r Superior. The
latter esteemed us highly and, although the 75th Divisional Staff
afterwards occupied his hospice, even the glamour of Staff scarlet
failed to dim his eyes to the worth of the plain Scots battalion who
first entered Emmaus. The monastery kept a pig but it was sacrificed
on the altar of friendship and Battalion Headquarters blessed the hand
of S. Francis. In the monastery garden on the hill-top the Battalion
rested for three days, that is, rested from fighting and marching, but
the time was not wasted. The Division set to work on the Roman Road with
pick and shovel and gunpowder and in the three days made it passable for
60-pounder guns from Berfilyah to Biddu.

[Illustration: BERFYLIA.]

On the 22nd the 75th Division crossed our front at Biddu, about two
miles away, and that night they took the Hill Mizpah and the Mosque of
Nebi Samwil with the bayonet. This created a very sharp salient in the
enemy's line defending Jerusalem and its northern exit on the west. The
Turk held firmly to his positions north-east and south of this wedge,
and counter-attacked Nebi Samwil with vigour. On the 24th the 52nd
Division tried to deepen and lengthen the salient, thrusting it right
across the Jerusalem road. The plan was that the 155th Brigade should
capture El Jib and Nebala, and, that being done, the 156th should attack
Kulundia, establishing a defensive flank to the north, while the 157th
Brigade pushed right across the road and carried Er Ram. Our line of
advance was to be round the southern face of Nebi Samwil, but heavy
machine-gun fire from a Turkish position at Beit Iksa prevented this.
The route was changed and we kept close under the north-western slopes
of the ridge. The worst part of the day was the moving across the open
valley to the shelter of the Nebi Samwil ridge. The enemy had guns at
Beitunia and at Lifta and behind El Jib, and he did not spare his
gunners that day. Fortunately for us he used mostly percussion shrapnel
and his percentage of duds was high. At 16.25 the advance was abandoned
as the attacks of both the other brigades were held up, and the
Battalion was ordered to assist the 155th which was attacking El Jib and
Nebala. This attack was not proceeded with and at 21.30 the Brigade
took up an outpost line from Beit Izza to Khurbet Neda.

The position was the crest of a slight ridge running across the south of
the long valley in front of El Jib, and distant some 3000 yards from
that town.