ITALIANS TRAPPED.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1272, 30 October 1911, Page 5

ITALIANS TRAPPED.

FIGHTING IN TRIPOLI. HUNDREDS OF CASUALTIES REPORTED. CONFLICTING ACCOUNTS. By Telegraph—Press Association- -Copyright Malta, October 27. Corroborated accounts from Tripoli stale that an Italian ■ reconnaissance at Tripoli encountered a Turkish outpost. The latter tired a few shots and then retreated. Tho Italians, pursuing them, fell into a trap. A sudden turning movement was made by the Turks, who opened a heavy fire. Turks and Arabs appeared from all directions, and there was hot fighting, both sides losing heavily. Three companies of the 11th Bersaglieris wero annihilated. Several Italian officers were captured, mutilated, and then hanged. London, October 27. The "Central News" correspondent at Malta states that the Italians at Tripoli sustained four hundred casualties on Monday and Tuesday last'. The trouble in the town has been renewed. Several Italian soldiers have been stabbed and two Ked Cross men killed. Thirty guns for tho Italians were landed on Wednesday. 2000 ARABS KILLED. i ITALIAN VERSION. THE ENEMY REPULSED. (Roc. October 30, 0.20 a.m.) Tripoli, October 29. Twelvo thousand Arabs and Turks wero engaged in Thursday's fighting. They lost two thousand killed and four thousand wounded. Rome, October 27. One thousand Turks and Arabs wero killed in Thursday's furious attack on tho whole of the Italian front. Seven thousand men participated. Tho enemy showed great dash, advancing right up to the trenches in one instance, in mass formation. Tliey endeavoured to break through, but wero repulsed. Several detachments of Arabs got behind the Italian front, but were quickly surrounded and annihilated. The Italians' total casualties numbored one hundred. BOMBARDMENT OF BENGHAZI. A SERIOUS BLUNDER. London, October 27. French accounts of the bombardment of Benghazi by tho Itaiians state that the destruction of the European quarters was a serious blunder. Bursting shells slaughtered women and children wholesale. Some French and British subjects were killed. ATTACKS RENEWED. TURKS RETREAT UNDER FIRE. Malta, October 27. The Turks and Arabs renewed their attack on tho Tripolitan outposts to-day. They were received by a decimating fire from tho Italians, and retreated with heavy losses. The plans for tho Italian advance into tho interior include an elaborate system of blockhouses. TURKISH'BATTLESHIP SUNK. ITALIAN REPORT. Rome, October 27. According to the newspaper "Mcssagero" two battleships in tho Dardanelles attacked the Italian battleship Napoli, which, replying, sank one and damaged .the other. FURTHER FHGS47SNG. MUSSULMAN FORCE OF 60,000. SENUSSI'S AID SOUGHT. (Rcc. October 29, 5 p.m.) Tripoli, October 28. Tho Italian losses in suppressing Monday's outbreak in the town totalled ISO. Tho house-to-houso search of the town continues, between forty and fifty Arabs arc being shot daily. Tho Italians wilt make no further advanco until another fifteen thousand troops arrive. Tho Mussulman forco behind Tripoli is estimated at sixty thousand. Several thousands on Thursday attacked tho position near Boumillian Wells. The Italians, being entrenched, waited until tho enemy was within fifty yards of thein, and then mado a bayonet charge. Th,res shells from tho warship went amongst the enemy's cavalry. The Italian casualties numbered two hundred. Turkish accounts state that the plan to surround tho Italians was only partially successful, through a portion of the Mussulmans acting prematurely. The Italians were able to cut their way out, though they suffered great loss. Tho Tripolitan Sheiks are summoning several thousand Gharbi rebels to resist tho invaders. Enver Bey, recontly appointed Turkish commander in Tripoli, is reported to have traversed Egypt, and will visit tho Senussi tribesmen, who are expected to wage a holy war in tho Tripolitan hinter- | land. An aeroplane greatly assisted the Italians on Thursday, revealing tho enemy's movements and enabling an effective fire to bo carried on from the warships on tho Arabs. The Arabs endeavoured to shoot the aeronauts. Soino of the Italian losses were duo to treacherous shots from tho rear. After tho fighting villages and hut's in, the oasis were burned, and their inhabitants removed into tho town, a hundred being deported. Some of tho Alpino soldiery aro wearing skin shoes for traversing the desert.