PICTURESQUE SCENE AT TRIPOLI.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 12615, 18 November 1911, Page 1 (Supplement)

PICTURESQUE SCENE AT TRIPOLI.

A long dispatch to Rome from Tripoli on the 2nd of last month, describes picturesquely the appearance of the city "on tne ove of Italian occupation. "The landscape is serene. One sees a party of big Turks lolling on the ramparts half hidden by the shade of thick palms. They have" hoisted a red flag, which flaunts with a half-hearted air of defiance over the red fortifications. Close by the flag is a guardian sentinel, while fiehind the parapets one sees a group of soldiers watching from the summit of the castle. They are not worried or nervous. The air is one of profound indifference. Gendarmes idle in the doorways, observing with characteristic ' Oriental carelessness the passing of little groups of frightened foreign traders, their arms filled with parcels. Women witii infants in their arms are at the heels of the men.

Patrols of soldiers pass gravely along 1 the nearly deserted streets. The shops are closed and the window barred. Hundreds of houses have been vacated. Terror has seized the inhabitants. All the terraces are empty except that at the Italian Consulate, which is occupied by correspondents. Abovo the hospital, conducted by Catholic nuns, waves a red cross flag. A bold monk, distinguished by his long, ' flowing beard, has climbed to tho top of the bell tower on tho Italian monastery and hoisted the German flag. "The few remaining Italians await impatiently the first firing. The local batteries aro deserted. At sea a flock of frightened sailing boats is scurrying out of the harbor.

"This evening the coffee houses in the Arab quarter are opening, and the priests appearing on the smali balconies of the minarets, invited the people to prayer. Crowds of Arabs gathered at different points and read the posted notices in Turkish, which say ? — "The Italian Government made an unjust demand on Turkev, asking her* to give up Tripoli. The Turkish Cabinet*, together with Parliament, is preparing a definite answer to give to. Italy. Meanwhile, adjure the population ,to remain quiet, and respect the Itai'nns ' -".