“JERUSALEM IS YOURS.”

Shannon News, 8 April 1924, Page 3

“JERUSALEM IS YOURS.”

COOK GETS THE KEYS, v An extraordinary story of the fall of Jerusalem is told-in a littde book called “The Itomance of the Last Crusade,” by Major Vivian Williams, published in New York. It is stated that the second in Command of one of the London regiments sent for his battalion cook, Private Murch, and ordered him to go to a village called Lifta and get some fresh eggs. Private Murch, unshaved, unbuttoned, trudged off on this errand. He lost his way, when suddenly he saw a carriage drawn by a pair of horses, followed by a crowd, and preceded by two men cas-rying, long poles, from which fluttered white cloths. Private Murch strolled towards them. When they saw him they uttered loud cries, clapped hands, and crowded found him. One of them, in a white garment, shouted: “Allah Akhbar!” and tried tlo kiss him. Private Murcl) deeply resented this familiarity, yne of the men in the carriage spoke in English:— “You are a British soldier, are you not?”

“I should si!y so,” raid Private Murch. ' "Where is General Allah Nebi?” asked the gentleman. “’Anged if I know, Mister,” said Private Murch. “I want to surrender the city,” said the stranger. “’Ere are ze keys. It is yours.”