Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-12-31
DESPERATE FIGHTING PRECEDES
TURKS SURRENDER OF HOLY CITY
MosemS Suffer Enormous Losses When British Carry by the
Bayonet Defenders Last Line on Ridge Overlooking Holy City

| LONDON.-In attacks preceding
the surrender of Jerusalem the Turk
employed storming troops in success
| siye assaults on Nebi Samuel, north
west of the Holy City. then held b!
London troops, according TO a Reuter-
despatch from British headquarters
in Palestine Tho despatch, whicf
was sent by airplane, gives details Of
the capture and the entry into Jeru
| salem.
The final Turkish attack was pre-
coded by such a heavy Smelling that
| il appeared the enemy was confident
the British would be blown off the
summit; but all their attacks were re
pulsed sanguinarily. The Turks had
tstrong line west, south. and north.
east OF Jerusalem. They were well
provided with machine guns and their
artillery dominated the crests over
which the British should have to ad.
vance. Some Turkish guns were
placed just outside the city walls,
making it impossible to reply to the
fire without endangering the town.
So. Weather Conditions Bad.
"A. torrentialf rain made the roads
impossible" the correspondent con.
tinues, while a chilly, east wind
pierced the sodden soldiers to the
bone. - The problems Of supply and
transport almost drove US to despair.
The camels were unable to keep a
foothold on the slippery paths. Never
theIess the food and ammunition sup
ply was maintained fully. 40
ION the night of December Z, when
our attack began, the men moved up
under cover Of darkness, the attack
piyoting on Nebi Samuel, from which
the Londoners advanced eastward
toward Jerusalem, while other troops
assembled the Hebron road, threaten
ing the town from the south. ss-.
"They found Hebron evacuated, but
resistance around Beth
lehem, where the Turks also had post.
ed guns, so. that counter battery work
would endanger the sacred village.
Hence our troops had the disagree
able experience Of being shelled with
out the ability to reply. But they
pressed forward and by noon Of the
Stlf were two miles north of Bethle.
I'm. .>a&sE~z Fl. ~ *
Turks Losses Enormous, -
!. "The Londoners had hard task on
the steep slopes of the Judean hills, |
where it was impossible to bring field |
guns to their support, but some noun
ain batteries and howitzers rendered
service and by in the /
the Londoners had stormed
Ind captured all the enemy works |
vest Of the town. The Turks still
held the last line on the ridge over
ooking Jerusalem, having posted nu-
nervous machine guns in the houses Of
he Jewish and German colonists In
he furtherest outskirts OF the town.
The position was charged late in the
afternoon of the 8th. The magnificent
eat was crowned with complete sue.
,ess and the Turks were driven out
II the point of the bayonet. The sur.
livors bclted to either side of the
own. Their losses were enormous.
; Turks Fight to the Last.
Throughout the whole fighting
.round Jerusalem the Turks showed
! more desperate spirit and greater
enacity than in almost any previous
lighting. They stood their ground to
he last. r. IL. -,z,.=
During the night the Turks with
rev to the north and east Of the city,
nd at s o'clock on the morning OF
he 9th the mayor and chief OF police
anne out with a flag of truce and |
the town.
Acceptance Of the, surrender was
made formally at noon without actual
= entering the city, only piekets be.
ng posted to prevent surprise. Mean.
line our troops swept through the
uburbs northward. being subjected to
,achine gun fire from the Mount OF
Hives and Mount Scopus. The RIDGE
I Mount Scopus, north of the city,
,as stormed with. the bayonet and
he Turks were cleared from the
iount of Olives. ~. II .sz
aBig demonstrations of joy broke!
ut when the general advanced to
AXE the surrender of the city. Flow
RS were showered on the troops and
ne popuIace clapped their hands toll
sstify to the joy of deliverance from
he hands of the soppressors. III
Further north the Turks were es-i
,blish In long series of trenches
round the village of Beiteikes These
-enches were carried with "a rush :,
nd the British line advanced beyond /,
lie village. Welsh troops advancing I
ON the south pushed across the J
lad east of Jerusalem leading to 8
ericho and thrust back Turkish re- I
advancing along this .
lad to succor Jerusalem. In. the
purse of all these operations they, J
aptured nearly 1000 prisoners, in ad.
Ition to 100 wounded Turks in hos Z
tails in Jerusalem. =
Suffer From Hunger. T.
'The wonderful coordination of all =
IT movements in itself speaks praise Z,
r the admirable staff work. OF con.
tons in Jerusalem learned that
{ the early days of the war and the !.
)ortfye Turkish attacks against the t,
uez canal. the Turkish losses in pack re
finals exceeded $4,000 dead from
,glect, lack of food and overwork. K
he people were SO famished FROM v
niger that they used to fight for the tol
ALL HAWAII =