Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-03
Italians Holding Up Press
Dispatches to the Extent
That Only the Most Con-
hicting Reports Received.
TURKS SAID TO HAVE
ABANDONED TRIPOLI
Report From Beleagured
Town Says Italians Have
Driven Out Enemy, Who
Joined Arabs in Desert.

Turko-ItaIian war news today Is
the attempted mediation OF Ger
many, the success Of which ap-
pears more probable In the light
Of the statement made at the Ger
man foreign office today that re-
port that the German ambassador
At constantinopIe had presented
an italian proposal for peace was
"premature," indicating THAT such
proposals were expected.
Cable communication with
TrlpoII remains cut off, but the
city had not been bombarded up to
Saturday midnight, according to
refugees arriving in Malta this
morning. This appears to confirm
the report from Italy that the bonn
bardment was delayed pending
peace proposals.
On the other hand dispatch
from constantinopIe says that
FethI Pasha, formerly Turkish
minister to Servia, has been
named commander Of the troops
mobilizina to defend the coast Of
the Adriatic. ,.s Y,
A dispatch from the Island OF
Corfu, OF the Albanian coast, says
that two Turkish torpedo boats
were sunk and third captured
off Gumenitzta by an Italian
patrolIing fleet. a seri-offlciai
statement from Athens says that
Greece has been notified by Con-
stantinople that the, Turkish mill
tary movements on the frontier
are not directed against Greece.
Il 10 reported from Malta that
British cruiser received wireless
dispatch saying that TripoIi had
been occupied by the Italians.
London, Oct. q Strict Italial
censorship is keeping the world IN tn
lark in regard to the progress Q
events in the Mediterranean.
From Italy itself, Tripoli, Turkey
and the seas where the Italian nav.
Is operating, conflicting reports con
,inue to come.
One cablegram announced definitel.
that Tripoli had been bombarded an,
occupied. Another said that no attacl
On the city had been made. Only on
hing is certain and that is that tn
italians had not attacked the town VI
TO .mid3ight Saturday, for had the
done so the guns would have beel
heard on the steamer Castlegartl
which left Tripoli shortly before tha
hour and arrived at Malta this morn
ing.
The reports as to the situation a
Preseva are equally conflicting. TurF
Lsh officials here confirm a new
dispatch saying that the forts ha
been destroyed and 1,600 troops lane
ed. While Italy gives an emphatl
denial of the report, saying that tn
italian government has no intention Q
resorting to acts against the territoria
status OF Turkey in Europe.
1t is believed that what actuall
happened was that the Turkish We!
sells in the vicinity are scattered an
the forts destroyed to preven
raids upon the Italian coast shiI
ping. Probably this was sufficient TO
the population, as one cable says tha
the telegraph. operators deserted tn
place as soon as the bombardment wa
commenced.
Europe is greatly relieved at the r.
ceipt of news that Turkey has assure
Greece that, it has no intention OF q
tackine her, as has been rumored.
The success Of the Italian blockad
Of the Tripolitan coast which extend
from Tunis to Egypt and Pervesa {
the seas is shown In the arrival OF tw
captured Turkish transports 8
Taranto and Bridisi, respectively.
The reports OF the capture of Turl
Ish torpedo boats come from severe
sources. Probably they all refer t
those engaged OF Prevesa. The in
preston prevails that the hostilitie
will be OF brief duration. 1t Is b.
lieved that Turkey, finding herself III
able to despatch troops to Tripod
will accept the mediation of German!
italians Enter TripoII.
Tripoli, Oct. with the age-wor
walls of the city tumbling about thei
ears and the Italian troops drawn
ever nearer under the protecting fir
of the battelships, the Turkish garriso
of Tripoli Sunday evacuated the cit
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