The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-06
TURKS IN PALESTINE
ATTACK BRITISH Line
German Artiilerymen Shell ths
Mosque on the Site of the
Prophet Samuers Tomp.
, STARVATION IN JERUSALEM
Poor Living on Roots and Herbs,
American From There Says--Mem
Have Been Sent TO Mcsopotamia.

London. Dec. ss---All along the
front In Palestine. from northwest of
Jerusalem to the Mediterranean coast,
the Turks are making concentrations,
but have not affected the British po-
sitions. II Is announced officially. The
text OF the communication follows:
General Allenby reports that the
enemy last Tuesday and on succeed
ing days made demonstrations vir-
tually all along his front extending
from some five miles northwest OF
Jerusalem to the sea, without affect
Ing our positions. No serious attack
developed except against our positions
on Nebl Somwil, where the enemy'a
local effort yesterday was easily re-
pulsed by US.
The Turki- German artillery again
made its objective the mosque erected
on the traditional site Of the tomb Of
the Prophet Samuel. This site is held
In equal reverence by Christian, Mo-
hammedan. and Jew. The minaret
has been destroyed by this lombard
ment.
A detachment of forty men from an
eastern county regiment attacked
turkish post on the Nahr-el-Aujel,
held by a garrison OF about 100 men
Fifty Turks were killed and our de-
tachment brought in prisoners and q
machine gun.
In an air encounter FIVE hostile air
planes attacked three OF our ma
chimes. One Turkish machine was
driven down out of control and one
was damaged.
New York. Dec 5.--ws tier ]. Fin
lay. an American engineer, reached
New York yesterday. on his way home
to Chicago to see his family, after
fnllr Vagysf ahManrA N Do inc
Syria.
When I left Jerusalem. In the
early part of September" he said.
hundreds OF families had been ban
ished from the city by the Turkish
governor. and all the young men, In
GLIDING the Jews and the Armenians.
had been drafted into the army and
| sent to fight against the aiiied forces
in Mesopotamta.
There Is no coal TO be had In Jeru-
sa lem. and food and clothing have
gone up 300 per cent in price. The
| small loaf OF common bread. that
cost them one cent In nosmai times,
| is now selling in Jerusalem for twelve
cents. A can of kerosene costs $40.
THE poor people are living on roots
and herbs Hundreds Of them made
their living by carving and turning
olive wood and mother OF pearl into
| souvenirs to sell to the tourists and
pilgrims who visited the Holy City.
and since the war have been unable
to earn q cent.
There are no animals for transpor-
tation work In Jerusalem. and the
vegetables whteA-aFo- grown the
plains, are carried to Jerusalem by
the women on their heads a dAstance
OF thirty or forty miles, which in
ereases the market price 500 per cent.
An ordinary pair of mems or women's
shoes cost 800.
There were two hotels open when
left the city, the New Grand, Just
inside the gates. and the Fast. out
side the Jaffe gate on the hill, which
Yves kept filled with German officers.
The population OF jerusalem was
| normally about $4,000, OF whom 49,
| 900 were Jews 40, 600 Mohammed
and 10000 Gentiles. Many OF the best
Armenian families in Jersusa lem and
Jana have been banished to Anatoiia.
In Central Asia. and have lost all their
property. There la no grain or barley
sowa.y sfsep, or goasp lext fcr~the- civil
population as the government seized
everything to feed the army.
when the allies enter Jerusalem
the situation will be relieved as they
can ship in provisions by the railroad
from Jaffa. which Is only three hours
Journey. They will also have railroad
communication with Cairo, via Gaza-
and can bring grain In from Egypt"
Mr.. Ffnlay travelled from Jerusalem
via Beersheba and Damascus to Smyr-
ma and Constantinople. and thence to
Switzerland and France.