TURKO-ITALIAN WAR.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13526, 7 November 1911, Page 5

TURKO-ITALIAN WAR.

DRIVEN BACK TO THE SEA ITALIANS IN SORE STRAITS. CHOLERA AMONGST THE TROOPS. Press Association.—Telegraph.—Copyright. Received November 7. 8.5 a.m. MALTA, November 6. Reuter’s Tripoli correspondent, who is able to give an unbiassed report, says that if correspondents in Tripoli stated, the facts they wore immediately expelled. The Turks engaged on the 23rd and 26th were not more than two thousand, yet they inflicted losses of at least, a thousand. On the 22ncl the Italian line was broken in twb places by less than two hundred Arabs, who rushed the 84th ; Regiment at dawn, and gained cover of the oasis. One hundred Italian dismounted cavalry saved the situation by a ehargq, killing the majority of the Arabs. Thirty of the Arabs, however, held the position for three days, until blown up by mines. General Caneva was so alarmed that ho abandoned the outer works, including the Turkish fort at Mesri. Tlie army worked feverishly' to render the inner position impregnable with entrenchments and barbed wires. The Turks and Arabs are now holding the oasis, where there is ample food. Every orchard and garden affords natural defences and an ideal position as far as the Italian line. The Turks advanced artillery dropped shells on' Caneva’s headquarters. The Italians have been driven to a point whence they cannot.' retire except by sea. The troops have passed from the greatest elation to a deep depression. There are sand storms daily and soaking rains at night. Many cases of cholera have occurred, the victims including soldiers. ITALIAN LOSSES—SOOO. Accusations Against Turks. TRIPOLI. November 6. General Caneva, interviewed, denies the charges of cruelty and massacres preferred against the Italians, and accuses, the Turks of stripping the Italians naked and shockingly and disgustingly mutilating the bodies. The Standard estimates that the attackers on the 26th numbered 8000 Turks and 16,000 Arabs. The Italians lost 5000. including two battalions which surrendered. ANOTHER TURKISH VICTORY. CONSTANTINOPLE, November ,6. ' An important victory .was won on November Ist, when the Turks occupied the Italian cavalry barracks, where there were large quantities of ammunition and provisions. THE OASIS MASSACRE. Shocking Treatment of Arabs. Reign of Terror In Tripoli. MALTA, November 6. Reuter’s Tripoli correspondent, whose sworn statement of massacres is countersigned by correspondents of the Morning •■'iv-c and Daily Mirror, declares, at the request -of the British Consul in Tripoli, that tlie correspondents,of the New- York World and the Berlin Lokal Anzoigcr were so disgusted that they handed passes to General Caneva and refused further dealings with the army. The statement affirms that until the 23rd the Italians treated the Arabs kindly. The Bersaglerei rightly shot Arabs in the south-eastern portion of the oasis, but afterwards General Caneva ordered all armed Arabs found in the oasis to be shot. Finding Arabs in hiding with arms, the order was changed to shoot all who might reasonably be suspected of bearing arms. Bodies of excited soldiery without officers scoured the oasis for four days, indiscriminately shooting, regardless of whether the victims partook in the attack on the Bcrsaglerei. Several parties had 50 to 60 Arabs—men and hoys—collected, and with thoir hands tied marched them' to vacant places, whore they shot them without trial. Others were shot while working in the gardens, and some were bayonetted and clubbed to death witli the butt-ends of their rifles. On the fourth day after the so-called insurrection, the correspondent saw a detachment meet three weaponless Arabs, obviously men of property, and'sb.pt them without a word of explanation. Other correspondents from Tripoli state that the reign of terror and house searches is continuing. Summary punishment is meted out on the least pretence, batches of fifty being executed ' after a minute’s trial before a tribunal of officers. GENERAL CANEVA DENOUNCED. MALTA, November 6. The New' York World’s correspondent violently attacks General Caneva, who, he alleges, was never outside his bomb! proof shelter. He adds that the Arabs only mutilated the corpses after the Italian massacres. GENERAL CANEVA SUPERSEDED. "Continuous Success," ROME, November 6. 1 General Frugoni is superseding General Caneva, who has been appointed Governor of Tripoli. An Italian message to the Powers states that the continuous success of the Italian arms renders resistance useless. If peace is signed it will enable Italy’s policy to be inspired by her interest in the maintenance of the territorial status quo in the Balkans, whereof the consolidation of Turkey is an essential factor., .TURKISH TRANSPORT SUNK. . ROME, November 6. An Italian cruiser sank the Turkish transport Akabah in the Red Sea. The majority of the crew were rescued. NO SLAVERY, England’s Offer To Turkey, LONDON, November 4.' According to a statement made by a hiffb official, England would have supported Turkey in the present war but that an understanding could not he arrived at. , England’s first demand was the abolition of slavery in all the Sultan’s dominions, but this the Porte would not grant. - It is stated that the conditions with regard to bondage were found to be worse than usual in Tripoli.

PRESS ENTHUSIASM. ROME, November 4. ■ It has been discovered that the Italian newspapers, certainly those published in Rome, knew before the war began that preparations were in progress for the invasion of Tripoli, but pledged themselves to remain silent. 1 Now that the campaign is in full swing the press; is carrying out its further pledge to keep up the people’s enthusiasm in the war. ITALIAN ATROCITIES. A BRITISH CORRESPONDENT’S PROTEST. 1 Scenes of Horror. Italian Soldiers Paralysed With Fear. Received November 7, 9.15 a.m.LONDON, November 6. Mr McGullagh, the Westminster Gazette’s correspondent in Tripoli, has returned his papers to General Caneva as a protest against atrocities. Mr McGullagh photographed scenes of horror, which he describes as worse than any Russian pogrom or Armenian massacre. Four hundred .women and children were shot, and 4000 men, of whom not 100 were guilty. Mr McGullagh saw 50 men and children executed in a batch. Cripples and blind beggars were deliberately shot, and sick people, whose houses were burned, were left on the ground and were refused a drop of water. The Italian soldiers are paralysed with fear, as the enemy’s persistency, day and night, is affecting thoir imagination and nerves. CHOLERA AT TRIPOLI. Ravages in Italian Army. LONDON, November 6. Advices from Malta state that the bodies of 50 cholera victims were collected in the streets, of Tripoli on Sunday. Forty cholera cases are being reported ■ daily in the Italian army. There is a pestilential stench arising at the oasis, where the recent massacre occurred. AN EXCITING TRIP. Dodging Submarine Mines. Received November 7, i 0.30 a.m. MELBOURNE, November 7. The steamer Berlin, which has arrived from Smyrna, had an exciting time running - down the Turkish coast, where all the lights were out, and submarine mines were scattered' about on account of the war. The captain has an intimate knowledge of. the coast, and managed to steer clear of danger. ‘