THE TRIPOLITAN WAR.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 96, 6 December 1911, Page 7

THE TRIPOLITAN WAR.

GENERAL CAN EVA. General Caneva, who lias been superseded as Commander-iii-Chief in Tripoli, is :i cavalryman. Ho has (recently stated the Rome correspondent of “The Times”) the highest reputation in Italy for handling large bodies of troops, and has in the recent peace manoeuvres excelled in the paths of higher direction. His Chief of Staff, who is a comparatively young man, has also a gerat reputation on the Italian General Staff. THE ARABS AND ITALY.

The Constantinople correspondent of the “Tribnna” (Rome) stated, under date 3rd of last month, that he has had a conversation with an influential Arab chief of Tripoli, who astires him that the Arabs in the interior are far more likely to side with the Italians than with the Turks, of whose misrule they are weary—if only, he added, Italian soldiers would treat them properly and respect their persons and their property. I can testify at least to tho fact that almost the last words addressed to the troops leaving Rome were an earnest appeal from tne commanding officers that they should respect absolutely the persons, the property, the womankind, and the religion of the natives in the Tripoli tame. It will certainly not bo the fault of the Italian officers if the conduct of the soldiers is not good, but there is little fear of its being anything else, for both the discipline and the good will of the Italian troops are admirable. CAUSES OF THE WAR.

I have already sent you what 1 understand to he the view of the average Italian citizen with regard to the war, and to-day I can supplement ii with that of the Italian official (telegraphed the Home correspondent oi “The Times” on the 3rd of last month.) The position of both is much the same, with the exception that the latter, if lie be a Minister, has been brought into more constant and painfn,!, contact with the policy of obstruction, wilful irritation, and tergiversation which has characterised Turkish dealings with Italy for some time past. It has been his lot to watch the cup of bitterness slowly filling drop by drop, often even to rise in the Chamber and minimise outrages and insults offered to his country in order to prevent some untimely explosion of popular indignation. Ke, more than any one else*, has felt that tiie cup was filled to overflowing. The English press, at first benevolent to the Italian cause, has been explaining against what seemed the sudden violence of the Italian ultimatum. It w'ould be difficult to explain that the provocation offered and the actual conditions in which it was offered really' acquit Italian action of any unexpected violence, for only the Turkish (Government can know how it has itself deliberately step by step pushed Italy over the brink of peace. Italians arc somewhat inclined to resent thischange of attitude on the part of their English friends. They' iiad hoped that England would have more willingly given them credit for patience and a wish to maintain peace which onlyabsolute necessity' has broken down. The relations between Italy and Turkey seemed doomed to bo poisoned in perfetuity by this festering sore. There was but one remedy left, actually to occupy' Tripoli, and so resolutely cut out the cause of discomfort. The moment had come when Italians could bear the conduct of the Turkish Government no longer, but it also happened to bo the time when, owing to the season of the year and the recent successful efforts made by the Turks to suppress the rebellion in Albania, there was less chance of Italy’s action finding any repercussion in the Balkan Provinces.

This, as I have said, is the official or, let ns say, the Government view of the situation. One might at least add in its support that outside Italy and Turkey there can be no full comprehension of the chain of events which has driven Italy to immediate action. The Turks are pastmasters in the art of covert provocation, and their Government was probably far less surprised by the Italian ultimatum than were the other nations of Europe.