ITALY AND THE 'HOLY WAR'

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2386, 16 February 1915, Page 5

ITALY AND THE 'HOLY WAR'

I . . TROUBLE IN TRIPOLI GERMAN INTRIGUE AT WORK ... London, February' 14. It is officially announced at Home that a thousand rebels in Tripoli attacked a force of three hundred Italians wlio were guarding camels at-Bu Njeim (60 miles inland). v Tho Italians were reinforced by Erythreans, and the Lybians were repulsed after violent fighting. The activity of the rebels is dne to the Turkish "Jehad" (Holy War) proclamation. It is suspected that Germans are commanding the rebels who are supplied with arms, ammunition, and provisions.—("Times" and Sydney "Sun" Services.)

Tripoli fell under Turkish domination in the sixteenth, century, and, though, in 1714, the Arab population secured some measure of independence, the country was in 1835 proclaimed a Turkish vilayet. In September, 1911, a quarrel broke out between Turkey and Italy, and the latter invaded Tripoli and established an army- there. On November 5 ; 1911, a decree was issued annexing Tripoli, and on February 23, 1912, the Italian Chamber passed the Bill which ratified the decree of annexation. The war, nevertheless, continued until October 18, 1912, when the Treaty of Ouchy was signed, by which the Sovereignty of Italy in Tripoli was established. This has now been recognised by the Great Powers. Italy accepted a clause, identical with that contained in tho Aus-tro-Hungarian Treaty regarding Bos-nia-Herzegovina, dealing with the exorcise of religious authority by tho Caliph. _ '

Tho entire area of the territory is estimated at about 406,000 square ' miles. According to a census taken on August 3, 1911, there were 523,176_natives, of whom 29,761 were in Tripoli town. The population is mostly Berber, but Jews are numerous. The civil European population numbers 5000 or 6000, mostly Maltese and Italians; practical!}' tliere are no Turkish settlers. Arabic is generally spoken, but Itilian is tlie official language. Until recently the province contained the headquarters' (Jerboub) of the Mohammedan sect of the. fjenussiyeli. The principal towns are on tho coast, Tripoli, with 29,761 inhabitants, Benghazi with 35,000, Derna with 8000 inhabitants, and Khoms; inland are the caravan halting places Ghadames, Murzuk, and Ghat.