The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-12-10
TURKS SURRENDER
THE HOLY CITY TO
ALLENDy'S MEN
Achievement Adds Historical
Interest 10 War,
RUMANIAN TRUCE SIGNED
Three Months ArmlstIce ID
Agreed on by Germans.

LONDON, Dec. 10.--Andrew
Bonar Law, chancellor Of thu
exchequer, announced in the
house of commons today that
Jerusalem. after being sur
rounded on all sides by British
troops, had surrendered.
The British were com.
manded by General Allenby.
The capture OF Jerusalem by British
forces marks the end, with two brief In.
terludes, OF more than | 200 years Dos.
session OF the seat OF the Christian reli.
sion by the Mohammedans. For G3
years the Holy City has been IN undis-
puted ownership Of the Turks, the last
Christian ruler Of Jerusalem being the
German emperor, Frederick II. who's
short''ived domination lasted from
l2lo to l244
Sues Canal Safe.
Apart from its connection with the
campaign being waged against Tuskey
by the British in Mesopotania, the III
OF jerusalem was the definite coilsps0
oi the long, protraeted efforts of the
Turks to capture the Sues canal and
invade Egypt Almost the first move
made by Turkey after her entrance into
the war, was a campaign against EDpt,
across the great desert OF the Sinai
Peninsula. ln November, 1914, a Turk
ish army, variousiy estimated st from
BDOO TO 2S0OOO men. marched on NJ
Suez canal and succeeded In rasehiuw
within striking distance u the ereSt
artificial waterway at several points.
For several months bitter fighting took
place. the canal being defended by al
ADglo-E Egyptian army, aided by Austrs.
lians and New Zcalanders and French
and British forces.
Then Hebron Fell.
There had been no hint from either
official or unofficial sources, ~ 10 .
British intention to undertake a def.
mite invasion OF the Holy Land, and Il
was with intense surprise that the world
learned on Mars last, that the British
forces had captured III Khulil, fiftesn
miles south Of Jerusalem, ri khulh
Is the modern name Of ancient Hebron.
The campaign lapsed into stagnancy
through the heated period. but was ae-
lively renewed with the setting In u
cooler weather last fall
Early in November the British act
iyity resulted In The capture OF Beer.
'hcba, forty miles south OF Jerusalem.
Casa In His Hands.
Simultaneous a costal column became
active, BY November 7 the city OF
Cara was in their hands and tho
British were pursuing the Turks north
ward after having inflicted casualties
estimated as in excess OF 10000.
BY this time tho British inland
forces was again up ip the neighbour
hood oi Hebron, where The Turks were
reported organizing FOR the defense OF
Jerusalem General Allcnby the Brit.
ish commander, meanwhile kept bis.
forces, near the coast in rapid motion
and pushed on 10 laifa, the port of
Jerusalem. in mid November.
Slaughter Many.
In sentimental and romantic aspect.
the capture OF Jerusalem far exceeds
even the fall OF iable-crowned Bagdad.
The modern city Of jerusalem contains
about 10000 inhabitants and is the
home Of pesiilerce, filth aud icvers, but
in historic interest il naturally SUR
passes TO the Christian world, all other
places in the world Since the days
when Joshua rescued 4 from the hands
Of the lebusiteS to mle' II the capital
Of the Jewish race, Jerusalem has been
the priced prey OF half the races Of the
world
It has passed succes,ively into the
hands Of the AsSyrians, Babylonians,
Greeks, Romans, Persians Arabs,
Turks. the motley crowds Of the Cruz
,adrrS finally to fall befcr the des-
cendanls ol that Richard the Lion'
hearted, who Nrove in vain for its pos-
session more than seven hundred year,