The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-17
Turks Showed Desperate
Spirit in Fighting
Around Jerusalem
Won FALKENHAYN
WAS IN COMMAND
Residents of the City Greet
British With Evidences
of Great Joy.
fBy Assoeiated Press.l

AOuQCIl. 0CEs 4tS--4u dlASNfAo -
ceding the surrender of Jerusalem
the Turks employed storming troops
in successive assaults an Nebl
Samuel, northwest Of the Holy City,
then held by London troops, accord
ing to a Reuter- dispatch from British
headquarters in Palestine. The dis
patch which was sent by alrplane
gives details of the capture and the
entry into Jerusalem.
The final Turkish attack was pre-
ceded by such a heavy. shelling that
it appeared the enemy was conhdent
the British would be blown off the
summit, but all their attacks We're
repulsed sanguinarily. The Turks
had a strong line west, south and
northeast of Jerusalem. They were
well provided with machine guns and
their artillery dominated the crests
over which the British should have
to advance. Some Turkish guns were
placed just outside the city walls,
making it impossible to reply to the
fire without endangering the town.
"A torrentiaI rain made the roads
impassable," the correspondent con-
tfnues. "The problems of supply and
transport almost drove us to despair.
"On the night of Dec. q, when our
attack began the men moved up un-
der cover of darkness, the attack
nivoting on Nebi Samuel, from which
the I,ondoners advanced eastward
toward Jerusalem while other troops
ascended the Hebron road, threaten
ing the town from the south.
They found Hebron evacuated put
encountered resistance around Betn-
iehem. But they pressed forward ana
by noon of the eighth were two mics
north of Bethlehem.
ssThe Iondoners had a. hard task on
the steep slopes of the Judean hills,
but by seven in the morning they
has sfnrrapa and captured I'll the
enemy work. west Of the town. The
Turks still held the last line on Lhe
ridre overlooking Jerusalem having
,sosted numerous machine guns in
fhe house in the furthest outskirts
~ the town. The position was charg-
ia5 Iate in the afternoon Of the elghth.
The Turks were driven out at the
point Of the bayonet, their losses De-
ing enormous.
throughout the whole ngntlng
around Jerusalem the Turks snoWea
q. more desperate spirit ana greateE
tenacity than in almost any previous
fighting. .,.,.
5rew to the north and east of the
ritv and at s o'clock on the morning
Of the ninth the mayor and chief OF
police came out with nag OF truce
and surrendered the town.
"Acceptance of the surrender was
made formally at noone without ac-
4ually entering the city, only pickets
heine posted to prevent surprises.
Meantime, our troops swept through
fae suburbs northwafd, being SUD
1ected to much gun fire from the
Mount OF olives and Mount Scopus:
The ridge Of Mount Scopus, nortn OF
the city, was stormed with the pay
onet and the Turks were cleared
from the Mount Of olives.
joy in the City.
ssRig demonstrations of joy broke
a1t when the general advanced to
falza the surrender Of the city. Flow
ers were showered on the troops ana
the populace clapped their hands to
testify to the JOY OF deliverance from
the hands of the oppressors.
Further north the Turks were
established in a long series or
trenches around the village OF Bel
tikes These trenches were carried
with rush and the British line ad-
vanced beyond the, village.
'sThe wonderful coordination OF All
movements in itself speaks praise for
the admirable staff work. OF condl-
tons in Jerusalem / learned that
in the early days Of the war and the
abortive Turkish attacks against the
Euez canal, the Turkish losses In pack
animals exceeded $4,000 dead from
neglect, lack Of food and overwork. |
The people were so famished from
hunger that they used to fight for
the bodies of the animals that died in
and about the town. Then there was
suspicion and persecution.
Everybody suspected of sympa-
thizing with the allies was impris-
oned or killed. Many persons were
executed. Among these were the
Mutt of GAIA, belonging to a dis
tinguished Arab family, who after an
attempt to escape was captured and
hanged with his son outside the |
jana gate. All aged subjects were |
sent away but the American colony |
of about 800 was not molested. It
did noble work in relieving distress
aided by funds from America.
Funds Shut of.
when the United States broke off |
relations with Turkey these funds |
were discontinued. Nevertheless the |
members of the colony persisted in |
the good work to the best Of their |
ability and between January and /
March Of this year they assisted /
more than 250,000 persons. They |
also took charge Of hospitals and 1
have done splendid service. Recently |
the Germans attempted to obtain /
exile Of all Americans from Jerusa-
lem. The Turks opposed the proposal /
but a number of younger males were
sent TO Damascus. It was also in-