TURKO=ITALIAN WAR.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1293, 23 November 1911, Page 5

TURKO=ITALIAN WAR.

LECTURE ON THE WAR. A BRITISH CORRESPONDENT'S STORY. By Tclecrapb—Prosa Association—CopyrlchV London, November 21. Mr. M'Cullagh, who was war correspondent in Tripoli for tho "Westminster Gazette" up to tbn time of tho maseaeru of tho Arabs, when ho sent in his papers, gave a lecturo in tho Memorial Hall on (he subject of tho Italian atrocities. Mr. M'Cullagh stated that Italian reinforcements were passing a factory, bohind which was u villago inhabited exclusively by mill-workers. Two shots were fired, and a soldier reported that ho was wounded. He (Mr. M'Cullagh) could never find that soldier, but owiug to those shots 4000 Arabs were killed. There was jio other cause for tho slaughter. Tho lecturer taw bed-ridden men and little boys shot. It was murder, not war. Tho Arabs had been killed on tho flimsiest pretext; they were murdered because knives, razors, and empty cartridges had been found in their dwellings. Lieutenant Ivacc, an Italian officer, who wa? in the audience, hero replied that 321 Italian soldiers had been treacherously killed. Thoso Arabs killed were murderers, and had been treated as such. Tho meeting resolved to urge tho Government to inquire regarding tho alleged violation of tho rules of war, and to make representations to Italy. During the lecture several Italians interrupted Mr. M'Cullagh.

TROOPS IN TRIPOLL Malta, November 21. It is calculated that tbero are 4000 Italians now in Tripoli town, and 20,000 iu the trenches. There are 20,000 at Benghazi, 21,000 at Derna, Homs. and Tobruk. Up to the present the Italian casualties -killed, wounded, and sick —total 15,000. Various Italian estimates allego that 45,000 Turks and Arabs have been killed or incapacitated. It was cabled on November 6 that Mr. M'Cnllagh had returned his papers as a protest against thn atrocities perpetrated by the Italian troops against tho Arabs. When Mr. M'Cullagh reached Malta, he stated that parties of Italians with revolvers in hand, literally drunk with blood, faces Hushed, eyes bloodshot, had completely lost self-control. They yelled wildly when victims fell. A captain photographed thte successive scenes, and volleys were dolayed to enable him to focus his camera. In ono ease a detachment executing fifty Arabs, including children aged ten, suddenly heard shots The executioners wore thrown into a panic and left the prisoners roped together. All remained silent and in bent attitudes whilo the executioners exchanged iire with supposed attackers, until it was found the shots camc really from another body of Italians.

Such exchanges of shots were frequent, and the blood-crazed fiends were unable to distinguish friends from foes.

Afterwards the Arabs were forced into a hut, where they were shot ono by one as the.v passed the door. The iloor presented an awful spectacle. Tangled bodies were intertwined in agony, and when the Arabs were seen to move the captain of the escort began revolver practice, shooting at the quivering limbs. He joked and induced other officers to join. Renter's Tripoli correspondent mado a sworn statement regarding tho massacres which was countersigned by (ho correspondents of the "Morning I'ost" and tho "Daily Mirror." The correspondent of the "New York World" violently attacked General Caneva. and was so disgusted with the conduct of the Italian Army in Tripoli that he handed in. his paners.. The s,imo coursr was followed by "Heri«Oo'tKprg." tbs qqr-i respondent of the "Berliner Xnkal Arizaiger," who, on his return to Berlin, readily and fully confirmed Mr. M'C'ullngh's allegations.