DEVASTATED PALESTINE.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14529, 5 October 1917, Page 2

DEVASTATED PALESTINE.

London, Sept 8. An American officer from Syria reports that Palestine is now a living tomb. It is populated mainly by women and children. Fully GO perc ent, of the former inhabitants are dead, and the remainder are aAvaiting death from starvation. ' The Syrians" search the garbage heaps for orange peel. They used to eat grass arid weeds till the j locusts destroyed all green food. Dogs and cats are greedily devoured. Palesime's_ magnificent orange groves, the growth of centuries, have been ' cut down for military purposes. Ohoiera, typhus, and tetanus are ravaging the remaining victims. j The country's plight is the result of a deliberate attempt to destroy the nonrTui'kish population. Jfc is : hoped that the British Army- at Gaza wili soon be able to relieve theg distress.