Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-12-11
CHRISTIANS
MASTERS IN
JERUSALEM
Turks Surrender Holy City,
British Troops Having
Surrounded It; Has Been
In Mohammedan Posses
sion 673 Years.
MARKS END OFLONG
FAR EAST CAMPAIGN

London, Dec. 10.-Andrew Bonar
Law, chancellor of the exchequer, an,
nounced in the house of commons to
day that Jerusalem, after being sur
rounded on all sides by British
troops, had surrendered.
The chancellor said British. French
and Mohammedan representatives
were on the way to Jerusalem to safe
guard the holy places.
General Allenby reported that on
Saturday he attacked the enemy's po
sitions south and southwest of Jerus.
Rlem, the chancellor said. Welsh and
home county troops, advancing from
the direction of Bethlehem, drove back
the enemy and, passing Jerusalem on
the east, established themselves on
the Jericho road.
TAKES CHARGE. TOMORROW.
At the same time London infantry
and dismounted yeomanry attacked
the strong enemy positions west and
northwest Of Jerusalem and placed
themselves astride the Jerusalem
shechem road. The holy city. being
thus isolated, surrendered to General
Allenby.
The chancellor said General Allenby
expected to enter Jerusalem officially
tomorrow. accompanied by the CON-
manders OF the French and Italian con-
Hngents.
The capture Of Jerusalem by the
British forces marks the end, with
two brief interludes, OF more than u
40osyears@ possession of the Hsaf OF
The Christian religion BY the Moham-
medans. For 673 years the Holy City
has been in undisputed ownership OF
the Turks, the last Christian ruler OF
Jerusalem having been the German
emperor, Frederick II, whose short
bved domination lasted from 1929 to
1894.
DEFEAT FOR TURKS.
Apart from its connection with the
campaign being waged against Turkey
by the British in Mesopotamfa. the
hll Of Jerusalem was the definite
collapse Of the long-protracted efforts
Df the Turks to capture the Suez
eanal and invade Egypt.
Almost the first move made by
Turkey after her entrance into the
var was q campaign against Egypt
ACROSS the great desert Of the Sinai
peninsula. In November, 1914,
Turkish army, variously estimated at
rom $4,000 to 250.000 men, marched
N the Suez canal and succeeded in
setting within striking distance OF the
POINTS. After two years Of fighting,
n ANfv ont Of
Egypt and the British forces crossed
he border into Palestine.
CAMPAIGN SURPRISED WORLD. 1
There had been no hint from either
nicial or unofiicial sources, as to a
British intention to undertake def
fite invasion Of the Holy Land and
{ was with intense surprise that the
vorid learned on March Z, last, that
he British forces had captured Ell
Shuli, fifteen miles south of Jerusar
en-.
PRIZE IN MANY WARS.
In sentimental and romantic. aspect
he capture of Jerusalem far exceeds
ven the fall of fable-crowned Bagdad.
she modern city of Jerusalem con-
aims about $4,000 inhabitants and is
O0 NOME Vi pSSNltcuCc. nllu duu lc-
ers, but in historic interest it nat.
rally surpasses all other places in
he eyes of the Christian world.
Since the days when David wrested
! from the hands of the Jebusites to
aake it the capital of the Jewish
ace, Jerusalem has been the priced
rey of half the races Of the world.
/ has passed successfully into the
nnds Of the Assyrians, Babylonians,
treeks, Romans, .Persians, Arabs,
turks, the motley crowds OF the cru.
aders, finally to fall before the de.
cendants Of Richard. the Lionheart
d, who strove in vain for its posses.
ION more than TOO years ago.
1RlToNS REPuLsE RAIDERS.
London, Dec. 10.-"A raid under.
.ken by the Germans last night south
test of La Bassee was driven off be-
,re reaching our lines" saws today's
Nicial communication. Another par
of the enemy which attacked one OF
ur posts east Of Klein Zillebeke was
spulsed with loss to the assailants"
IRTILLERY DUEL NEAR vERDuN.
Paris, Dec 10-violent artillery
ghting occurred last night on the vec
sn front east of the Meuse.
spY@l. 1<~~x (ssrhA I'll