The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-25
By F. H. POLK

The coming of Christmas this year in the calm quietude of cen- traI Alabama calls to the mind of an Age-Heraid reporter another Christmas three years ago, when. with world gone mad, he was privileged to march with 200 other British soldiers from the Zion gate of Jerusalem, and spend q day cf rest and peace in the little town of Bethlehem.
 Probably no event of the great war so stirred the western imagi- nation, as the capture of Jerusalem December Il, 1917, by General Al- lenby and his little army of British and Arabian troops. There had been nothing spectacular in the si- lent entry through the jaffa gate, yet the sentiment of the Christian world was more profoundly touched, perhaps, than by any event since the crusades. It was the first time a Christian army had entered the city as conquerors smce it went un- der the Moslem power in 673.
 TURKISH COLLAPSE
 The terrific impact of the west on the Ottoman empire had result ed in September, with the capture of Damascus, in the utter collapse of the Turkish defenses, and Pales- tine from the foothills of the Lebd- non to its southern defenses came under the rule of Christian powers. The taking of Jerusalem was an act of military necessity. It carried no military glory, but as a senti- mental achievement for the Chris tian faith it has taken it's place among the great events of the war.
 On the afternoon of Monday De- cember 24, 1917, the Manchester and Kentish regiments, occupying a narrow, level field just outside the Damascus gate, were ordered to appear in regimental parade tt 4;30. II seems that all troops, in cluding the Arab contingent, had received the same orders. few minutes after ranks had formed. staff officer representing General Allenby, alighted from a fast mo tor car and informed the soldiers that all who wished might spend Christmas Day free from all mili- tary restrictions in Bethlehem.
 Christmas morning broke bright and clear. With our haversacks full of such food as the camp af- forded, and with water canteens filled with the brackish, briny fluid which passed for water in Jerusalem, with pith helmets, but with equip ment, guns and ammunition left be- hind for the first time in 209 days, we entered the Damascus gate and marched south through the city be- tween the Moslem and Christian quarters, past the Jewish corner of the city, and emerged from the Zion gate.
 When we were lined up, as re- call, there were about 50 forma- tions of four, or approximately 200 in the ranks, not including a number of Christian Arabs.
 THE GREAT CRUSADER
 The scene presented as these troops formed and stood rigidly at attention is one. that history ,an never duplicate. General Allenby was there, the greatest crusader of the ages and the most consci- entious Christian commander, per- haps, in the length and breadth of His Majesty's service; there also was Major General Boles, chief of
 
 mind of the western campaigns; Major Stirling, the man who snatched the Kaiser's wreath from the tomb of Saladin in Damascus, stood beside him.
 There also was the most TO- mantle figure which the great war produced, the uncrowned king of Arabia, the quiet Oxford student, suddenly hurled into the turn ,il and frenzy of the Syrian campaign. Col. Thomas Lawrence. He it was who brought together quarreling shieks of the desert, and united the Arabian tribes into a powerful fighting unit. He also it was who almost single-handed crushed the Ottoman power in the near cast. He directed the taking of Damas- GUS, and generals and field mar shals, and even the cabinet and tre war department in Whitehall de- ferred to his superior knowledge and faultless judgment.
 Quiet, modest and retiring, his history has never been writtea.