New-York tribune., 1912-02-25
beirut SHELLED;; 60 DIE.
italian Warships' Fire WOUNDS
Many-Gunboats Sunk.
AMERICAN COLLEGE SAFE
Professors, Missionaries and
Students Unharmed-People
Flee to Hills.

Der Of others. They also sank a numper
of small Turkish gunboats anchored In
the port. A Turkish cruiser and torpedo
boat at anchor in the port were also
totally destroyed by the firing.
Appearing suddenly off the port the
commanders Of the Italian gunboat Vol
turno and the armored cruiser Giuseppe
Garibaldi sent to the authorities a per-
emptory demand for the surrender OF
the Turkish gunboats in the harbor.
Before the provincial Governor could
deliver his reply to the italian COM
manders or ask for time to negotiate the
cruisers opened devastating fire.
In a short time the Turkish gunboats
in the harbor were disabled and in
sinking condition. The custom house
was greatly damaged, and other build
ings suffered severely.
A great number OF people who came
within the zone Of fire while passing
along the streets were slaughtered. A
panic set in, and the people fed in droves
toward the Lebanon hills.
The Syrian Protestant College, whose
founder and president emeritus is the
Rev. DR.. Daniel Bliss, is safe. None
of the American institutions in the city
suffered any injury from the explosion
of the shells. The professors, mission
aries, students and employees are all safe
The Rev. Howard S. Bliss, son Of the
founder OF the Syrian Protestant Col
lege, Is president in actual charge of all
the work of the institution, where con-
siderable CONSERVATION was felt when
the Italian vessels opened fire. There
was almost n panic among the Inmates,
but their fears subsided when It was
discovered that the gunners were not
aiming at the building.
Constantinople, Feb 24.-According TO
the latest dispatches from Beirut, the
forts. the corvette Avnlllah and tor
pedo boat replied to the Italian fire. The
Avnillah was struck and soon was N
flames. The torpedo boat was sunk. No
fewer than thirty persons were killed.
two OF the dead, IL is believed. being
Russian subjects. About fifty persons
were wounded. Several of the shells
damaged the offices OF the Ottoman
Bank.
During the panic which followed the
bombardment a mob forced the gov
ernment armory and secured arms. The
Italian warships at tho conclusion OF the
bombardment steamed away.
The news OF tho bombardment pro-
duced panic on the Bourse, resulting in
fall OF Turkish unified bonds. II Is
believed that the Italians will continue
their attacks on other coast towns.
Neither Of the Turkish vessels was
under steam at the time, and. according
20 tho Governors dispatch. the Italian
vessels opened fire without giving any
time for reply 10 be made to their de-
mand for the surrender OF the Turkish
vessels.
Official circles here are Of the opinion
that the object of the Italians in bonn
harding Beirut was 10 provoke Moslem
fanaticlsm and thus bring about mas
sacre Of the Christians In Beirut.
The Turkish government to-day sent a
circular TO the powers declaring It's de-
termination to close the Dardanelles and
TO expel all Italians Of whatever class
from Turkey in consequence of the Ital-
ian naval activity In the Levant.
Paris, Feb. 24.-The italian warships
we're seen cruising about outside Beirut
last night. according to dispatch from
the special correspondent OF La Lib
erte." The admiral IN command, when
he sent In kis ultimatum to tho Gov
ernor demanding the surrender Of the
Turkish gunboat and destroyer, anchored
i'm the roadstead and gave Il time limit
of only three hours for the reply.
AS the Turkish authorities were not
able to reply in that time the Italian
ships opened fire on the port at o'clock
I'm the morning. The city itself appears
to have suffered only slight damage.
A large number OF foreign vessels I'm
the harbor as we'll as the foreign con-
sulates and business houses hoisted their
national flags when the firing began.
The bombardment OF Beirut by the Ital-
ians Is the first sign OF italian naval ac'
tlvity In the Mediterranean for long
period, and appears 10 be part Of the new
plan OF campaign announced recently by
the Italian government. The city has only
q small Turkish garrison, consisting or 900
infantry. $50 cavalry and detachments OF
artillery and engineers. II Is not strongly
fortified
In Beirut, which is the most important
commercial city IN Syria, there is "A large
foreign population. most OF whom are
Christians, and there arc thirty-eight
churches OF various Christian denomina-
tions In the town.
The American Presbyterian Mission has
been active in Beirut for nearly century.
II possesses church, sunday school, a.
girls school and a printing Office in the
city itself. where IL publishes weekly
newspaper and monthly magazine
Spread over the province are about one
hundred and iifty other schools. connected
with American missions, with many thou
sands OF pupils. Three missionaries with
their wives, one bachelor missionary and
Ave women missionaries are engaged In the
work OF the society IN Syria.
The Seventh Day Adventist Mission Board
has four missionaries In the country, while
belonging to the Syrian Protestant College
in the City OF Beirut. an institution gen
orally known as the American College,
there are 760 students, under the instruc-
tion OF 80 professors. 30 Of whom are Amer
citlranR