few years, 1099-1187, and
1229-1244, the city, until General Allenby's entry, had been under
Mohammedan control from the seventh century. The clock tower is a
modernized minaret, on the balcony of which the muezzin summons to
prayer the faithful Mohammedans.]

Part of the proclamation is as follows. "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 these three religions for
many centuries, therefore, do I make it known to you that every sacred
building, monument, holy spot, shrine, traditional site, endowment,
pious bequest, or customary place of prayer of whatsoever 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 capture of Jerusalem was hailed by the entire civilized world as
one of the greatest accomplishments of the war. Although it was taken
for strategical reasons, the fact that the Holy City was once more in
the hands of Christians meant more to the world than the military
advantage gained by its capture. Jerusalem is generally thought of
only as a peaceful shrine of many nations; it is in reality a fortress
more often contested, perhaps, than any other city in the world. Until
captured by General Allenby, Jerusalem had been, except for two brief
intervals, under Mohammedan control for almost thirteen centuries. Now
that it is once more in Christian hands, it appears probable that it
will remain so forever.

After capturing the city, the English began to strengthen its
fortifications against counter-attacks. They also fortified the coast
city of Jaffa which they had captured just previous to the advance on
Jerusalem. The Turks made several attempts to recapture their lost
ground, but all were unsuccessful. The English were unable to resume
their offensive the following spring, because of the crisis which
compelled them to send a large part of their forces to Europe to check
the new German drive on the western front. It was not until September
18, 1918, that General Allenby started his next offensive. The object
of this was the capture of Damascus, the capital of Syria. He started
his advance on a line extending from Haifa on the coast, across
Palestine to the Arabian Desert. Although strongly opposed by a
Turkish army numbering at least 100,0