Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-12-24
BRITISH ARMY PRESENTS HOLY
PLACE TO CIVILIZED
WORLD.
FIRST DETAILS GIVEN
REGARDING CAPTURE
One Of Most Brilliant Piece Of Work
During Campaign in Holy Land
Turks Routed and Much Munition
Seized-Historic Message to Be- Sent
Out from Great Britain Tuesday.

London, Dec, 2S-The London papers
announce that unique and histor!s'
Christmas message will be sent from
Great Britain TO the United States on
Tuesday.
The Christian people OF the world
Sunday received Christmas greeting
from the soldiers Of General Allenby.
1t was the first detailed account Of how
the British troops wrested from the
dominion of the Turks the city of Beth
lehem. where 1900. years ago was
born the Saviour.
The news comes in a dispatch from
Reuters correspondent at Jerusalem
1t says:
"One of the most. brilliant pieces OF
work during the recent operations was
the capture of Bethlehem. The Turks
had strong Notifications here with nu-
merous Aeld guns ON the outskirts OF
the town
The troops which had been ordered
TO take the town deployed by nigh:
far to the left, threatening the Turkish
line of retreat and compelling the
Turks 10 withdraw. Welsh troops then
entered Bethlehem at daybreak .>
Rout Out Turk Shippers.
The correspondent adds. that since
the Turks We're driven out. of Jerusa-
lem they have been conducting guer-
rilla warfare to the north and east Of
the city, splitting up into numerous
small bodies 10 attack British outposts
and to snipe patrols, says Reuters cor
respondent at Jerusalem, telegraphlng
under date OF Dec. 10.
Such tactics" the correspondent
continues, ARE greatly facilitated ny
the fact that the country Is so hilly
and intersected by so many raVines
and small rivers.
ITO improve the British positions,
the taking of certain ridges has been
ordered so that there may be wider
range of defense. All these moves
have been successfully carried out. n
View From Mount Of Olives.
"A remarkable opportunity to view
this lighting Is afforded by the Mount
of Olives which makes what Is prob
ably the most wonderful observation
post IN the world.
In the clear atmosphere OF Pales-
tine objects 5000 to 5000 yards away
look as il they were within pistol shot.
The winding course Of the Jordan IS
clearly visible, and motor boats may be
seen skimning the surface OF the Dead
sea"
Further Gains Arc Reported.
Further progress by the forces OF
General Allenby at two points in Pales
tine was reported in a statement issued
last night by the war office. The state
ment follows:
General A1lenby reports that at
midnight of Dec. 20-21 our troops
crossing the Nahr ell Auja -four miles
north Of Jaffa, on the Mediterranean
on RATS end light bridges, seized khur-
bet, Hadrah, Sheik Muannis, Teer Rex
ket, and FL Nakhras. These Localities
are near the mouth of the river, and
include commanding ground three
miles north of it. They captured aoo
prisoners. eleven Of whom were oHi-
GERS and ten machine guns.
Much Munitions Seized.
"Other forces captured Ras ez candy,
two miles northeast Of Bethany, TAX
ing thirty prisoners and two machine
guns, and heating off three counter at
lacks
Gen. Allenby also reported the FOL
lowing captures since the commence
ment of operations: Ninety-nine guns
and howitzers with carriages; about
400 limoers, wagons, and other vehi-
cles: l1S machine guns; more than
7 600 rifles. $500 900 rounds of small
arm ammunition, and more than 50,Oc7
rounds of gun and howitzer ammuni-
ton. besides various other stores"