Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-09
THE WAR IN TR|POL|
Letters Received Here Throw
Light on Situation.
ARABS WILL NEVER YIELD
Opinion of British Officer Italian Sol
diers Lack in Bravery.
MESSAGES FROM THE SKIES
Desert Men Urged in Missives Drop
/ ped From Aeroplanes to
Stop Fighting Italy.
MESSAGES FROM THE SKIES

| Letters recently received from TunIs by
Frank Edward Johnson, who has been
spending the winter here, tell of an Arab
boycott of all tramways (troleys) in
Tunis. The origin Of this boycott dates
back to about a month ago. Most of the
motormen are Siclians, and the trolleys
run through very narrow streets. Two
small Arab children were run over and
killed within short time of each other.
Owing to the tremendous feeling between
the Italians and the Arabs in Tunsia. the
Arabs claimed that these children were
killed on purpose, and demanded that
all Italian motormen be dismissed by the
| transportation companies.
Done Without Violence.
This was not done, and since then no
Arab, rich or poor, has put his foot inside
Of a. trolley car. There has been no dem
onstration, no bad words, but dignifled
and determined boycott. AS this has not
done much good, a new boycott has been
planned and carried out that is expected
to embarrass the TuniSian government
greatly, namely, the boycottage of all
French or Tunisian banknotes. About
four weeks time has been given, so that
all cities, towns and villages throughout
Tunisia can be notified and the boycott
go into effect on the same date. Today
nothing but silver, copper and gold Will
be accepted
Butterflies From the Sky"
Here are two extracts from letter
dated Fondouk de Ben Gachir. and print
ed in Tunisian papers:
IAN aeroplane passed over several Of
our encampments and we were surprised
to see thrown from them several pack
ages The Arabs Immediately threw them
selves on these and brought back to the
head Of their camp their find. These
packa ges contained sheets of paper. print
ed in Arabic, containing a manifesto from
the Italians which runs as follows:
To the Arab people. to the inhabitants
Of this country: The Italian government
in taking this country has not thought
alone Of its own interests. 1t has come
to assure you of your existence. and to
save you from the hand of the Turks,
who are your enemies as we'll as ours.
Detach yourselves from these people who
pretend to be your friends and are only
trying to destroy You. The Turks have
killed your chiefs. Having seen your pitt
able state. we came upon you to deliver
you from their yoke. We shall not recruit
soldiers nor policemen (gendarmes) among
you. There will be no CONSUMPTION and
We shall only take from YOU small tax.
We wish that you should be happy. We
wish also for your prosperity. we will
help you in your agriculture and will give
you grain to sow and cattle.
Urged to Desert the Turks.
Separate yourselves from the Turks
and do not fight against us. Do not let
yourselves be misled by liars. who, they
tell us, have told you that we have killed
your women and your children at Meu-
shille, near the town of Tripou. Never
have we done this. We have only exc
cuted those who have attacked and killed
our soldiers. We respect your religion,
we like it. You can hive in good accord
with US.
1.-The Arab chiefs have made the fol-
lowing reflections: DO the Italians think
honey? Have We not seen with our own
eyes the massacre of our wives and our
children? Have we not seen them cut
down our palm trees that had taken gen.
eratiOns to grow? Did they not lombard
100 empty houses or houses occupied only
by innocent people? The nation that has
committed such acts as these cannot be-
lieve that we will be persuaded to live in
accord with her. Are they not now trying
to make war with ink and paper? CThis
in reference to their handbills thrown
down from aeroplanes.) We shall await
them on the field Of battle"
English Army Officers Opinion.
A reporter Of the Intransigeant of Paris
lately interviewed, at Malta, Maj. Artemis
Barthurst of the English army. who went
to join the Turkish forces outside the
town Of Tripol at the beginning of the
hostilities. He was almost Immediately
assigned to the position of chief of division
Of scouts. He arrived at Malta about
two weeks ago. Speaking Of the Italian
army, the major says: ''fhe Italian otri-
GERS are excellent; they love their calling
and know it thoroughly, but all their
qualities have been made useless because
the commander-in-chief and his staff do
not allow them the least initiative and
have proved themselves lacking in deci-
sion. II the officers are good l cannot
say the same Of the soldiers.
1t Is very possible that in European
war they would show themselves as cour-
ageous as the average soldiers of con-
tinental army.
Opposed to the Turks and the Arabs
that are surrounding Tripoli the Italian
soldiers can do nothing. They cannot be
compared with their adversaries, and the
reason is very simple. The Italian SOL
diers are afraid
Arabs Wonderfully Courageous.
Speaking later about the Arabs, he said: