War Declared

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 86, 2 October 1911, Page 5

War Declared

Between Italy and Turkey m Italy Lands Troops in Tripoli Italians Sink Two War Vessels bv Cable —Pres3 Association —Copyright. Rome, September 2D. It is ofßcially announced that Italy and" Turkey will be in a state of war from 2.30 p.m. to-day. Italian troops hare landed at Tripoli. The blockade of Tripoli and Cyrenaica will be immediately notified to the Powers. Constantinople. September 29. The Porte, in reply to Italy's ultimatum, expresses surprise at Italy's action, and hopes it will desist from its contemplated measures. The Porte emphasises its desire for a settlement, and promises to suspend military measures daring negotiations. The Ben Ghnri Cabinet resigned, but Said Pasha (Grand Vizier). Kaimil Pt„h* (Foreign Minister), and Mohammed Shevket Pasha (Minister of War), retain their posts for the present. i - i TRIPOLI SUCCESSFULLY OCCUPIED. * CRUISERS ATTACK TORPEDO FLOTILLA. CONFLICTING ACCOUNTS. Received 1, 5.5 p.m. Constantinople. September 30. The Agency Ottoman publishes an urgent telegram from Tripoli to the effect that Italian troops had landed andhoisted the Italian flag on the Government buildings. The newspapers shortly afterwards published a report that the Turks had Mink the first two barges that were about to land troops. London, September 30. The Daily Mail correspondent at Tripoli reports that an Italian destroyer. carrying a white flag, entered the port and summoned the garrison to surrender. The authorities declined the summons. Reuters Salonika correspondent reports that tlie Italian cruiser sank a destroyer in the harbor at Prevoza, and landed troops. Athens, September 30. It is officially announced from Vonitca that an Italian squadron off Prevent attacked and pursued six torpedoers. One of them took refuge in Preveza, and the remainder escaped. Rome. September 30. Tripoli was occupied at three o'clock yesterday afternoon. The troops' entry rai unopposed. DECLARATION CAUSES UTMOST SURPRISE. RISE AND FALL OF WAR INSURANCE PREMIUMS. Received I. 5.5 p.m. London. September 30. Italy's declaration of war caused the utmost surprise in London, where Turkey's reply to the ultimatum created a hopeful feeling. Washington. September 30. The declaration of war between Italy and Turkey, coming as it did practically without notice, created a sensation. It is officially stated that the situation is regarded as the natural sequence of the Franco-German negotiations. The Government will keep clear of the struggle. London, September 30. War risks were covered in London at 35 per cent. They advanced to 70. and then declined to 20 on the announcement that the Porte would not oppose the landing of Italian troops. THE CASE FOR ITALY. EXCESSES AND IMPOSITIONS. TURKEY'S REPLY. ALBANIA ARMING AND TTIREATNEING RENEWAL OF TROUBLE. Received 1, 5.5 p.m. London. September 30. Information from Italian sources .describes the eri>is as the result of a long series of excesses and impositions upon Italians in every part of the Turkish Empire, coupled with vexatious delays and the denials of justice and reparation for insult*. fine incident i« cited, where an Italian girl was abducted at Adana and compelled to marry a Mohammedan. Further, that the Turki-h authorities in the Rod Sea and the Arabian coast oppose Eritea. and always take up a violent and provocative attitude. Several official act- of piracy against Italians are recorded, also crimes, including murder. Turkey represent- ■ltaly's aetion a- an attempt to reali?e her long clierishol ambition-. In I!>l>3 -lie a-kcd the Porte vainly to grant all conces-ions in connection with public works in Tripoli to Italians, which was -vnonvmous with declaring a protectorate. Turkey recognised Italy's economic interests, and the majority of the concessions were given to Italian-. The Bank of Rome is quoted a- an instance. Renter report- that Turkey intends to demand that Greece relinquish future claims to Crete <.r exe.-ute military operation- on the frontier of The-'saly, Albania i- arming'. ar:d threatens a renewal of the trouble. TWO VESSELS SUNK AND ONE CAPTURED. GREE< E MOBILISING HER FORCES. TURKEY STRENGTHENING HER FORCES ON THE CREEK AND MONTENEGRIN' FRONTIERS. GERMAN I'RI>S DENOUNCES ITALY'S ACTION. Received 2. 12.25 a.m. Rome, October 1. It is officially stated that the destroyers Artigliere and Corazziere sank a destroyer and a torpedo boat at Prevezna. On Saturdav morning the destroyer Alpeno captured a steamer, with a r.pel; ,rew. <-»i>t.iinin;; fi.v Turkish officers and 1(52 soldiers. She had a large quantity of munitions of war and grain aboard. There were no Italian casualties. Constantinople. October 1. It i= official- reported that Greece is mobili>ing. The Porte has decided fo -trengthen the forces on the Greek and .Montenegrin frontier. Tae entire Germ in press, commenting on the ultiniatn before the sequel w.'s known, vehemently denounced 'ltaly's precipitate action. The Berliner Post insists that Britain must have incited Italy. London, October 1. The British press condemns the German press comments as sheer hypocrisy.

PRESS COMMENTS. ( ITALY'S PRECIPITATE ACTION. GENERAL CONDEMNATION. London, September 29. The Daily Mail states that the ultimatum seems, even to the warmest friends of Italy, cruel and violent. The Standard says that Italy is adopting the law of the trailed fist and pirate galley. It is easier to apply a torch than to set hounds to the conflagration. It adds that Turkey, outraged, despoiled and humiliated, may seek revenge equally as an aggressor. and Christian States, failing to protect her from flagrant wrong, the reflex consequences may injure almost everybody. The Daily News declares that it is impossible to expect or desire Turkey to submit tamely to as brutal an act of aggression as history records. It concludes by urging Sir Edward Crey to intervene as he did between France and Germany, with a view to inducing moderation in Italy's demands, so as to ensure peace.

The Morning Leader ridicules the declaration in the notes, that, owing to Turkey sending reinforcements, despite Italy's warnings regarding the excitement and perils resulting therefrom, the Italian Government was forced to think of the guardianship of its dignity and interests, and hence has decided to proceed with the occupation. It adds: "Italy is in a hurry, lest, if time were allowed for the enormity of the proceeding to be appreciated, the revolt of opinion in Europe, outside the foreign offices, wpuld be too pronounced to be ignored. Mr. Lucien Wolff, in the Daily Graphic, foresees that it is possible that Turkey, by way of reprisals for the taking of Mussulman Tripoli, may seize Christian Thessaly, which probably would entail a European war.

The Chronicle's Vienna correspondent states that Austria and Germany are urging the Porte to allow the pacific occupation of Tripoli by Italian troops. The plan of occupation was decided on weeks ago, after an exchange of views by the Cabinets of the Triple Alliance. Reuter's Constantinople correspondent reports that on Friday the Council sat till midnight. It is reported that the Government decided to appeal to Italy's honesty and good feeling, but to reject the demand for military occupation, also to make a fresh appeal to the Powers for intervention.

The Salonika representative of the Daily Mail says that there are 100.000 Italians in Turkey, whom the Young Turks in the event of war will treat as hostages.

Paris, September 29. A section of the newspapers regret Italy's precipitate action. Le Journal refers to the brutality of Italy's policy, and is astonished at the passivity of the Powers. WHERE TURK AND ROMAN MEET. SKETCH OF FEATURES AND HISTORY OF A TY'.PICAL BARBARY STATE. Tripoli, or Tarabulus as it is called by the natives, is a region of northern Africa, included among the Barbarr State.", and constituting a vilayet or province of the Turkish Empire. In its broadest extent it occupies the entire Mediterranean border between Tunis on the west and Egypt on the cast, a length of over 1000 miles, and thus includes Barca ImutcKsarifik of Bengazi). Southward the boundaries are but ill determined, but ordinarily they are made to include the region known as Fezzan, which is physiographically separated from what is frequently designated Triproper by the vast rocky plateau known as the Hamada. el-Homra (150017(10 feet, elevation) and the volcanic masses of the Jcbel-Soda (or Black Mountain) and Haruj es-Sod. Tripoli proper docs not extend much southward of latitude 29 deg. north, and is thus entirely out-ide the tropics. Its Mediterranean border is deeply indented ■by the Gulf of S'idra (ancient Svrtis Major) in the. east, where the true desert (Libyan or Saharan) approaches quite to the sea. Otherwise the coast-line presents few indentations and is nearly destitute of harbors, the only really gwod one being that on which stands the city <»f Tripoli. The greater part of the interior of Tripoli appears to be a sand and limestone plateau of moderate elevation, and irregularly relieved by minor mountain elevations or ridges. In the north-west, abutting upon the Mediterranean at Klioms and sloping towards the west-south-west, is the prominent escarpment known in its different parts as .lebel-Nefusft, Ycfren, and Gharian (rising to 3000 feet or more), beyond which is an expanse of plain and lowland designated the Plain of Tripoli (or the .lefara), which in its broadest part is about ninety miles wide.

A minor portion of this plain, in the close surroundings of the capital city, is watered by means of irrigation wells and i.s cultivated. The most fertile of this vilayet is the Mcshiva. a Mediterranean border-strip about fifteen miles long, having the city of Tripoli near its centre, and extend- inland liardJv five miles. The whole of this district is occupied by fertile fields. on which wheat, barley, millet, and Indian corn are growu. and bv plantations of datepalms. olive groves, vineyards, orchard,s and garden*, yielding in abundance oranges, pomegranates, lemons, figs, jujubes. apricots, plums, and water-melons. Other products of the land are cotton, silk, tobacco. saffron, madder, and castor oil. The interior producer senna, dates and galls: the carob and lotus are indigenous. There are few products in Tripoli other than agricultural. Barleyis the most important crop, and .some esparto grass is exported. The climate of Tripoli is very hot in the summer, but the sea breezes render the coastal region quite bearaiblc. In winter it .becomes distinctly cool, and >m»\v sometimes rests on the upper hillslopes. The average annual temperature in many part- is HI) deg.. and in Fezzan an extreme temperature of 135 deg. has been noted.

Tripoli and Rarca have together an ami of ;i.]hmit 400.000 square miles, and a population estimated at about 1 .000.000. The inhabitants comprise Ticrbors, Moors*. Arab Hedonins, .lews and negroes, with a 'few thousand Europeans. mainly Maltese and Italians. The ancient name of Tripoli* (i.e.. '■throe cities") originated as a collective designation of till' tlirce cities of Oca, Leptis Mafjna. and Sabraln. situated on the Mediterranean coast. The firstnamed finally became known as Tri.polis. The region formed p.irt of the Unman Empire, anil in later times there was a Provincia Tripolitana. In the seventh century northern Africa became part of

the Mohammedan world. Tn the middle of the sixteenth century Tripoli was subjected by the Ottoman Turks. Under Turkish sovereignity the city of Tripoli became the scat of corsairs, who were the terror of the Mediterranean. The Tripolitana were repeatedly chastised by the French, and from 1801 to 1805 the United States waged a successful war against them. Under its beys, or governors, the country was for a long time virtually independent of Constantinople. The present system of government in Tripoli dates from 1835, but Barca has had a separate administration «incc aibout 1875. The governor-general, or vali. is the chief military and civil authority, and is responsible directly to the Porte. AH important officials are Turks. There are, about 10,000 Turkish troops in the country. Formerly the Kologhlu, a sort of volunteer body, several thousand strong, performed certain military service in the capital in return for special privileges, but they have been disbanded.