FIGHTING IN TRIPOLI.

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13736, 30 May 1913, Page 5

FIGHTING IN TRIPOLI.

THE SIDIGARBA ENGAGEMENT,

ITALIANS ROUTED BY BEDOUINS

A TERRIBLE SLAUGHTER

THE WOUNDED ABANDONED

(Recoived May 29, 10.30 p.m.)

Rome, May 29.

Details of the fighting at Derna on the 16th inst. are slowly becoming public, despite efforts to suppress news, and have aroused a sense of deep humiliation. After peace was concluded tho garrison at Derna was reduced from 15,000 to 5000 troops.

General Mabretti led out practically the whole of the garrison, believing he would meet 2000 Bedouins with two cannon. Instead he found the enemy 20,000 strong, with 12 cannon.

Tho Italians marched through the night weary, foodless and thirsty. The fight commenced at 3.30 a.m. The Italians occupied the trenches at Sidigarba, but tho Bedouins made a vigorous counter attack, and the Italians retreated in disorder to Sonussi. They were hotly pursued for five hours to the very trenches of Derna.

There were 2000 Italian casualties, including sixty officers. Other estimates state that 1000 were killed and 700 wounded. Over a hundred were captured. In addition 300 Ascari colonials were killed or wounded.

Many of the Italian wounded were abandoned. Only twelve artillerymen survived the Bedouin attack. • The officers and men of the maxim corps were piled in heaps of dead and dying around their guns, of which only two quickfirers were saved. All the mules and a large quantity of stores and ammunition tvere lost.

Lieutenant Monarelli states that after the battle scarcely two-thirds of the garrison remained, and the fugitives were obliged to abandon all the dead and dying. It was heart-breaking. Some who were slightly wounded clung to - his uniform, crying, "Signor lieutenant, don't leave us "behind."

Lieutenant MonarelH states that there was no alternative, having no means of transport.