It is reasonably certain that Palestine will need material help for some time, for Turkish maladministration, and the iniquitously heavy taxes imposed upon the people, have almost killed initiative. So far as real development is concerned, it is almost a virgin land, and although the efforts of those responsible for the work of reconstruction are both vigorous and successful, it will be many years before Palestine is producing up to her full capacity. At present the grain crop of the entire country could be brought to England in about seven ships; in fact, before the War most of it was bought by a well-known firm of whisky distillers!
Whether the Jews as a nation will ever settle in Palestine is a question the future alone will solve; certainly the wise policy of the British and French governments offers them every inducement, if they really wish to become a nation again in their own ancient land. If the prophets are to be believed Jerusalem will one day be the capital of the world--but it will not be in our day.
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p. 037--inserted missing period after "train accomodation" p. 125--typo corrected, "siege" instead of "seige" p. 179--typo corrected, "slightest" instead of "slighest" p. 189--typo corrected, "resourcefulness" instead of "resorcefulness" p. 194--inserted missing period after "by the troops" p. 208--inserted missing period after "from the wells" p. 220--inserted missing period after "of the party" p. 267--inserted missing comma after "amazing things" p. 288--typo corrected, "Edinburgh" instead of "Edinburrgh"
End of Project Gutenberg's With Our Army in Palestine, by Antony Bluett