Salt Lake Telegram | 1935-12-24 | Page 5 | Heavily Armed Police Patrol City Where Christ Was Born

Heavily Armed Police Patrol City City Where Christ Was Born BETHLEHEM Dec 24 In CAP AP In this Holy Hoty Cit City where Christ was vas born near nearly 2000 years ago armed police pollee strode the narrow street as war spread its pall over a usually joyous C Christmas scene Extra police were posted throughout Bethlehem which gave to o the world its prayer of peace on earth good will vard men t ti o prevent rioting over the Italian Ethiopian conflict when the holy night is cd tomorrow As the festival approached at the spacious Church of the Nativity where a L sacred grotto rests on the spot where Christ is believed to have been born In a stable table manger there was unconcealed tension There have been rumors for Cor several soy sev eral oral days das In th the bazars bazara and native coffee houses house of 01 brewing trouble between the large Ethiopian population lation and the Italian pilgrims In years past this town on tho hill hilt has been crammed with Christian visitors from all parts of the world but Bethlehem was strangely quiet today There were American tourists hero lero and at Jerusalem for Cor the Christmas celebration The number number numer num- num ber er was tho the smallest since the World war The Jerusalem Y M. M C. C A A. has arranged its yearly Christmas service service ser ser- vice vico and supper for lor shepherds in ina ina ina a field near here This year for forthe forthe the first time a a. military regiment and band will participate Several weeks ago word came that hat owing to warlike conditions in ill n the Mediterranean numerous Christmas cruises to Palestine had been canceled It was like a thunderbolt thunderbolt thun thun- to the people of Bethlehem who are aro dependent upon this trade for tor their livelihood Recently it was announced that thal thata thala a large group of or Coptic Christians from Crom Egypt expected to arrive by bythe bythe bythe the Suez canal route had decided to remain at home and send their money to the Ethiopian government government govern govern- ment mont for Cor its war against the Ital Ital- ians inns Nevertheless there will be a large group of ot at the Church of ol the Nativity In the great high-arched high Church of the tho Ethiopians in Jerusalem the Christmas services will be a long lone r for na nones l Ad Added fed t to the threats of trouble isa Isa is isa a strife within the Greek orthodox church whose priests a ate are e gathering here in large numbers The Arab orthodox laity and parIsh parish par par- ish priests are are strongly opposed to the Greek prelates who dominate them In Bethlehem tomorrow nl night ht will gather Jather not the usual stream of sightseers but the true devoted believers whose prayers for peace and good will is to be pealed forth upon the bells of the Church of ot the Nativity