. and impossible for armies. Jo- seph's brethren had but to lift up their eyes to catch sight of a cara van on the way to Egypt to whom they could sell their hated brother, Idezekiah's display of his treasures to the ambassadors of the Baby1onian king portrays political and cofn- niefcial intimacy that the Hebrew prophets in vain used to deplore. The destruction of Samaria afld the Great Captivity of the Jews were but steps in the expansion of the Assyfian and Babylonian empires. Then followed
 
 sian Cyrus ,the period of dofnination hy Alexandef the Great and his sue- cessors and the final absorption Of the entire eastern efid of the Mediter- conauefins. Roi11e. All through these centuries the little country of Pa1es- tine was d perfect hotbed Of revolt until the utter destruction of Jefusa- one of the most horrible sieges of his. tory.
 Rebuilt later, the Holy City became subject successively to Persian. Sara zen. Egyptian and Turk. For three hundred years 1t was the goal of the Crusaders afld from l 099 to 1187 was actually in the hands of the Chris tians who. however. treated tile Mo hamfnedan and Jewish inhabitants in most unchristian fashion. Saladin re- captured the city iii 11S7. since which time with the exception of fifteen short years it has been ruled or rathl pre5enf sT oion n Of s na Ths is but one instance of Turkish. in- humanity. Hundreds of families have been -banished, all the young men both Jews and Armenians have been draft ed into the Turkish armies in Meso- putaniia, there is no coal Dread has gone up. to twelve times it's former price and the .poor are living on roots and herbs. The entrance of the Brit lSh forces has meant literally He to thousands. It is generally assumed from the uttefarces of British states men that afl independent Jewish state will be erected if1 Palestine under a si1arantee of neutrality from the a1- lied powers
 The fourth Christmas has passed and the sofdiefs are still in. the trenches n5r does afy hufr1an being venture to say when they win be out. When the first German troops started sef told them siiat they wotiid ba back victorious before the. leaves fell rom the trees. Someone has since suggested that the emperor must have meant pine trees. For the first few months of tine mighty struggle peo- pie could see .nething. in it but the -a | s.i S4-