Allenby enters the Holy City on foot after it surrenders
LLOYD George was received with cheers when he took to his feet in the House of Commons on Wednesday, December 12, 1917, reported the News Letter.
There was a good reason for this cheer for the British Prime Minister as he was about to announce to the House that the Holy City of Jerusalem had surrendered to General Edmund Allenby.
He was immediately asked by Mr McKenna: "May I ask the Prime Minister whether any further information has been received with regard to the proceedings in Palestine?"
The Prime Minister replied that he had received a telegram dated December 11 from Allenby by then had stepped through the Jaffa Gate into Jerusalem.
The telegram read: "I entered this city officially at noon today with a few of my staff, the commanders of the French and Italian detachment and the military attaches of France, Italy and the United States of America. The procession was all on foot."
Allenby's telegram continued: "At the Jaffa Gate I was received by guards representing England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Australia, New Zealand, India, France and Italy. The population received me well. Guards have been placed over the holy places. My military governor is in touch with the acting custodians of the Latin and the Greek representative. The governor has detailed an officer to supervise the Christian holy places."
Turning his attention to the Muslim places of worship Allenby stated: "The mosque of Omar and the area round it have been under Moslem control, and a military cordon composed of Indian Mohammedan officers and soldiers has been established round the mosque. Orders have been issued that no non-Moslem is to pass this cordon without permission of the military governor and the Moslem in charge of the mosque."
Allenby's telegram continued that a proclamation had been read in his presence to the population of the city in Arabic, Hebrew, English, French, Italian, Greek and Russian from the steps of the citadel and was also posted on the walls.
The proclamation declared: "To the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Blessed and the people dwelling in its vicinity. The defeat inflicted upon the Turks by the troops under my command has resulted in the occupation of your city by my forces. I, therefore, here and now proclaim it to be under martial law, under which form of administration it will remain so long as military considerations make it necessary."
It continued: "However, lest any of you be alarmed by reason of your experience at the hands of the enemy who has retired, I hereby inform you that it is my desire that every person should pursue his lawful business without interruption.
"Furthermore, since your city is regarded with affection by the adherents of three of the great religions of mankind, and its soil has been consecrated by the prayers and pilgrimages of multitudes of devout people of three religions for many centuries, therefore I do make known to you that every sacred building, monument, holy spot, shrine, traditional site, endowment, pious bequest, or customary places of prayer of whatever form of the three religions will be maintained and protected according to the existing customs and beliefs of those to whose faith they are sacred."
The proclamation concluded: "Guardians have been established at Bethlehem and on Rachel's Tomb. The tomb at Hebron has been placed under exclusive Moslem control. The hereditary custodians of the Wakf at the gate of the Holy Sepulchre have been requested to take up their accustomed duties in remembrance of the magnanimous act of the Caliph Omar who protected the Church."
Following news that Jerusalem had surrendered to General Allenby the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the British Empire, Dr Joseph H Hertz, promptly issued a statement hailing the delivery of the Holy City into the hands of Allies.
Dr Hertz remarked: "Jerusalem, which for ages has been the magnetic pole of the love and reverence of the world, is now in British hands, and this soul-thrilling news reaches us on the day that the Jews are celebrating the Maccabean festival. On this very day 2,070 years ago the Maccabes freed the Holy City from the heathen oppressor, and thereby changed the spiritual future of humanity. Who knows that today's victory may not form as glorious a landmark in the history of mankind?"
Meanwhile another prominent British publicist was reported to have said: "It is a glorious victory for the Jewish nations. Mr Balfour would not have made the important statement he did recently if there were any doubt of the great vista which was reopened to the Jewish faith by the fact that the Temple of the Holy of Holies would fall to the nation which has sacrificed the most on behalf of oppressed nationalities."
Meanwhile the surrender of Jerusalem to Allenby was greeted in celebration with a telegram sent to the general in the Holy City from King George V. The telegram from the King read: "The news of the occupation of Jerusalem will be received throughout my Empire with the greatest satisfaction, and I heartily congratulate you and all ranks on this success.
"Such an achievement is a fitting sequel to the hard marching and fighting of the troops as well as to the organisation by which the difficulties of supply, transport, and water have been overcome."
The King's telegram concluded: "I rejoice to think that by skilful dispositions you have preserved intact the holy places."
On December 12 General Allenby sent a reply to King George V congratulations, it read: "I have received in Jerusalem your Majesty's gracious message of congratulations. I beg to offer on behalf of all ranks and services in the force under my command our humble thanks for your Majesty's approval, in which our efforts are felt to have their highest reward."
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