The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-03-19
ANCIENT JEWISH
KINGDOMRAPLDLY
BEING RESTORED

WITH THE BRITISH FORCES IN
PALESTINE, March l9-The British
forces drove the Turks out Of Jerusalem
OH the first day of the Jewish feast OF
Cha nnuka, the anniversary OF the entry
of Judas Maccaba. into the city after
the rout OF the TIellenistic hordcs- The
coincidence j. a happy one for the future
OF Palestine. As the MacCabHan victory
marked definitely the defeat or de-
based Hcllenism which threatened hu-
man liberty and morality. the present
British victory marks definitely the de
feat OF the debased German viii to
domination which threatened the indie
pendence and we'll being Of all small
natiunalitics. Whatever the eventual
political settlement OF the country. the
English entry means the opening Of a
new era for the Jewish people. II means
also the liberation Of Palestine from the
misgovernmcnt and subversIvc anarchy
which for eighty years have wasted its
resources.
Rapid Advance Of British.
The rapid advance OF the British
forces from GAIA has released the whole
OF .Judea in little more than "A month.
Wfthin-twenty days Of the taking OF tho
stronghold OF tn" Philistincs the army
swept over the Plain Of Philistia, the
smiling park Of the Ilain OF Sharon. and
reached the River Audja, ten miles north
OF Jana Within another twenty days
il broke the Turkish defense line in the
hills from Hebron 10 the ancient Bethel
and left no organized band Of the enemy
throughout what has the ancient king
dom OF Judah.
Tho area restored comprises OF the
Jewish colonies Of Southern Palestine,
Castinieh, Ekron. Harrah. Rehobnth,
Rishon- le-Zion. P"tak Tfkvah, lying in
the plain. and Hulda. Mosah. and Ariuf
IN the hills 1t comprises also be
sides Jerusalem, with its 5000 souls.
Jafra, which is the economic and cultural
center OF the infant Jewish rcsetlemcut.
and Hebron. which Is a holy city. and
has a Jewish popula ION Of several thou
sand II comprises also the ErrGc vii
lagos of Ramlch and LYDIA and Mcjd"l
and bethlehem, which have a cOnsidcra-
able Christian as wcll As Arab p"puia-
tIon. And the occupation means that
the nucleus Of the Jewish r"settlemcHt
is saved, even il disaster should over
take the settlements OF the north.
The Jewish Regiment.
Within the country the English al
vance is taken almost A. a matter Of
course. The Jewish people have been
counting on IL for a year, and they
show no cXuberant enthusiasm now
that their expectation has been full
filled They are more excited about
the formation of the Jew ish eEim"ut,
Of which tidings hav" reached them
in a somewhat distorted form. They
regarded it as striking manifesto
ton Of the national spirit which is
their peculiar pride. ard they inquire
anNiuusIy when it viii arrive IN IN"
country to help dive the Turks from
GaIil"e.
Many imagined T. was 10 rom" out
under GENERAL .Iah"tutsk,." tho ''C.r-
eral" being a prominent Russo low Is.li
journalist who has had much to q"
with the promotion OF tho idea. hut
" no holds ia fact a far LEGS exalted
position in tho unit. Probably many
of the young men would h" eager to
Join tho ranks when the regiment ar
riyes in the land: until then. III" set q
tiers agree that the redemption came
lust in time to save them and their
colonies from rum.
Nauaced for three years nv Turkish
spite and jealousy. which occasionally
broke into outrage. and by German
arrogance and mcthU"ical dcstru"-
tiyencss, which sacrificed ever! thing
for military needs. they were likely
to have suffered the fate which befell
the Jews Of Jana, when the British
army had to fall back last April from
the river % GAIA. But the swiftnesS
of the advance paralyzed the power Of
destruction rs well as the power Of
defense. Save for PrtHlI TiNyah, the
largest of the colonies. which T. sItu-
ated on the cOur-" "f the AudJa. and
fell into No Mans Land between TIA"
two armies FOR - period. III" Villages
have escaped with few shells and
bombs aud few days Of Turkish "a
cupatiOn.
To-day they are the faN"TIt" resting
places OF the British troops. wh" find
something Of tho JOYS Of h'sne among
the gardens and Villages and cottages.