PALESTINE CAMPAIGN

Southland Times, Issue 19229, 20 May 1921, Page 5

PALESTINE CAMPAIGN

MR BRADLEY’S REMINISCENCES. Some interesting reminiscences upon the historic entry of the victorious Allied Army into Jerusalem at the close of the Palestine campaign were narrated to a reporter by Mr William (“Cairo”) Bradley, who shortly opens a campaign in Invercargill. Mr Bradley, who for the past 23 years has been associated with mission work in Egypt and the Holy Land, had the distinction of being the first civilian to enter Jerusalem. With General Allenby's consent, Mr Bradley was deputed to look to the welfare of the cathedral and the bishopric. The scene on the historic entry of the city, he remarked, was reminiscent of Babel. Americans, Jews,’ and Palestinians were wildly excited an> equally jubilant at the overthrow of the Turkish yoke. Internecine squabbles were forgotten, and a vast cosmopolitan crowd surrounded the Turkish rotunda, where a British military band was playing the National Anthem. Bye and bye the time came to break the seals of the cathedral doors, which had been closed by the American Government on the outbreak of the war, and, on entering the results of an amusing Turkish superstitition were disclosed. The Turks had implicitly believed that the English church concealed a cannon in its precincts, and had actually broken some valuable mosaic work and delved in search of the supposititious weapon. However, both the church and residence were in repair, and the gratifying news was sent to the Bishop in Cairo. Through the clemency of General Borton, Governor of Jerusalem, a telegram was despatched, and the document is treasured by the Bishop as the first news of the entry. The world, for military reasons was not officially notified by the authorities for three days afterwards. Despite all their enthusiasm in welcoming the army, Mr Bradley continued, it was not long before the inhabitants were fleecing the boys right and left with change for fruit and vegetables. A standard had to oe fixed, and upon Mr Bradley devolved the duty of preparing a tariff. Sappers of the engineering corps commenced cleaning up the dirty old city right away, and the transformation was wonderful. Within six weeks the city had a water supply that it had not had for 400 years. Returning three months later the visitor found it more like the “new Jerusalem.” The Turks Had hoped that by cutting the railways and with the approach of winter, the British troops could be surrounded. Thus cut off from supplies they hoped to starve the troops into submission. Sixty thousand troops were eamped in and around Jerusalem, and railway transport was impossible, all the culverts on the line to Jaffa having been, blown up by the Turks. Winter weather turned the roads into a quagmire and vehicular traffic was extraordinarily difficult. The problem was an enormous one, but was overcome by British resource. Thousands of donkeys were employed in endless strings. They conveyed bully-beef and biscuits to the troops. On one occasion a large motor lorry became bogged and completely blocked all traffic. Only one thing remained to be done, and that was to topple the lorry over the bank. A corps of Egyptian labourers lifted the weighty vehicle and rolled it over the edge into the valley below. Then the ceaseless strings of donkeys moved on. Subsequently the lorry was hauled up on to the road again, and to the surprise of all the damage was comparatively small. The vehicle was repaired and returned to active service. Mr Bradley related the story of an anxious ride to Jerusalem when the exigencies of the war demanded an immediate transportation of 150 Sin. shells, and they were loaded in the railway carriages th° only available space. This was after the railway service was restored. Turkish ’planes, however, were continually bombins the tracks, and bombs were dropped intermittently. It was an uncomfortable journey, but fortunately was completed in safety. Mr Bradley, in conclusion, remarked that the old Biblical prophecy of the return of the Jews to Palestine was in course ' of fulfilment now. Under a British maT datory power the Jews were coming into their own. Sir Herbert Bamuel. I'mself a ■ Jew, the administrator, was a ’ .f at>ir- ‘ ity, and could be relied on to h. s posv ' tion with credit to the Empire y,j . advant- ' age to his race. 1