ON THE VERGE OF WAR

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1245, 29 September 1911, Page 5

ON THE VERGE OF WAR

TURKEY'S HOPELESS CASE. ITALY ALMOST CERTAIN TO OCCUPY TRIPOLI. POPULACE EXCITED. I3y Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright London, September 27. Latest information makes it practically certain that Italy will occupy Tripoli. Littlo fighting on the coast is expected, owing to the large Italian force available, and tho unlikelihood of Turkey depleting her home garrisons. All the Italian merchantmen in Ottomail waters have been recalled. Private advices from Tripoli state that on receipt of tho news that tho Italians contemplated occupation of the city, all businesses were closed. The Arabs gathered in tho mosques, and decided to resist the landing to the last. If compelled to yield, they would then seek British protection. Malta advices state that Italian warships, with an expeditionary force, are lying twonty miles off Tripoli. Italian residents fear a massacre if a landing is attempted. Italy has three hundred of her own subjects apd eight hundred protected subjects at Tripoli. • Britain has four thousand subjects, including three thousand Maltese. The Anglo-Maltese colony is imploring Government help to leave Tripoli. The Italian steamers are only carrying people of their own nationality. _ j All departments of tho Stock Exchange have recovered on a report that Turkey will ultimately lease Tripoli to Italy. The report is unconfirmed, but hopeful views of • some amicable settlement are expressed in Berlin and some other capitals. Holders of Turkish bonds paid fortyfive guineas in London to insure against war between Italy and Turkey during 1911.

TURKEY HELPLESS.

UNABLE TO TRANSPORT TROOPS. MOHAMMEDAN RISING FEARED. (Rec. September 28, 10.30 p.m.) London, September 28. "Tho Times" publishes statistics showing that in the event of war there is no present indication that any largo Italian and Turkish armies would collide. Italy's manifest naval superiority places Tripoli at her mercy, and tho Sultan's armies would bo unable to proceed to tho attack so long as Turkey was without the help of a naval Power capablo of clearing the Mediterranean of Italian wa-rships. Otherwise, the two; would be not unevenly matched, as each has approximately a million and a quarter of trained men.

A "Times" correspondent, who was lately in Nigeria, in an article remarks that events arc apparently shaping in a fashion calculated to stir Islam to its depths throughout Africa, and tho consequences may possibly bo momentous to the interests of tho African Powers. A few years ago Italian ambitions in Tripoli might perhaps have been achieved without much difficulty, whether, morally justifiable or not, but their active 'expression now occurs when two circumstances have entirely altered the situation. Firstly, there has recrudescence of Turkey's political activity in Tripoli and its vast hinterland, and, secondly, there s the powerful Senussi's recognition of ■ tho Sultan's spiritual authority to reckon with.

The reported dispatch of an Italian ultimatum to Turkey lias bee® confirmed by cither the Turkish or Italian Embassies in London.

ENTHUSIASM IN ITALY.

SEVEN WARSHIPS LEAVE FOR TRIPOLI. ANARCHISTS AGITATION. (Rec. September 29, 0.50 a.m.) London, September 28. Advices from Milan posted to tho frontier, in order to escape censorship, state that the Duke of Abruzzi is in command of the torpedo and submarine flotillas, and has hoisted his flag at Brindisi. Seven warships have left Spezzia for Tripoli. Signor Marconi has placed tho whole of his wireless stations in the Mediterranean at tho Government's disposal. The Sociafists, Republicans, and Anarchists at Rome, Florence, and other cities are attempting to provoke anti-military outbreaks, and the Government has been compelled to station troops to repress them. .

Many of the railway stations are occupied by the military. There has been some stone-throwing, and numerous arrests havu been made. The projected goneral strike was a complete fiasco. The extremists were unablo to meet publicly, but harangued privato assemblage;, jven going to the extent of glorifying regicide. The bulk of the population throughout Italy, especially in tho south, and also in Sicily, is enthusiastic in favour of an expedition to Tripoli. The reservists responded with great alacrity to the summons to tho colours, and wero everywhere given an ovation, except in tho provinces of Ravenna and 1 orli, where mobs of women and children lay across the rails, ineffectually attempting to prevent tho departure of train-loads of reservists, who shouted "Long livo Italy, and Italian Tripoli!"

"PRACTICAL GUARANTEES." WHAT ITALY DEMANDS. A PERMANENT GARRISON. (Rcc. September 29, 0.50 a.m.) Berlin, September 28. Tho "Berlinor Tagcblatt" publishes a private telegram from Vienna which states that Italy has notified nil the Powers that she is demanding from Turkey practical guarantees for the protection of Italian interests in Tripoli. It is declared that theso guarantees must bo of a material nature, and that Italy would regard permission for the establishment of aji Italian garrison in Tripoli as practical protection for Italians,

NO TRIPOLITAN QUESTION. ' I'JFAAT I'ASHA'S VI EWS. Paris, September 27. Rifaat Pasha (? Turkish Foreign Minister) is surprised at the situation. Ho declares that there is no Tripoiitan question. A landing at Tripoli would bo in no way different from a landing nt Smyrna or Saloniki. Tripoli is not a colony, but a vital part of tho Empire. Turkey would have lo defend her very existence as a sovereign State. Dr. Titloni, the Italian Ambassador, on being interviewed, without questioning Rifaat Pasha's good faith, said he questioned the good faitli o£ tlis Tripoiitan

officials, whoso attitude bad never agreed .with tho good words of Constantinople, At latest advices Rifaat Pasha was Turkish Minister for Foreign Affairs, but there has been talk of his resigning from time to time during tbo year, and it is possible that he may bo now Ambassador in Paris. ECONOMIC CONCESSIONS. LANDING Ol' TROOPS TO BE RESISTED. (Rec. September 2", 0.10 a.m.) Vienna, September £S. It is feared in diplomatic quarters that even a partial realisation of Italy's aspirations will bo a heavy blow to tho \oung Turks, whose prestigo is already suffering. Tho "Xcue Freie Presso" learns officially that Turkey is willing to mako economic concessions, but will in nowise consent to the granting of political privileges, and will regard tho landing of troops in Tripoli as a casus belli. GERMAN INTERVENTION. A COMPROMISE SOUGHT. (Rec. September 29, 0.10 a.m.) . Constantinople, September 23. Baron Marscball von Bieberstein, the German Ambassador to the Porte, has assured tbo Sultun that Germany will make friendly representations to Italy on behalf of Turkey, but is unable to promise success. , There, are indications that Germany'is seeking to effect a compromise assuring Italy's dominance in Tripoli, but avoiding an open rupture. TRIPOLI BLOCKADE. TURKISH TRANSPORT ALLOWED THROUGH. (Rec. September 29, 0.30 a.m.) Tripoli, September 28. A Turkish transport from Derna, laden with grain for starving Arabs has arrived. It brought also a few officers and one hundred soldiers, and several eases of rifles and ammunition, but was unmolested though passing within gun-shot of tho Italian warships Which are cruising off tho shore and practically blockading t'ho coast BELGIAN RUMOURS. (Rec. September 29, 0.10 a.m.) Brussels, September 28. ■ Arrangements have been mado to disband the contingent of reservists retained with the colours during tho Moroccan crisis. The newspaper "Patriot" declares that it is stated in diplomatic circles that the Tripolitan question has been adjusted to Italy's satisfaction. TURKISH REINFORCEMENTS. Constantinople, September 27. The Cabinet has decided to reinforce tho troops in European Turkey.