The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-11

tionS south and west Of Jerusalem.
 He said welsh and county home troops advancing from the direction Of Bethle- hem drove back the enemy and, passing Jerusalem on the east, established them selves on the Jerusalem-Je road.
 At the same time London infantry and dismounted yeomanry attacked the strong enemy positions west and north west of Jerusalem and placed themselves astride the erusalem-Shechem road. The Holy City, being thus isolated, surren- dered to General Allenby.
 The chancellor said that General Allen by expected to enter Jerusalem officially tomorrow, accompanied by the officers of the French and British forces.
 British political officers, together with the British governor, were in the party that had gone ahead on the safeguarding mission, the chancellor stated.
 The capture of Jerusalem had been de- layed to some degree, added the chan cellor, in consequence of the great care that had been taken to avoid damage to the sacred places in and around the city.
 TURKS MADE BEKINNING
 Almost the first move made by Turkey after her entrance into the war was campaign against Egypt across the great desert of the Sinai peninsula. In No vember, 1914, Turkish army, yariously estimated at from 75,000 to 250,O00 men, marched on the Suez canal and succeeded in reaching within striking distance of the great artificial waterway at several points, For several months bitter fight ing took place, the canal being defended by an Anglo-Egyptian army aided by < Australians and New zealanders and Freecn anu British forces.
 Fts tine greater part of 1915 conflicting reports of the situation were received from the belligerents, but in December of that year definite information showed that the Turks had been driven back as far as Fl Arish, about S5 miles east of the canal. lull occurred then which lasted six months and in June, 1916, the Turks again advanced as far as Katieh, about 15 miles east of the canal. Here they were decisively defeated, losing more than 5000 prisoners and great quantity of equipment. Another period followed in which the situation was greatly confused through the vagueness and the contradictory character of the official statements, but in December, l9lS the British stormed Fl Arish and a feW days later severely defeated the Turks at Maghdabah, about 60 miles to the south, on the same front. Two weeks later the invaders had been driven out of Egypt and the British forces crossed the border into Palestine
 NO HINT OF INTUITION
 There had been no hint from either official or unofficial sources as to Brit ish intention to undertake a cefinite m vasion of the Holy Land, and it was with intense surprise that the world learned on March that the British forces had captured Fl Khulil, 15 miles south or Jerusalem Fl Khulil is the modern name of ancient Hebron. The campaign lapsed into stagnancy through the heated period. but was actively renewed with the coming of cooler weather last fall.
 Early in November the British activity resulted in the capture of Beershepa, ~ miles south of Jerusalem. Simultaneously q coastal column became active. By No- vember the city of Gaza was in their hands and the British were pursuing the Turks northward after having inflicted casualties estimated as in excess of 10,- s00
 By this time the British inland force was again up in the neighborhood Of Hebron. where the Turks were reported organizing for the defense of Jerusalem, General Allenby. the British commander, meanwhile kept his forces near the coast in rapid motion and pushed on to Jaffa, the port of Jerusalem, in mid November.
 By Noyermer P the British had pushed
 (Continued on Page Nine)