The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-10-07
FIRE upon town
Italians Bernhard Tripe|i Wien Trrls
Refuse to Surrender.
RESISTED TO THE LAST


Have Stood by Pieces After Demol-
ition of Forts----IOwn Deserted by
People and Many Houses Destroy
ed by the Firing.
Tripoli has been bonn barded twice
Jy the Italian fleet. The first shot
was fred shortly after three o'clock
"Wednesday afternoon. Shelling was
resumed early Thursday morning af-
ter quiet night. There was a stea-
dy but slow fire from the war ships
until dusk Wednesday evening, and
shots also came from the forts in
the town.
The French steamer Tafana took a
delegation from Dlerba to the scene
of the hostilities. Among the party
Was the French consul general, M.
Leon, who made several Intellectual
attempts to land. The Tafana was
stopped about ten miles from Trip
oil by a boat from the cruiser Var
ese, which ordered her to return,
but she remained for more than an
hour, even creeping in closer to the
blcckaded town.
The white buildings Of Tripoli were
plainly seen and the whole field Of
operations was unfolded before the
watchers. Officers of the Varese
found that the battle had been delay
ed because Admiral Aubrey, COM
mauder of the Italian fleet, had re-
ceived a request from the Tripoli
garrison for another days grace and
gave the garrison an extra few hours.
The battleship Beredetto Brin and
armored cruisers Giuseppe Garibaldi
and Francesca Ferruccio drew up in
line in the harbor. There were no
small craft in the battle line and the
Varese stood off to keep back in
truders.
There was no sign of life in the
city, which appeared deserted, but
the Turkish flag flew from the cas-
tie and forts. The first shots were
directed toward Chrcehatetti fort
and later Kerekerche fort was she'll
ed AS the first shells burst over
Tripoli the garrison seemed to. be
awakened. 1t returned the fire with
vigor and energy. A heavy cannon
ade was kept up on both sides for a
few minutes and then firing became
desultory. So far as could be seem
no warship was hit. Vice Admiral
Faravelli at four o'clock ordered his
ships to cease firing to permit the
town 10 surrender, but no sign was
given, and after a few minutes the
ships began again.
This time great havoc was wrought
and the Notifications were razed, the.
forts suffered severely and the light,
house to the northwest was Destroy
ed by shells from the GaribaIdi-
i There was no means Of knowing
the loss of life in Tripoli, but ample
opportunity was given the defenders
to escape. When the Tafana left
the scene no landing had been at
tempted by the Italian fleet, and it
was feared that during the night the
town would be pillaged by nomad
Arabs, who had been lowering in the
vicinity.
Early Thursday the first division
of the italian fleet, under Admiral
Faravelli, resumed the bombardment.
The Turkish garrison occupied pos
iton behind the forts and responded
With a fusillade which fell short.
The Italian commander endeavOred
to avoid damaging private dwellings,
bat some of them were destroyed,
and the governors palace and the
three forts at the entrance OF tho
port are in ruins. The consulates
and churches have not been damaged.
The Italian flag floats over Sui
tania fort at Tripoli, which is occu-
pied by landing parties. Part Of tho
feet is anchored in the harbor and
! the warshirs lie a short distance
from the dfsmantlcd Notifications.
Few bodies Of Turks have been found
Of The forts, and apparently no great
among the ruins Of the forts. and ap-
parently no great number Of Turks
cwfe killed by the bombardment.
According to a Constantinople re-
pert. not yet confirmed, the Italian
warships Thursday bombarded Ben
gha2i and Derna. Various rumors
concerning a naval engagement in
Turkish waters, an attack against
Mv.ine and the blowing up the ltal-
ian battleship Conte di Cavour at
Tripo!i have not yet been confirmed
from any quarter