ITALIANS' POSITION DESPERATE.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14194, 7 November 1911, Page 7

ITALIANS' POSITION DESPERATE.

AN UNBIASED REPORT. TURKS AND ARABS BECOME AGGRESSIVE. ( Received November 6th, 9.35 p.m.) MALTA, Novomber 6. Renter's Tripoli correspondent is able to givo an unbiased report. Ho states that if tho correspondents in Tripoli stated tho facts ihoy would bo immediately expelled-

Tho Turks engaged on tho 23rd nnd 26th Octobor were not moro than 2000, yet they inflicted losses of at least 1000. Tho Italian line was broken on tho 26th in two plaoes by less than 200 Arabs, who rushed the 84th Regiment at dawn and gained tho cover of the oasis. A force of 100 dismounted Italian cavalry saved the situation by a chargo, killing the majority of tho Arabs. Thirty of them, howevor, held tho position for throe days until blown up by mines. Genoral Canova waa so alarmed that he abandonod tho outer works, including tho Turkish fort Mosai., The army worked feverishly to render tho inner position impregnable, throwing up entrenchments ajid making barbed wire entanglements.

The Turks and Arabs are now holding the oasis, whero thero is an ample food supply. Every orchard and garden affords a natural defence, and it is an ideal position as far as tho Italian line is conoornod. Tho Turks advanced their artillery' and dropped a shell into Genoral Caneva's headquarters. Tho Italians have been driven to a point whenoe they cannot retire except into tho sea. The troops have passod from the greatest elation to deep depression. Sand storms aro occurring daily, and there have been soaking rains at night. Many cases of cholera have ooourred among the troops.