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THE BOMBARDMENT OF TRIPOLI:
ti11)*5 -Ttaes'of October 6, describing the
blockade of Tripoli, * says:— 'An Italian
squadron under the Duke of Abnizzi pro
eeeded to sweep the lower Adriatic clear
ot Turkish vessels, that mfsht be a menace
to Italian shipping. After sinking three
torpedo boats, it attacked- Preveza, a forti
ned port on the west coast of Turkey, and
blockaded it, in order to prevent the escape
of other Turkish torpedo boats there It
was at first atated that the Italians had
isnded a considerable force at Preveza This
has\ been categorically denied by the
Italians, who state that they have not the
-remotest intention of landing troops in any
part of the Ottoman Empire, except in Tri
politanui, and Cyrenaiea. A second- squa
dron,, under Admiral Aubrej-. blockaded
Iripoli, and demanded the surrender of the
port. When this was refused, time was
given for non-eonibatants to escape, and on
luesday afternoon at 3.30 a bombardment
of the forts was begun. The Turkish fire
was ineffective, and the majority of the
iorts were dismantled. The Turks still
not ouering to surrender, the bombardment
was renewed on Wednesday, and in the
evening tie Italians prepared to land. The
Turkish Heet, which was at Beirut
escaped. to the Dardanelles. No news is to
hand of the main Italian battle fleet, which
was supposed to be in pursuit ot tie Turkish
ships.
The Times correspondent at Tripoli tele
2pphed on September 29:— '-At 12.30 pm.
xne destroyer Lanciere steamed into the
harbour. Her commander landed, and in
formed the Italian Consul of the ultima
tum.^ At 1 pan. the Italian 'Consul advised
the Consular Corps that he had just re
ceived notice from his Government that
Italy had sent the Ottoman Government a
final ultimatum, which expired at midday.
If a negative reply to her- demands was
then received hostilities would begin at 2
o'clock. All the Consuls advised their su£
jects to take refuge at their respective Con
sulates. A panic ensu-*!, people rushing
along the streets with bundles of clothing
acd whatever they could lay their hands
on. .The Consulate courtyards are filled
with refugees. AH the Consulates are flyin«
their largest, flags. The Italian Consuiatf?
General and. the Roman Catholic Church
have both hoiked the German flag. The
testers of the Franciscan Mission are flying
the Red Cross. Many families have taken
retuge on board the sailing ships in the
harbour.'
—Official 'Report.—
The following official announcement was
made in Rome on October 4:— 'A telegram
rom Rear Admiral Faravelli, who i« on
board the battleship . Benedetto Brin dis
patched at 7.45 p.m. yesterday, says that
the bombardment of tlie main batteries at
Tripoli was begun at half-past 3 in the
afternoon, and was continued until sunset.
The batteries replied to the Italian fire, but
without effect. The Admiral intimates that
the, bombardment will be. resumed to-day
in order to destroy the batteries completely.
The greatest care -was taken by the Italian
gunners not to damage the buildings in
the town, and only the lighthouse- on the
battery was demolished.'' The following
details of the bombardment of Tripoli,
which began at 3.30 on Tuesday, have ar
rived:— At 3 o'clock Rear Admiral Fara
velli, from the flagship the Benedetto Brin,
pve a signal to prepare lor action. The
battleships Varese. Giuseppe* Garibaldi, and
Francesco Ferruccio thereupon steamed up
to within two kilometres of the town. The
eea was fairly calm. At half-past 3 the
Giuseppe Garibaldi opened fire on the
palace of the Vali. There was an immediate
reply from the palace and from the'Hamidieh.
and Sultanieh Forts. ^The Turkish aim,
however, ivas bad. andthe projectiles' all
fell wide or short. The Varese and the
Francesco i;nrruccio directed their fire
against the fortifications near the light
house and on the mole. . Tlie national flaas
were flying all over the Consulates, and the
forte displayed the Turkish colours. After
the bombardment had been in progress for
an hour shells from the Varese struck the
lighthouse, which collapfed in nuns. The
destruction of the lighthouse was inevit
able from the fact that tbe.adjacent fort
was keeping up a heavy cannonade in replv
to the Italian fire. The bombardment now
became heavier, while the fire from the
Turkish forts grew feeble. Many; of the
Turkish «uns, it was seen, had been dis
mounted. The Vali's Palace had been
severely battered, and its walls were
riddled with shot. At 5 o'clock the central
forts ceased- fire, but the Hamidieh 'and
Sultanieh Forts, on the outer fortifications,
kept on firing. The quays were completely
deserted, and a number of fires broke out.
When darkness fell the bombardment
ceased. The bombardment was resumed at
daybreak on Wednesday mprniucr, and was.
of an even heavier nature than the previous
day. The outer forts, however, were in
ruins, and were .no longer able to reply.
The Turks removed the guns to. the heights
aiove the town, and from their new posi
tions reopened fire, but they were dispersed
by shrapnel from the Italian guns, and fled
in 'all directions. All the forts were scon
entirely demolished, and fire broke out in
several military buildings. The first white
flags were then noticed, and the fleet began
to prepare boats in order to land men
trom the warships.' The MHan correspon
dent of The Times telegraphed on Octo
ber 4:— 'Reports on the bombardment of
Tripoli received from. Admiral Aubrey
(the Commander-in-Chief of the Ita
lian naval forces) states fliat the
4£aliao£ spared all tihe consulates,
hospitals; churches, nionastries, and
convents, directing the fire only at the for
tifications, which they were able to do with
relative ease, as the range of tie Turkish
cannon was so inferior to that of the Italian
guns that the ships were able to go near
enough -to take accurate aim. The pro
tracted nature of the bombardment is due
to the extreme care taken to avoid useless
bloodshed, and to a desire to respect the
houses of the non-combat ante and the
mosques.' .'
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