Fighting in Tripoli

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 110, 30 October 1911, Page 5

Fighting in Tripoli

ITALIANS AMBUSHED. HOT WORK. BOTH SIDES LOSE HEAVILY. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Malta, October 27. Corroborated accounts from Tripoli state that an Italian reconnaissance from Tripoli encountered a Turkish outpost. The latter fired a few shots and retreated. The Italians, pursuing, fell into traps. The Turks, with a sudden turning movement, opened a heavy fire, and Turks and Arabs appeared in all directions. There was hot fighting, both sides losing heavily. Three companies of Bersagliers were annihilated, and severals officers captured, mutilated and hanged.

The Turks and Arabs renewed their attack on the Tripolitan outposts today. The Italians met them with a decimating lire, and the enemy retreated with heavy losses. The plans for the Italian advance into the interior include an elaborate system of blockhouses.

Rome, October 27. A thousand Turks and Arabs were killed during Thursday's furious attack on the whole Italian front, in which 7000 men participated. The enemy, with great dash, advanced on the trenches, in one instance in mass formation, and endeavored to break through, but were repulsed. Several detachments of Arabs got behind the Italian front, but were quickly surrounded and annihilated. The Italian total casualties were one hundred.

According to the Messagero two battleships in the Dardanelles attacked the battleship Napoli. which, replying, sank one and damaged the other.

London. October 27. The Central News correspondent at Malta states that the Italians at Tripoli sustained 40Q casualties on Monday and Tuesday. The trouble in the town has been removed. Several Italian soldiers had been stabbed and two Red Cross men killed. Thirty guns were landed on Wednesday. French accounts of the bombardment of Benghazi state that the destruction ! of the European quarters was a serious < blunder. Bursting shells slaughtered women and children wholesale, and some French and British subjects were killed. MANY KILLED. THE WILD SENORISSI. THE AID OF AEROPLANES. BURNING AND PILLAGE. ' RIGID CENSORSHIP. Received 2D, 5 p.m. Tripoli, October 2S. The It.\lian losses in suppressing Monday's outbreak in the town were ISO. A house-to-house search continues. Between forty and fifty Arabs arc shot daily. The Italians will make no further adI till another 1.1.000 troop-; arrive. The Mussulman force behind Tripoli is estimated at (10.000. Several thousands on Thursday attacked a position near BoumiUmii Wells. The Italians, being entrenched, waited until the enemy were within fifty yards, and then made a bayonet charge. Three shells from the warships fell amongst the enemy's cavalry. The Italian casualties were 200. Turkish accounts state that the plan j to surround the Italians was only parI tially successful, though a portion of J the Mussulman troops acting prematurely.

The Italians were able to cut their way out. though they suffered great loss. Tripolitan sheiks are summoning several thousand Gharhi rebels to resist the invaders.

Enver Hey is reported to have traversed Egypt to visit the Senussi tribes-! men, who are expected to wage a holy war .in the Tripolitan hinterland. An aeroplane greatly assisted the Italians on Thursday by revealing the enemy's movements and enabling effective fire from the warships. Arabs endeavored to -boot the aeronauts. Some Italian losses were due to treacherous shots from the rear. Subsequently the villages and huts in the oasis were burned and the inhabitants removed to the town. A hundred were deported. Some alpine soldiery wealing H kj aI - c traversing the de-crt. Rome. October 28. Newspapers express di-contcnt at the Government censorship depriving the public of war news. GREAT SL.U-fJIITER. SIX THOUSAND KILLED AXI) WOfXDED. Received 30. 1-2.20 a.m. Tripoli. October 2!l. Twelve thon-and Arab- and Turks were engaged in Thursday's fighting. Thev lost two thousand killed and four thousand wounded.