The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-11-03
OPPORTUNITY OF
PRESIDENT GONE
Peace Move Would Show to
Turkey the Meaning OF
Christianity
WAR CORRESPONDENT
DESCRIBES HORRORS
Writing from Tripoli, Tells
of Hundreds Of Dead
Bodies, Smoking
Like incense

NEW YORK, Nov. - ne hon. os-
car Straus former ambassador to Iur-
key and stauncn adherent of the
cause OF universal peace, said tonight
at a dinner OF the Baptist Social Union
that the United states had lost an
opportunity in the Turco-ltalian war
to show the world that under all cir
cumstances II is ready to testify by
it's acts to the advancement of inter
ma tional good will among the nations.
Il regret to see that a great OPP
portunity has been lost said Mr..
Straus. "our President has been 60
ing through the country arguing 1or
arbitration treaties. According to my
way of thinking the cause OF interna-
tional peace would have been i'm
measurably more advanced had our
government taken this opportunity
and offered its good offices to bring
ing the dispute before the Internal
ttonal tribute at The Hague before
war really broke out. This oHer
would not, according to The Hague
treaty, be regarded as an unfriendly
act.
some OF the nations are against
Turkey because her religion Is Mo-
hammedan, and because Italy Is
Christian country" Mr.. Straus i int
ed out. But here is an opportunity
to show Turkey what Cnristianity
means. How much better 1t wouio
be to accept this as an opportunity TO
impress the doctrines of Christianity
,{rvh al
instead of lauding Italy In Its work
of slaughter and ptllage."
Scenes Are Horrible.
PARIS. Nov an. Bossiera, spe-
ciai correspondent OF the Excelsior
writing from Tripoli. Trefaces hts let
ter by saying that he tnstinctively ap.
preciates the fact that Tripoli hal
lust been the theatre Of one Of the
reddest dramas OF military history. Hs
continues:
II cannot rid my eyes of it. l am
still sick and trembling with fever
day and night. With sinister grsndi-
oouence the cannon proclaimed the
ubiquity Of an untiring death. II
SHARED none. But it was not this tina
upset me for We were at war and be-
fore coming here we prepared fol
the groans Of the wounded and ths
sight Of dead. but " no could ever have
imagined what We have had to inoi
lupon--the rush to assassinate. 1h'
hecatombs Of old men. women ant
children. execution by heaps. piles d
managled fiesh smoking under ths
wool OF Burnouses like human in
cense burnt before the ruined ALTA
Of q dearly bought victory"
| II. Bossiera goes on to reeour
| nf which he was ave- wit
ness
| An Arab with eyes full Of veng-
ance muttered. We were four broth
ers: now l am alone. but must hav'
two Italians for each Of my brothers.
Hundreds Shot Down.
| While going away from the cavalr,
post l cam upon a hundred corpses
thrown against a wall, where the.
had been shot down. I hurried ava,
to escape the sight and passed q ne
gro village. A native family was Their
around a burnt out fire where the.
lad been about to eat. They were al
dead. One little girl had throust he
head into q box; SO as not to soc any
thing. Another had fallen back ont
q cactus bush. A small whit dog wa
running about among the ruins stop
ping every onw and turn to uplif
rits head and howl. BuifetE cam
WhiStiing past ana l started away Z
find myself near a prison hospital
The prisoners had revolted killed tn
colonel ard some officera every on
of them had been shot and the wall
were besprinkled with brains am
prints OF hands In blood.
''Whatver way I took to avoi
corpses. I still find them, ever aroun
fires in the middle OF the market plac
within q couple OF hundred yards O
the government palace. His explana
tion Of the miserable business IL tina
1.-THE Italians lost their heads entirely
that sort OF madness had taken hel
of them. Their only excuse was tina
they had come to Tripoli certain Of vi
tory by reason of overwhelming fore,
but they had found O suhtlt foe. The
always felt the unseen presence. hid
ing ready with his dagger. You ca
read the psychology OF dread in almo.
every eye" On the other hand tn
correspondent says that every dea
body still speaks to living Arabs VIII
have vowed vengeance and make tn
Italians pay the debt of blood. Man
a mother, many a bethrothed on
will weep before the end OF this can
paign." is tho propnsy with which h
concluded his letter.