TURCO-ITALIAN WAR.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 448, 16 March 1912, Page 5

TURCO-ITALIAN WAR.

A HEAVY ENGAGEMENT.

BOTH CLAIM VICTORY.

By Telegraph.—Presa Asuooiation.—Copyright Tripoli, Wednesday.

A little more vitality was imparted to the war in Tripoli yesterday whon some sharp fighting occurred round the seaport of Tobruk. According to the Italian reports the Turco-Italian forces near Tobruk, to the eastward of the' Benghazi province, vigorously attacked the town, which is held by the Italians. Both sides attempted flanking movements, and the Italians were eventually successful in repulsing the attack, losing 13 killed and three

wounded. On the other hand the Turkish account of the battle, as supplied by Edhem Pasha, general in comamnd of the attacking forces, declares that victory rested with his side, and that the Italians killed and wounded totalled 2000. There was also heavy fighting round Benghazi, westwards of Tobruk, but again very conflicting reports have been received. One account states that a thousand Turks and Arabs were killed round the city, chiefly in bayonet charges, while another story, which does not mention tho Turkish losses, says that three Italian officers and 26 men were killed in tho fighting, and seven officres and 55 men were wounded. The two oases north-west of the town of Fojat were occupied by the Italians.