The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-22
BIBLICAL CITY OF
JERICHO FALLS
IN BRITISH DRIVE
Advance Four Miles and Cap
ture City in a Day.
1t Took Joshua Seven Days To
Capture Jericho.
SAMMIES CAPTURE A HUN!
American Patrol Victorious in
Clash Between Lines.
New u. S. Units in Trenches;
One American Wounded.
SAMMIES CAPTURE A HUN!

London, Feb. 22.-Jericho, famous
city in ancient Palestine, was reported
captured today.
The city was entered by Australian
troops yesterday. Little opposition
was encountered. Subsequently the
Australians established themselves on
the line of the Jordan and the Wad1
Auja.
The official statement reports the
continuation of bad weather. North
and northwest of Jerusalem the Brit
ish advanced positions were extended
slightly and rendered secure
During the fighting of "Wednesday
casualties of the British troops were
again slight.
The London war office announced
Yesterday that General Allenoy
forces were within four miles of Jerl-
cho on Wednesday.
Joshua and his Israelltes captured
Jericho from the Canaanites, accord
ing to the Old Testament, by march.
ing around the city with the Ark OF
the Lord once a day for SIX days anu
on the seventh day, encompasslnS the
citv seven times. the priests blowing
on their trumpets. When the last en-
circling march had been MADE the
Isra aelites shouted in unison anu Inc
walls of the city fell in ruins. mere
citv and put all the inhabitants TO
death, with exception of Rahab. VINO
had hidden Joshua's messengers from
the Canaanites-
Americans Capture a German.
With the American Army in France,
Feb. 22.-In a patrol fight, Americans
from units under instruction IN the
famo,s Chemin des Danes sector
killed one German and captured an
other One American was slightly
wounded. .r
permitted te reveal the tact that tAe
new American units have entered the
line. Tile troops have been there for
some time suffering slight casualties,
but Their presence was kept secret un-
til if was certain the enemy knew
they Were there.
American Gunners' Work Effective.
London, Feb. 22.-"Early last night
a large party of the enemy ra1ded two
of our posts in the neighborhood OF
the Ypres-Roulers railway and few
of our men are missing" says today s
war office report.
A raid attempted by the enemy
early yesterday morning against posts
held by Belgian troops. in the Mere
KEN sector, was repulsed by artillery
| and machine gun fire.
In France and Italy there has been
no change in the genera situation on
thu figS ting fronts. Small raids and
artillery duels continue, as does the
aerial activity. German artillery fire
has been heavy north of the Aisne and
| in Champagne.
| On the American sector the intense
artillery firing continues with the
American gunners doing the most
| damage.
! New England Lad Brings in Hun.
! Details of the patrol fight are as yet
unavailable. beyond the unofficial re-
| port that the prisoner taken was cap
tured single handed by young Amer
! lean from one of the New England
states who during the engagement
dropped into a shell hole on top of a
German hiding there and later brought
| him in.
! The American forces entered the
line on one of the darkest of nights
thru shell-pitted region dotted with
shell wrecked towns. The French
general commanding the sector, a hero
! of the Marine, greeted them as COM
radeS-in- arms and kissed the Ameri-
| can flay