Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-10-05
STORY OF RoMBARDMENT.
Italian Marksmanship Good. and Con-
siderable Damage Done.

London. Oct "A news dispatch
from Rome gives the foil wing ac-
count of the tombardment of Tripoli
1t O'clock yesterday afternoon Vice
Admiral Farayelll signalled to the bat
tleships Giuseppe Garabaldi and Fran
cesco Ferrucio that the bombardment
was about 10 begin. These vessels with
the flagship Benedetto steamed up to
within two kilometres (about mile
and u third of the town. The sea was
fairly calm.
At $50 o'clock the Garibaldi fired the
first shells which were directed at the
governors palace and well placed.
Immediately the palace and the Anne
liza Sultana forts replied with num-
Der of shots from 15-centimetre guns.
The Turkish aim was bad.
The cruiser Varese and the Ferrucio
directed their fire against the forti-
iications at the lighthouse on the
mole which replied with small guns.
Flags were flying over all the con-
sulates. The forts showed Turkish
flags.
After the bombardment had pro-
crossed for one hour shells from the
Farese destroyed the lighthouse, which
collapsed III ruins.
The Italian fire was now becoming
heavier, while that of the forts was
growing feeble. Many Turkish guns
were seen to have been dismounted
The governors palace was riddled
with shot and severely battered The
central forts ceased firing at O'Clock
but the outer forts, Hamidieh and Sui
taua, Kept up the defence Their shots
We're better directed
The quays were deserted. A number
of fires broke out. The bombardme nj
ceased At dark.
During the night the sky glowed with
the ref ction of fires in the town.
The Commandment was resumed this
morning. 1t was heavier than that of yes
terday, but the outer forts had been re
ouced to ruins and We're unable to reply
me Turks removed their guns to tn,
heights beyond the town and reopeneC
hre from there. They We're. however
dispersed by shrapnel from the fleet anC
fl in all directions
The first white flags began TO appear
The Italians are now preparing to lanc
1850 men from the ships.
The fleet was unframed The Turkish
projectiles all fell wide of the battle
ships. There were no casualties in tn,
fleet during the bombardment.
The warships confined their fire as IA
as possible to the forts Of the palac,
and were careful to spare private build
ings. The destruction of the Lighthouse
was necessary because it was adjacent t
the fort which kept up its fire.
Numbers of daring Arabs watched thu
spectacle from the minarets that sur
mount the town.
message from Admiral Thaon Di Rev.
ell says that at times the bombardmeni
appeared more like a shooting competi-
ton. The officers and sailors placed wa
gers on the results of specified gunwork.
In one instance an order was given to
dismantle a particular battery. One OF
the gunners was heard to say:
81 bet can knock down the left turret
at the first shot" When the smoke had
cleared away it was seen that the turret
had disappeared. The same voice behind
the gun spoke again:
Now the right turret' In flash the
second mark was in ruins.
The bombardment was resumed this
morning with the object of completing
the destruction of the batteries. Up to G
Continued on Page Twelve)