GREAT BRITAIN AND THE HOLY PLACES.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 219, 20 October 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

GREAT BRITAIN AND THE HOLY PLACES.

Ilio fol!ow:ng announcement hits boen promulgated among the Moslem communities in the British Colonies:

For many years the Arabs, chafing, under the misrule of Turkey, have looked forward to the day when the 7 could regain their former freedom, and revolts against Turkish domination in Arabia have been frequent in the past. The misdeeds of the present Government in Constantinople and its complete subservience to German influence have forced Turkey into a disastrous war and have brought matters to a climax. The Sheriff of Mecca and other ruling chiefs of Arabia have decided that the time has come to throw off the Turkish yoke and to assert their independence.

Great Britain has always viewed Arab aspirations with sympathy, but in the past her traditional friendship with Tu :- key compelled her to stand aloof. Not Turkey, by throwing in her lot with he Central Powers, has left Great Britain Ire,? to give practical evidence of her sympathy with those Arabs who have ranged themselves on tho side of th.> Allies against the common enemy.

It remains the fixed policy of Great Lritarn to abstain from all interference :n rcl gious ma"ers, aiiu to spare no effort to secure the Holy Places of Isla'n from nil external aggression. It is an unalterable point of British policy that these Holy Places should remain under independent Moslem rule and. authority. Tho present state of war lias placed many difficulties and dangers in ths way oi : those w sh-ng to porform tlie pilgrimage; but the action taken by the Sherif of Mecca gives rise to the hope that arrangements may be made whereby the pilgrims may in future visit tho Holy Shrines -in peace and se-c-arty.

PYIiOTECHSiCS OF WAR. LURID PICTUHE BATTLE OF MOXTE CIMOXE. A word picture of the 13 hours' battle which resulted in the conquest by the Italians of Monte Cmone corner through Wireless Press from official sources: — "The firing attained at times the intensity of 1000 shot per minute. In the valley the terrible fracas shook tin air violently and the earth trembled. The profile of the mountain was illuminated by the flames of the explosions.'' An official communique says:— "On the Tonezza Plateau our infaJtry, after artillery preparation, attac ced the enemy's lines north of Cimone. The fighting was very fierce in tit? rough and thickly wooded country, but our troops gained some ground. "'ln the Tofana region our Alpine troops carried the Forcella Bois, and began to advance in the Travenanzes Valley."

'HOLY WILLIE." (A correspondent writing to "TheTimes" asks:—Could a more appropriate epitaph be found for Captain Fryatt's murderer than that penned by Burns (in anticipation) over a century .1£0? Epitaph on Holy Willie. Here. Holy Wilile's sa'r-worn clay Tak's up its last abode; / His s:uil has ia'en some other way, I fear the left-hand road. Stop I There l.e is, as cure's a gun, Poor silly body, see him; Xae wonder he's as black's the grun' Observe wha's siandiu' wi' him. Your brimstone dcvilship, I see, Has got lrm there before yo; But baud your Tune-tail cat a wee. Till ance you've heard my story. Your pity I will not implore, For pity ye hae nan,e; Justice, alas! has gi'en him o'er, And mercy's day is gane.

But hear me, r.ir. de'd as ye or*. Look something to your credit: A coof like him would stain your name, If it wore k,«nt ye did it. " How old are you a pmlge of a prisoner who was uiitleij arrest for stealing. * "1 dunnn." "When were you horn?" ''WAi it's the use of my telling yo.t about my birthday; yo un'n't going to make me a birthday present, arc you® 1