WARSHIPS SUNK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14927, 27 February 1912, Page 7

WARSHIPS SUNK.

ITALY AGGRESSIVE, ! i ___ . i TURKS CAUGHT AT BEIRUT EIGHTY PEOPLE KILLED FIFTY TURKISH SEAMEN « MISSING. INDIGNATION IN EUROPE* BRITISH CRUISER GOING TO .BEIRUT. By Telt'craph.—l're** Association.—Copyright-. Two Turkish warships, probably old if not obsolete, have been sunk at Beirut by an Italian battleship and a cruiser. Latest reports state that 50 of • the Turkish seamen are missing, and that 30 people were killed ashore, and 100 were wounded, by the bombardment. GUNFIRE AND TORPEDOES. ■ WAS THE TOWN BOMBARDED ? Rome, February 25. Advices have been received detailing what happened at the Turkish seaport of Beirut, in Palestine, whither were sent the Italian battleship Giuseppe Garibaldi (7291 tons) and the cruiser Volturno (1155 tons). Their mission was to destroy, two Turkish warships which, it was alleged, had been facilitating the shipment of contraband, and endangering Italian transports in the Levant. The commanders of the Garibaldi and Volturno had orders not to bombard Beirut, which is a leading seaport of Palestine and Syria. • In his official report Admiral Faravelli says that he surprised the Turkish * warships, and demanded their surrender by nine o'clock. Ho communicated to the Governor of Beirut repeated demands, but by nine o'clock had received no reply, and he then opened fire on the Avanillah, which replied vigorously. Eventually a fire broke out aboard, silencing the Avanillah' fire. The Garibaldi then torpedoed her, and trained her guns on the other Turkish vessel, a torpedo boat. Both were sunk. Admiral Faravelli categorically denies that he bombarded the town. The Italian squadron left immediately after sinking the vessels. TURKS ALLEGE SLAUGHTER. FIFTEEN SLAIN, BUILDINGS DAMAGED. Constantinople, February 25. Messages state that the Italian warships demanded the surrender of the Avanillah and the torpedo boat, but before a reply was given both were sunk. Neither was under steam. The Customshouse and the harbour buildings were damaged by the bombardment, which created a panic. Many lied to Lebanon (the historic range overlooking Beirut) and others were forced to take refuge in tho| armoury, where they armed them- j selves. There were some disturbances in. the town, and altogether 15 people were killed and 100 wounded. SHELLS BURST ON QUAY. EIGHTY KILLED OR MISSING. PANIC AND MARTIAL LAW. ATTEMPT TO OPEN GAOLS. (Received February 26, 10.10 p.m.) Beirut, February 26. Shells bursting on the quay killed ' or wounded many of the crowd who had gathered to watch the bombardI' had gathered to watch the bombardment. , The smallness of the harbour made their position dangerous. The casualties were due to splinters and ricochetting shells. The mob, believing that a landing of the Italians was imminent, seized rifles at the barracks and demanded the release of prisoners, but the police frustrated an attempt to release them. Martial law was proclaimed. The situation is now normal, and Europeans are safe. Reinforcements of Turkish troops arc now arriving at Beirut. Fifty men aboard the Turkish battleship Avanillah are missing. In addition, 30 were killed and 100 were wounded ashore. The Italian warships remained in the offing throughout the night. THE YEMEN BLOCKADE. FRENCH STEAMER'S ACTION. Aden, February 25. The Messageries Maritimes liner Armaud Behic called at Hodeidah, principal port of Turkey's Arabian territory of Yemen (blockaded by the Italians), and embarked 93 Europeans and French proteges. The Italian warships did not interfere.

Beirut' is a flourishing .town on the roast of Syria, and at the foot of Lebanon, 55 miles from Damascus and 147 from Jerusaleaiu. It is a great seaport and emporium of trade with tho shores of Syria, Palestine and Celicia, and has a rogular service of steamers of various nationalities. In stormy weather shipping cannot approach it, and have to shelter in the Beirut River, three miles away ; and as the roadstead ia full of sandbanks, big vessels cannot com© jwithin*.

half a mile of the port at any time. Its commerce has trebled during the past halt century, and about half its imports are from Great Britain. The town is connected by rail with Damascus. The inhabitant number about 120,000, of whom about one-third are Mohamcdans; and there a;e about 5000 Europeans. Beirut has walls three miles in circumference. The plains round the city are of the highest fertility. BRITISH AND FRENCH SHIPS ACTIVE. (Received February 26, 10.10 p.m.) Paris, February 26. Six million sterling of French j capital is invested in Beirut. The i armoured cruiser Admiral Charner (4702 tons) has been ordered thither from Crete. Malta. February 25. The British armoured cruiser Lancaster (9800 tons) is hastily leaving under sealed orders, it; is believed for Beirut. Vienna, February 26. The Vienna newspapers are irritated at the bombardment of Beirut. The Zeit urges the Towers to take steps to prevent a repetition. TURKEY WILL RETALIATE. J EXPULSION OF ITALIANS. (Received February 2*. 10.10 p.m.) Constantinople, February 26. A council of Ministers discussed Italy's action at Beirut, and decided to repel Italian subjects from Beirut, Damascus, Jerusalem; and Aleppo, wtihin 15 days. EXTENDING THEATRE OF WAR FROM AFRICA TO ARABIA, NOW TO SYRIA.

Italy threatened months ago to extend her sphere of operations beyond Tripoli and Cyrenaica, commencing with the occupation of Mytilene, an island in theTurkish Archipelago. It was understood that Austria objected to this extension of Italy's activity; and it was stated later that the same Power had, in a strong note, ordered Italy to recall its fleet from the bombardment of Preveza, some time previously, the tone of the demand indicating a likelihood of strong measures if it was not complied with. A declaration was made by Italy that she would not operate outside Africa, but on November 24, the Powers were given notice that Italy intended to blockade the Dardanelles. Turkey, in view of the declaration that the war would be confined to Africa, depended mostly upon the probable objection of the Powers as a protection against the threatened attack. Russia and France at once entered a protest against the Italian proposal, and the blockade did not take place. On November 30, Mocha and Sheik-Said, on the Arabian coast, near the entrance to the Red Sea, were bombarded. Early in December Italian subjects in Smyrna (Asia Minor) were ordered by Turkey to quit within a, week, but on a hint from Germany the order was recalled. Not content with removing the war from Africa to Arabia, Italy now carries it to Palestine; hence the renewed European protests. The name Avanillah does not appear in th-j Turkish nary list. Probably she is one of the old Turkish vessels.