PALESTINE VISITED

Southland Times, Issue 24313, 19 December 1940, Page 6

PALESTINE VISITED

IMPRESSIONS OF MAJOR TENNENT Jerusalem and other neighbouring towns are described in a letter received by Mr W. J. A. McGregor, of Invercargill, from Major A. Tennent, assistant to the director of medical service with the New Zealand Forces in Egypt. In his letter Major Tennent said that Jerusalem was a most invigorating place because of its high altitude. It was 2400 ft above sea level and the surrounding country reminded him very much of Otago Central with the parched and rugged hills. The coastal regions were more like South Canterbury with the inland mountain belt. I

The Dead Sea, he says, is a remarkable spot, 1600 ft below sea level. It is 4000 ft below Jerusalem and the road leading there consists of many sharp bends, “which would give Mr Semple fits.” The roads about Palestine, however, are excellent—all bitumen and well graded. Major Tennent describes various towns and cities, including Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee (Tiberias is the lowest city in the world being 600 ft below sea level), Haifa, which has a fine artificial harbour and Tel Aviv. He mentions that in Jerusalem the Australians have the use of a hotel and run it at a very moderate rate for the troops. It is supervised by a wealthy man, who is doing it as his war work. Major Tennent considers that the New Zealand Government is a bit lax in not providing a similar place for N.Z. troops, as the other hotels are too expensive for the troops.