Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-10-06
PLAY HAVOC AMONG TURKS.
Italian Fleet Continues to Bombard
Tripoli.

Djerba, Tunis, October 4.-Tripoli
has been bombarded twice by the
Italian fleet. The first shot was fired
shortly after o'clock yesterday af-
ternoon. Shelling was resumed early
this morning after a quiet night.
There was a steady but slow fire from
the warships until dusk last evening
and shots also came from the forts in
the towns. The French steamer Ia
fana took a delegation from Djerba
to the scene of hostilities. Among the
party was the French consul general,
M. Leon, who made several ineffec-
, tual attempts to land. The Tafana was
stopped about ten miles from Tripoli
| by a boat from the cruiser Varese,
which ordered her to return, but she
remained for more than an hour, even
creeping In closer to the blockaded
town.
The white buildings of Tripoli could
be plainly seen and the whole field Of
operations was unfolded before the
watchers. Officers of the Varese ex-
planned that the battle had been de-
layed because Admiral Aubrey, COM
mander OF the Italian fleet, had re-
ceived a request from the Tripoli gar
rison for another days grace, and
gave the garrison an extra few hours.
The battleship Benedetto Brin and
armored cruisers Giuseppe Garibaldi
and Francesca Ferrucio drew up In
line of the harbor There were no
small craft in the battle line and the
Varese stood to keep back intruders.
There was no sign Of life In the
ely. which appeared deserted. but the
Turkish flag flew from the castle and
forts. The first shots were directed
toward Charchatti fort and later Ker-
shells burst over Tripoli the garrison
seemed to awake. 1t returned the
fire with vigor and energy. A
heavy cannonade was kept up on
both sides for a few minutes, and
then firing became desultory.
So far as could be seen, no war
ship was hit.
Vice Admiral Faravelli at o'clock
ordered his ships to cease firing to
permit the town to surrender, but
no sign was given. and after few
minutes the ships began again. This
time great havoc was wrought. For
tifications were razed. the forts suf-
fered severely and the lighthouse to
the northwest was destroyed by shells
from the Garibaldi. There were no
means Of knowing what the loss Of
life was in Tripoli, but ample oppor-
tunity was given the defenders to es-
cape. When the Tafana left the scene
no landing had been attempted by
the Italians, and 1t was feared that
during the night the town would be
pillaged by nomad Arabs, who had
been lowering in the vicinity.
Early today the first division of the
italian fleet under Admiral Faravelli
resumed the bombardment. The Turk
ish garrison occupied a position be-
hind the forts, and responded with a
fusillade, which fell short The Ital-
ian commander endeavored to avoid
damaging private dwellings, but
some of them were destroyed and
the governors palace and the three
forts at the entrance of the port are
In ruins. The consulates and churches
have not been damaged.
Before commencing the lombard
ment Of Tripoli the Italian squad
ron removed all mines and made a
careful revision of the photographic
chart, to insure safety to the coming
transports. This operation lasted
several days and probably explains
the real reason for the delay in the
bombardment
Four Italian officers have come to
Djerba and are proceeding overland
toward Tripoli on reconnoitering
expedition, as the Arabs are expected
to offer stubborn resistance to the
occupation Of the vilayet.