The Oskaloosa herald., 1918-09-05

Jaffa rose from 100000 pounds to
2,080,000 pounds.
Within generation, this land of
| desolation was the home of $1,000
Jewish farmers organized in co-opera-
tive societies. Towns began to devel
op. The Jewish population in Jerusa-
lem grew from handful to 10000
The little colonies were operated
| under managing boards which were
| elected annually by universal suffrage.
Banks were established, trust com
panies financed, and schools built Ev-
cry village has its Hebrew school and
Hebrew kindergarten. Hebrew was
the chosen language of all the schools.
Germany Interferes.
But already the pan-Germanists had
| turned their gaze to these struggling
Jewish colonies. Here, they Thought
was a gateway to the Orient. Accord
ingly, they began laying their plans to
get possession Of it.
Among those who contributed to-
ward the Jewish Institute of Tech
nology at the foot of Mount Carmel
were two Germans, James Simon and
! DR.. Paul Nathan. They became mem
bers of the governing board. When the
board sought to pass resolution intro
ducing Hebrew as the sole language
man members suddenly rose up and
opposed it. They demanded that all
scientific and technical subjects be
taught in German. The controversy
which ensued over this language ques-
ton was one of the first battles fought
in the Great War.
The Jews won tECir victory. When
the Germans pushed through their
plan in their logged Prussian fashion,
the friends of the SHebrew language
resigned in a body. At Jaffa, at Je-
rusalem, and Haifa, meetings of pro
test were held and resolutions were
passed demanding a reconsideration.
The students of the school protested
but their pro.German director ignored
them. The teachers protested. DR.. Ma
than oyer-ruled them. Thereupon,
teachers and students resigned to,
gether, and went over to a new He
brew school. The fight continued, with
the result that six new institutions
were opened by the Zionists at all OF
which Hebrew alone was taught. Thus
the attempt to Prussianize Palestine
had already been morally defeated be,
fore the war broke out
Zionist Troops in the War.
But the language war was merely a
clash of cultures. battle of principles
fought to a finish without bloodshed
Since then, the devoted Zionists of
Palestine have taken part in actual
Entente troops for the cause of de-
mocracy as valiantly as any soldiers.
One organization of Jewish soldiers
played a part in the glorious but ILL
fated Gallipoli campaign. This force
known as the Zion Mule Corps, was
organized from among those Jews
who were compelled to fee from
Palestine at the outbreak of the war
because they refused to become OF.
toman subjects. Unframed in the arts
of war. yet eager TO do their bit, they
/ volunteered for the unmartial tasks
that are part of any military cam
|paign,
The Jewish Legion.
Out of this Zion Mule Corps has
grown the Jewish Legion, organized
in America, England and Canada from
among Jews who for one reason or
another Except physicaD are ineli-
/, gihle to the draft in the country of
their residence. Fifteen hundred have
already gone TO Palestine from Ameri-
on, and they have Joined at the front
| the Jewish regiment which was or
ganlsed in London, and which has al
ready received its baptism OF fire
| somewhere north OF Jaffa. Other con-
,inscuts arc preparing To 80 from
AmeHca and sim Others from Canada.