British Campaigns in the Nearer East, 1914-1918 Volume 2; From the Outbreak of War with Turkey to the Armistice, with 30 Maps and Plans (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1919 Excerpt: ... the four hundred years of Turkish rule became evident when Izzet Bey towards midnight went to the telegraph office, sent the staff about their business, and, it is recorded, himself set about smashing the instruments with a hammer.1 In the early hours of the morning the inhabitants from within their houses heard a steady, ceaseless, shuffling tramp. It went on hour after hour. It was the beaten army in retreat. By an interesting coincidence, the day was the Jewish Festival of the Hanukah, commemorating the deliverance of the city by Judas Maccabeus. Of the civil officials the last to depart was Izzet Bey. His final official act had been to write a letter of surrender, and send it to the Mayor, with orders to deliver it to the British commander. That done, he availed himself--Turkish fashion--of a cart and team belonging to an American resident, Mr. 1 Official Record of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force. Vesper--the only cart and horses left in Jerusalem which till then had escaped requisition. Izzet Bey evidently had had an eye to emergencies. He rode out along the road to Jericho. For five hours the defeated troops, sullen and weary, had shambled across the city. At dawn on December 9, while the last stragglers were leaving to the north and east, the Mayor came out at the western gap accompanied by two policemen, each carrying a white flag, and by a throng of inhabitants who on the departure of the Turks had issued from their hiding places. The Mayor walked towards Lifta. In the British lines the impending surrender was already known, for rumour of it had been circulated beyond the walls. The Mayor was taken to Headquarters of the 180th Brigade, and handed Izzet's letter to Brigadier-General Watson. Pending instructions, General Watson went back with the M...