:

Germany's Preparations

85

Emperor's dying advice to his grandson, William II. "Treat Russia with the greatest possible consideration when you come to the throne." And the effect of that advice upon the movements of Germany with regard to Palestine, our intimate acquaintance with the "lay of the Land" obtained first hand on the spot, has made manifest that the continual aim of Germany is to worm itself into things Palestinic, side by side with Russia.

Germany's Preparations.

A little to the north of the Russian settlement on the Mount of Olives, the German Government have bought a large tract of land, and erected thereon buildings, known as "The Victoria Augusta Settlement", not the least significant erection being a very high tower similar to the Russian tower already referred to. It is situated about midway between the Russian Tower and the beautifully situated estate of the late Englishman, Sir John Gray-Hill.

And, further, with regard to the position taken up by Germany around the Holy Places, let us here quote from an article which recently appeared in a Jerusalem newspaper, from the pen of a well-known Jewish writer :--

"The German Emperor, with his wonderful enterprise and enthusiasm, has recently caused four very large and imposing German buildings to be erected in and about Jerusalem: a large Protestant Church within the city; a great and massive Roman Catholic Church outside the walls to the south: an immense Roman Catholic Hospice outside the Damascus gate;

and the fourth, a Protestant Hospice on the Mount of Olives: the latter, a very large and imposing erection, and beautifully decorated within. Round the latter extensive planting has been made, and is being continued. Part of the very large piece of land surrounding it consisted of a bed of flint, and this has been cleared away at great expense for the purpose of planting."

Then, too, we learnt that the German Emperor had borne the expense of completing a good road from the Jerusalem railway station at the southwest of the city to his "Victoria Augusta Settlement" on the north-east, to which we have already referred, and which Settlement could easily be used for military purposes whenever occasion requires.

Germany's Intentions.

Then, too, the designs and aims of Germany are most apparent in another channel. I refer to what has become known as "The Language Question." It arose out of the founding of the Technicum at Haifa, and which we have dealt with on pages 74, 75. The German Curators of the Technicum resolved that German should be the official language of the Institute, and not Hebrew, which the Zionists as a whole desired. The decision of the Curatorium aroused the whole of Jewry outside of Germany. Meetings of protest were held everywhere. The Jews of the United States were especially wrathful, and enormous meetings were held everywhere. In New York, Boston, Baltimore, Rochester,

Russia's other Allies

87

and Philadelphia, meeting after meeting was convened.

The Russian Jews were also against the German decision; and even went so far as to establish at Moscow a publishing house for the purpose of issuing text books in Hebrew for general use at the Haifa University. Meetings of protest were also held at Jerusalem, Jaffa, and other centres of Zionism in the Holy Land. Likewise the Jews of Britain were equally opposed to the German demands. Large protest meetings were held at Manchester, London, Leeds, Sunderland, Nottingham, Glasgow, and Dublin.

We are not concerned with the pros and cons of this language question; and only mention it here as showing the trend of German desires and aims in relation to movements in and around the Holy Places.

We must also add here that the great majority of the 100,000 Jews now in Palestine speak the German dialect.

Russia's other Allies.

The other Powers besides Germany on the side of Russia are mentioned in the 5th and 6th verses of Ezekiel xxxviii., thus:

66

Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands; and many people with thee."

And, in verse 7, Russia is addressed in these words :

"Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them." There is no more trouble in identifying this company than there is in identifying Rosh as Russia.

Persia we all know. And the eye, if not the thumb, which Russia has on Persia we also know. We could fill a volume with articles from independent sources as to the mind and desire of Russia in the direction named. Here is just a sample, quite sufficient for our purpose, from the Daily News, December 6, 1911

"The greatest uneasiness prevails in official quarters in Constantinople over Russian action in Persia. Turkey has many and great interests in Persia, and takes the line that the Porte must be taken into account by Russia, in any discussion affecting the fate of Persia."

And the Daily News some time ago stated:

"A secret alliance actually exists between Persia and Russia, and has done since 1878." At the end of the year 1912, too, when M. Sazonoff, the Russian foreign minister, visited England, to be present at a conference on the problem of Persia, he met with a very much mixed reception on his arrival in London, all in consequence of the known Russian policy in Persia. The whole of the Russian Press, it was reported, had taken for

Russia's other Allies

89

granted that in any partition of Persia, Russia would have the lion's share, or, as one witty editor truly put it" the bear's share", including its capital city, Teheran.

Ethiopia, we are informed by no less an authority than Professor Sayce, " corresponds with the modern Soudan, now possessed by Britain, as the result of the brilliant exploits of the late Lord Kitchener." As to the fate of the Soudan and other Egyptian provinces over which Britain has a protectorate, when Russia comes with all his bands", we must leave that for a later chapter; suffice it to say Egypt will succumb to the King of the North.

Libya, or Phut, as it reads in the margin of the A.V., has been identified with Tunis and Algiers, and it so appears on a very old map now before us. This is now possessed by France, which, under the name of Gomer, is said to be also under the guardianship of Russia at the time of the end.

Gomer, like Magog, was a son of Japheth. Josephus informs us that Gomer founded the Gomari, whom the Greeks called Galatæ. Strabo says all the Galatæ were called Galli by the Latins. It is common knowledge that from Galli comes Gaul, the former name of France.

Lastly, as an ally of Russia in this overflowing of Palestine and Egypt is mentioned Togarmah, of the North quarters. Here again, on looking at any ancient map, we shall see Togarmah marked on territory north-east of the Euphrates, fast falling under the rule of the Czar, as have Kars and Batoum.