The Washington herald., 1917-12-11
Triumphal Entry of British
Into Holy City Thwarts
Turkish Attempt toSeize
the Suez Canal Fall Of
City of Great Value from
Moral and Military
Standpoint.
Special Cable 10 The WashInEtsn
Herald and New York Tribune.

Herald and New York Tribune.
London, Dec. 1O.-Jerusalem has
surrendered to the British army in
Palestine.
The occupation of the Holy City by
Gen. Allenby's troops was announced
in the house Of commons this after-
noon by Andrew Bonar Law, chan
cellor Of the excheOuer.
Without damage to the city the
British eXpeditionary forces seized its
lines of communication 10 the north
and west and forced its garrison TO
capitulate.
British, French and Mohammedan
missions werS on the way to Jeru-
salem TO safeguard the holy places,
the chancellor added. and were ex-
pected 10 enter the city with the VIC
/ torious troops tomorrow.
The redemption of the Holy CITY
from infidel rule after a lapse OF SO
years means to the millions OF Jews
OF the world the realization OF their
long-cherished dream Of a restored
| nation, the end OF an exile of 2.Ooe
years. To Christians it means the at
tainment Of a goal for which thou
sands Of their faith have shed their
blood in the centuries past
The fan OF Jerusalem, the seventh
in its stormy history OF more thar
5000 years. was ASSURED by Gen Al
( lsnby1s capture OF jana Cancieut Jop-
! paD on November u, following the
swift advance OF the British army
northward along the Mediterranean
coast from GAIA. which fell early in
the month. By November -. the in
vading army had pressed to within
five miles OF the Holy City. From
that time the British commanders
task became merely a matter OF gain
ing control over the city's lines Of
communication.
Fall of Importance.
On Saturday, according to Gen. Al
lenby's report, Welsh and London
troops. advancing from BethIshem
passed Jerusalem on the east and
established themselves on the road
TO Jericho. simultaneously. dis
mounted yeomanry attacked the
strong positions of the enemy west
and northwest of the city and won
the Jerusalem Shechem road. The
Holy City. being thus isolated. sur
rendered.
The victory IS hailed by Britain
tonight as one OF the greatest feats
of British arms in this war, for its
gain, both military and moral. Is OF
transcendant importance. The fall
Of Jerusalem, from military
standpoint. means:
1.-The initial step toward the
protection OF he Suez Canal. and
Egypt, against the oft-heralded
Turco-German drive.
"A vital threat against the
Turkish forces in Mesopotamia
S.-An opening for an offensive
against Aleppo. the TUrco-German
base and intersection OF the Jerusa-
lem and Bagoad railways.
"A strong menace to the Bag
dad Railway.
From a moral standpoint:
1.-The admiration and gratItude
OF the world.
"A tremendous blow TO the
prestige OF both the Sultan and the
Kaiser with the Mohammedans, and
corresponding increase Of British
prestige with the Islam.
Jerusalem is a military center sec
ond in Importance in this part Of
the Turkish Empire only to Damas-
Gus. From the Holy City the British
are now IN position TO cross the
Jordan, cut the Hedjez Railway and
thus sever all Turkish communica-
ton with Arabia.
THE capture Of Jerusalem IS the
most outstanding thing in the hisl
tory Of the world that has occurred
for centuries" declared Secretary OF
War Baker yesterday.
"As an event in the history Of man.
kind it is comparable to nothing since
the fall OF Constantinople."
For weeks Mr.. Baker has been
sitting up night studying the map OF
the fighting around Jerusalem and
familiarizing himself with the cam
paign there. He has had the deepest
interest in the events leading up TO
triumph in the fight which has been
going on since the Crusades.