FIGHTING IN AFRICA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 30 May 1913, Page 5

FIGHTING IN AFRICA.

CABLENEWS (United Press Association- By Elec. trie Telegraph—Copyright.)

ITALIAN FORCE ANNIHILATED.

CASUALTIES NUMBER TWt>

THOUSAND

(Received Last Night, 10.30 o'clock.) ROME, May 29. Details of the fighting at Derna, North Africa, on the 16th inst., are slowly becoming public, despite tho efforts to suppress them, and have aroused a sense ot de>p humiliation: After peace was declared, the garrison at Derna was reduced from 15,000 men to 5000.

General Mambreow led out practically th© whole garrison, believing there were 2000 Bedouins with two cannon, instead of which he found 20,000 with twelve cannon. Th© Italians marched through the night and were weary, foodless, and waterless.

Tha, fight commenced at 3.30.

Tho Italians occupied the trenches at Sidigarba, but Jhe Bedouins made a vigorous counter attack. The Italians retreated in disorder to Semissa, and were hotly pursued for five hours, to tho very trenches of Derna.

. There were 2000 Italian casualties, including sixty officers. Other estimates state that 40 were killed, 7CO wounded and over a hundred captured. In addition, 300 Ascari Colonial' wore killed and wounded.

Many Italians were wounded and abandoned.

■Only twelve artillerymen survived the Bedouin attack.

Guns ,officers, men and Maxim corps were piled in heaps of dead and dying around the guns. Only two of the quick-firers were saved, while all the mules and a large quantity of stores and ammunition were lost.

Lieutenant Monarelli states that after the battle scarcely two-thirds of the garrison remained. Tho fugitives were obliged to abandon all the dead and dying. It was hoarWbreaking. Some slightly wounded clung to his uniform crying out: "Signer Lieutenant. don't laave us oelifntt.* 1 Lieutenant Monarelli stater, that there was no alternative, having transport to carry the wounded. A cable from Tripoli, on the 10th inst., stated that after a severe fight the Italian troops dislodged the Bedouins, who were entrenched in the hills at Sidi Garba. There were heavy losses on both sides.