WAR'S HORRORS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 22, 30 May 1913, Page 5

WAR'S HORRORS.

THE ITALIANS AT DERNA. SLAUGHTERED IN THE TRENCHES. riiy Electric Telegraph—COPYßlGHT] [United Press Association . I Homo, May 29. Details of the fighting at Dema on ! May 16 are slowly becoming public, despfte the efforts to suppress them, and have aroused a sense of deep Humiliation. Alter the peace declaration, the garrison at Dema was reduced from 15,000 to 5000. RUSE OF THE BEDOUINS. General Mambretti led'out practically the whole garrison, believing that there were only 2000 Bedouins and two cannon. Instead, lie found 20,000 Bedouins and twelve cannon. The Italians marched through the night, weary, foodless and waterless, flie fight commenced at 3.30. The Italians ocupied the trenches at Sidigarba, but the Bedouins made a vigorous counter attack. THE RETREAT TO SEMISSI. The Italians retreated in disorder to Semissi, hotly pursued for five hours to the very trenches at Derna. There were 2000 Italian casualties, including 30 officers. Other estimates state that 400 were killed and 700 wounded, whilst over 100 were captured, in addition to 300 Ascari colonials killed and wounded. Many of the Italian wounded were abandoned. Only twelve artillerymen survived the Bedouin attack on the guns. The officers and men of the Maxim corps were piled in heaps, dead and dying, around the guns. Only two quickfirers were saved. All xhb mules and a large quantity of stores and nn\munition were lost. "DON'T LEAVE US BEHIND." Lieutenant Monarelli states that after the battle scarcely two-thirds of the garrison remained. The fugitives, were obliged to abandon all the dead and dying. It was heartbreaking Some of those slightly wounded clung to his imifrfnk crying "Signor Lieutenant, don't leave us behind." Lieutenant Monarelli" states' that there was no alternative, the force having no transports.' , 1 : ; ■ ;