The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-12-14
Jerusalem in the
Hands of Christians

Jerusalem has fallen. Capture Of
the Holy city, Christianity's most
halloWed spot, by General Allenby's
British expeditionary forces, was an
announced Monday.
Chancellor of the Excheduer Bo-
mar Law made the announcement in
the house of commons late Monday.
The news spread like wildfire
throughout the world It's fall was
heralded as good omen. The most
cherished Christmas gift which could
be give the world of democracy and
the hosts of fighting for Christian
justice and peace and freedom, is
the gift of the Holy city to world
Christians again, after having been
held by infidel hordes for four cen
turtles.
Bonar Law declared that on Sat
urday the British attacked Turkish
lines southwest and northwest of the
city and drove the enemy from these
positions. Jerusalem was thus iso-
lated. The Turkish commander
promptly surrendered
Bethlehem where the Savior was
born, lies scant six miles due south
of Jerusalem, and is presumably also
now in British hands.
Jerusalem's fall will be a tremen-
dous blow at Turkish morale, &C
cording to the belief here today.
Loss of this shrine of Christendom,
possession of which has been the
boast of Moslems for centuries, will
have far-reaching effect throughout
Turkey. Recent dispatches have in
Dictated Enver Pasha, Turkeys am
bilious war minister and the man
who conceived the Turko German al
lance, was tottering from his place
of power while British armies were
sweeping all before them in Meso-
potamia and Palestine.
Jerusalem's fall is a tremendous
personal defeat for Kaiser Wilhelm.
1t must inevitably lower his prestige
among the German people. They
have been led to believe on solemn
royal assurances that Jerusalem
would be defended by as large
German army as necessary to drive
back the British and protect the
moslems to whom the kaiser has al
ways appealed as their own particu-
lar protector.
In 1898 the kaiser made special
trip to Jerusalem specifically TO an
nounce there that he was the pro-
tector of the moslem world Evil
IDENTIFY the kaiser even then was
dreaming of German domination of
Turkey-the same domination which
President Wilson in his speech be-
fore the American Federation of La
Dor last month declared must be
broken before there can be peace.
When Turkey Joined the central
powers at the outbreak of the war
1t was after long and assiduous prop
uganda by Germany attempting to
make the kaiser out defender Of
the Moslems, the actual spiritual de-
scendent of Mahomet.
With the Holy city i'll British
hands, it appeared certain that one
of the major peace terms which che
allies will insist upon when the time
comes for discussion of peace. is that
Jerusalem remain forever in Chris
tion control.
Jerusalem is mentioned in Egypti-
an records early as 400 B. G. Four
centuries later it was capitol of the
Hebrew kingdom. When Solomon
died it became capital of Judah and
in 85S B. G. it was utterly destroyed
by Nebuchadnezzer, king of Babylon. |
Some years later the Jews were
granted permission to rebuild the
city under Persian rule The city in
the next century was successfully
under Macedonian Egyptian and Sy-
rian domination, becoming a seaa-
rate Jewish kingdom in / and B. G. |
Herod the great had brought the
city to great splendor when Judea |
was under Rome's sway.
In A. D. 10 the city was destroyed |
for the second time, the Rome le-
gions under Titus razing it. In II |
Emperor Hadrian founded the pres
ent city on the ruins.
From 1899 to 1887 the city was a |
Christian capital established by the |
Crusaders. In 1916 it fell back to |
the hands of the Turks again and has
been continuously under their dom |
ination since.
FINE COMPANY To