Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-11
LINKING UP JERUSALEM
WITH EGYPTIAN CAPITAL
Trip Is Made Daily by Train Carry.
ing Standard-Gauge Sleep
ing Cars.
GREAT ROUTE FOR TOURISTS
Line Passes Through Best Scenic
Sections OF Holy Land-Sucz
Canal and Sinai Desert Crossed ut
Night on Journey From Cairo.
nY JAMES SHERMAN.

Bi JAMES SHERMAN.
JERUSALEM, December 10-In the
tumuit of tho world war. the opening
OF the broad-gaugc railway from Cairo
10 Jerusalem last July, has passed
Gnite unnoticed. 1t is one OF the great
amproyements which General Allenby's
army mas left behind it, and in it's way,
~ is one OF the greatest events which,
'anai. the Near East has known
IL Is now possible TO enter Il sleep
n car al Cairo Station any evening at
nimner time and TO reach the little
DAD which Is the railway terminus Of
mo Jerusalem line, at o'clock the
neSt afternoon. In former times the
overland route from lsmailia to Jeru-
salcm, via Ell Arish and GAIA, took
'nfec weeks at the least and was not
my highly expensive. but also rather
alternative route which tool: one by
sea in coaster from Port Said to
lana and thence by the Turkish meter
gauge railway to Jerusalem The
shortest time in which this could be
managed from Cairo was about thirty
SIX hours. but it was as odorifcrously
uncomfortable as all Turkish means Of
travelling arc
Just now the limo is not open for
cifilian traffic. but in the near future
u Will be, and the most interesting city
~ The world will then be easily avail
able TO tourists. The result doubtless
VIII bc that Jerusalem, before long.
VIII be thoroughly Cairo lied For the
contrast at present between Cairo and
Jerusalem is the contrast between the
ever OF the west and the sleep OF the
LINE SKIRTS COAST
$50 As FAR AS GAIA
The scenery along the new line is
me best that the Holy Land affords.
IN a well-!aid double track. IL starts
rom kantara on the Suez Canal. where
!, connects with the old road from
airo. and skirts the sea To GAIA which
a "a Is.t.
To the south Of GAIA the line
branches one line running to Jeru-
salem via Becrsheba and the other
huGginG the coast to Judd which is
the jumping on place for a further ex-
tension TO the north. The old Turkish
meter sausa railway from Ludd TO Jeru-
GARD gauge. SO that one has two choices
LOT reaching Jerusalem.
According TO the present civilians
schedule OF trains soon 10 be instituted.
night prevents one from seeing the
splendid new swing bridge across the
canal at hantara or the quiet grave
Yards and the toy-likc blockhouscs on
the vast Sinai desert
AZ dawn one sees the fairy-like plan
tation OF the Gases and Khan Yunis
before breakfast, GAIA is reached with
us broken white houses and it's trench
Scared fields. The morning il spent
IN gradual approach TO the hills Of
Judea which run nearly parallel with
tne train. but gradually approach the
right OF way. Here and there mud
, Walled village, With plentifully leaved
trees shading the tiny dwellings, is
seen. There are the ancient Giles Of
the Phils,incs
COUNTRY COVERED
WITH ORANGE GROVES
Before luncheon. one enters tho
orchard area where far as tho eye
can see. orange plantations cover the
country, The train halts at Judd and
tnch goes on past kamleh the quaint
oid-tashoned BIRTHPLACE or Saint
George. TO Arsuf where the hills meet
me plains From there TO Jerusalem,
the engine pants whecziuGly up a rug
Eed and rocky wadi valley between
INC mountains. BY 4 o'clock the Ia
ana is reached and presently the train
one enters waiting conveyance for
'ca at the New Hotel Jerusalem
one cannot contemplate the spec
iacie OF the new road and the difIicuI
ties which besct it's construction win
OUT acquiring a changed view Of army
% STisan'izadion: There is too much of Il
Civilians who have never come into
contact with armies or army life are
Inc chief offenders in this respect.
Take the historic wastes OF the Sinai
desert To-day you will find in them
huge camps which stretch for miles.
.aid out in perfect order Splendid
arrangements. plentiful and good food
and all the other necessities for a
huge army have been carved out of a
wilderness into which two years ago
( only the most intrepid traveller ven
Z tured. All through the burning day.
an endless stream of motor iorrics.
ked Cross vans. equipment vans,
Iane,s. soldiers. Arabs, Bedouins,
over the new roads Water. which two
wears was nowhere. to- day is TO be had
everywhere. Beer is plentiful Vet
and Dry canteens are numerous. You
can buy almost anything out here i'm
me desert And one marvcls to think
hat brief two years ago the British
army found nothing here but empty
desert.
The ordnance corps has it's work
shops. huge stores and Offices with a
most OF Arab and Egyptian labor. In
+ deed, one is impressed everywhere
with what Britain's colonies have
meant to her in this war. Wonders
nave been and are being Accomplished
by armies of native laborcrs who own
allegiance TO the British flag | have
seen Arabs and Egyptians working
mere IN thelr thousands--not a mob. but
drilled labor corps marching to their
work In Tours and singing their weird
war songs. in italy 7 saw hundreds
"f African and Arab and Hindoo
laoorers at work in rest camps. and in
CHURCH BELLS
MADE FROM SHELLS
Here. where all was desert Two
years ago, the Church Army huts ring
their pcals of bells, made from shells
I The !. NJ. G \. huts hold big KHAKI
crowds evory night. Each has lis
Stage, its piano and Ii scenery and a
fresh turn is on every five minutes
every night.
Outside. the crescent moon. a world
Of stars in a glorious sky and the
mighty fields of sand surround Inc
wonders the British army has wroueht
in this corner of the world. Its a