BOMBARDMENT PLANNED.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1246, 30 September 1911, Page 7

BOMBARDMENT PLANNED.

ITALY'S EXTENSIVE PLANS. NEUTRALITY OF THE POWERS. ' London, September 28. Router's agent at Constantinople reports that Turkey is prepared to make honourable concessions. The "Daily Mail's" Paris correspondent reports that in tho event of an unsatisfactory reply to the ultimatum which Italy is presenting to-day, it has been arranged to land immediately forty thousand troops in Tripoli. Another hundred and liftcen thousand will bo mobilised in Italy, ready lor emergencies. It is intended in tho case of occupation to seize Tripoli, Benghazi, and Derna, in tho hope that the Turks will come to a reasonable frame of mind. The first squadron will bombard tho ports in the event of resistance, and tho second squadron will blockade Turkish ports, and prevent attacks upon Italian residents. Tho "Daily Mail's" correspondent in Rome stales that Italy has received assurances of neutrality from all the Powers. The Pop'o ha 3 expressed sympathy with tho Italian plans of occupation, which constitute a triumph for the progross of civilisation. ITALIANS LEAVE TRIPOLI. A GENERAL EXODUS. (Roc. September 29, 11.30 p.m.) Rome, September 29. It is officially 1 announced that tho Italian ultimatum was presented to tho Grand Vizier at half-past two yesterday afternoon. Tho majority of the Italians have quitted Tripoli, but some few, with the officials, remain in the Consulate. Iwo largo steamers are at the Consulate's disposal to embark Europeans of any nationality. WARSHIPS OFF TRIPOLI. PANIC IN THE CITY. Tripoli, September 28. Ten Italian battleships or cruisers have been sighted in the offing. There is a general panic in the city, but the, authorities are rigorously maintaining order. GERMAN INTERVENTION. ENDEAVOURING TO PREVENT WAR, Berlin, September 28. It is officially stated that Germany is still endeavouring to prevent hostilities. A MOVE IN ALBANIA. ARMS FROM ITALY. - (Eec. September 29, 10.45 p.m.) Paris, September 29. Reports have been confirmed that a large quantity of arms and ammunition has been lauded in Albania from Italy in view of a fresh Albanian rising. "A HORNET'S NEST." (Rec. September 80, 1.5 a.m.) Sydney, September 29. Dr. Karl Kumm, the well-known authority oil African affairs, who is visiting Australia, in a lecture declared that Italy would put her hands in a hornet's nest if 6he went to war in Tripoli. TRIPOLI DESCRIBED, ITS PEOPLE AND PRODUCTS. Tripoli (including the Sanjek of Benghazi) fell under Turkish domination in the sixteenth century, and, though, in 1714, tho Arab population secured some measure of independence, the country was in 1835 proclaimed a Turkish vilayet. Sorno 10 years later Benghazi (Barka) was placed under separato administration. The chief authority both civil and military in Trijjoli (says tho "Statesman's Year Book") is in tho hands of tho governor-general or vali, under whom aro (as in the other Turkish provinces) mutessarifs, kaimakams, aud mudirs, with authority over subordinate governments, cantons, or districts, and communes respectively, Sheikhs have etill authority over Arab tribes, and Berber assemblies still raiso taxes. Benghazi has a mutessarif who is directly responsible to tho Porto. All important officials aro Turks. Tho western frontier of Tripoli as far south as Ghadamcs was determined by Franco and Turkey in 1892, but tho southern limit is still unsettled. Tho entire area of these Turkish possessions, including Fezzan to tho Tropic of Cancer, is estimated at about 406,000 square miles, with a population of from 800,000 to 1,300,000, about two-fifths of the inhabitants being in Benghazi. The population is mostly Berber, but Jews are numerous. The civil European population numbers 5000 or 0000, mostly Maltese and Italians; practically there are no Turkish settlers. Arabic is generally spoken, but Turkish is tho official languuge. Until recently tho province contained tho headquarters (Jcrboub) of tho Mohammedan sect of the Senussiyeh. The principal towns are on the const. Tripoli, t>'f> '-nnital of the vilayet, with over 30,000 in-

habitants, Benghazi wiili K,OOO, Derna and Khoms: inland are tho caravan halt-ing-places Glnidnmos, JLurzuk, anil Ghat. Tripoli is occupied by about 10,000 Turkish troops. Thero was a body called tlio Kologhlu, consisting of several thousands of men resident about tho capital who enjoyed certain privileges iu return for military services which had become merely nominal, but this forco has been disbanded. The Province is at present exempt from conscription, but a system is nought to bo introduced for local defence, the levies to servo for short periods and to enjoy certain privileges. The products of Tripoli are only agricultural and scanty. Barley (the chief food of the people) and wheat arc grown: the fruits are dales, olives, oranges, aiul lemons; esparto grass and sponges iu'(i exported; and caltlo and sheep arc bijed Imports at Benghazi, IMS, J.'330,()00; oxports, .£320,000. There is a considerable caravan trade between Benghazi and Wadai and I»tween Tripoli and Central Sudan, when the routes are free from raiders. An important article of trade is ostrich feathers, which are brought overland from Central Africa, and exported to Paris and London from Tripoli to the value of ,£IO,OOO annually, Bnd .£6OOO from Benghazi. Tho principal means of communication inland are tho caravans, which follow long frequented routes. Tripoli <town) is connected by telegraph cable, with Malta, and bv lines with Murzuk (Fezzan) and Gftbes ('Tunis). There is a British Consul at Benghazi, and a Vice-Consul at Idioms.