As the rebels probably relied upon the inviolable sanctuary of the Mosque area, which lay to the south-east corner of the walled city, the military problem was to sever their retreat from this area from the other sections of the town.
The rebels also had the advantage of knowing intimately the labyrinthine tinderground passages, in which the Jews sought refuge during the time of the Roman Emperor. Titus Flavius Vespasianus, in A.D. 67-70.
During the day, the British troops, stationed in the old city, cut off the sanctuary of the Mosque Omar and also cordoned off Jewish and Christian areas surrounding the Moslem Bab Hutta quarter, where the rebels were believed to have concentrated.
The whole operation was carried out swiftly according to a preconcerted plan, and met with little resistance.
There was a dramatic scene as the troops, Harried by snipers advanced, across the roof-tops and through the alleyways, towards the Bab, Hutta quarter, taking up new positions, with Lewis guns behind the domes and parapets.
(Continued on page 6)
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.