PALESTINE.

Taihape Daily Times, 11 December 1917, Page 5

PALESTINE.

SURRENDER OF JERUSALEM. Received 9.20.

NEW YORK, December 10,

Jerusalem, which has been the objective of General ’a forces for some considerable time, has surrendered.

(The origin of Jerusalem ‘'The Holy City,” or the “City of Peace” of the Jews, is very obscure. It has been the capital of Palestine/ from time immemorial. Its historical importance dates from the time of David, who fixed his residence there. The history of Jerusalem must be familiar to all Biblical students, playing- as it has done, an important part l in the national life of the Jews, The old city was destroyed by Titus, and rebuilt by Hadrian, but only as a heathen and Eoman city; not as capital of the Jewish race, who were ‘ forbidden under pain of death to visit it. Constantine took measures to consecrate and perpetuate its Christian memories but ascertaining the sites of the various events in the passion of our Lord, and erecting on them churches and other suitable memorials of the scenes, of the redemption of the world. In 614 it was stormed by the Persian King Chrosroes 11. It fell into the hands of Calif Omar, and in 1077, passed under Turkish domination.. The cruelties practised on Christian pilgrims by the Turks led to the Crusades by the Western nations, and 1099 Jerusalem was taken by assault )aiVd declared the capital of a Christian Kingdom. After various vicissitudes it again reverted to Moslem domination, under whose misrule it has remained until the present day. The Turks have been true to their traditional policy of oppression and massacre, even up to the few weeks preceding its present capture, by the 20th century Crusades. It is particularly fitting that its recovery from its Mohammedan tyrants should have been participated in by two of the youngest nations, the Australians and New Zealanders, taking part in the great war, of which tHe capture of Holy City is merely an incident.)