New-York tribune., 1912-01-13
TURKISH WARSH|PS SUNK
Seven Vessels Burn and Founder
in Severe Naval Fight.
VICTORY AT SEA FOR ITALY
Yacht Captured in Engagement
To Be Sent Under Con-
voy to Rome.


voy to Rome.
Roma Ian. 12-The first important naval
battle in the Turco-Ttalian war occurred on
January : in the Red Sea outside the Bay
Of Kunfda, a small walled town Of Arabia
with a garrison and two forts about five
hundred miles north Of Alden. An Italian
cruiser squadron fought and sank seven
Turkish gunboats after a sharp conflict
4 large number Of Turkish seamen went
down with their ships. but others were res
cued hy boats from the Italian warships. A
turkish yacht was captured.
The italian varships which took the prin-
cipaI part i'm the battle were the cruiser
Pien1onte and the destroyers Garabaldino
and ArtigIiere The commander in chief
had received orders to destroy or capture
the Turkish gunboats, as advices had been
received that they were transporting from
Arabia Turkish troops destined to reinforce
the Turkish army in Cyrenaica by way Of
Egypt.
As soon as the Italian warships encoun-
tered the Turkish gunboats a short distance
outside the Bar Of Kunfida they sent
shots across the enemys bows ann called
on the vessels To surrender
The Turkish warships gave no signs OF
compliance and the Italians Immediately
opened a severe, fire-throwing In hail OF
shells from their broadsdes.
The Turkish gunners replied foeblv, and
did not succeed in striking the Italian YES
sells All seven OF the Turkish boats were
soon on fire, and I'm a few minutes began
to sink
Boats lowered from tho Italian warship'
picked up many Turkish seamen. but
large number were drowned.
During the brief combat the Turkish
Cunners displayed extreme incompetence
their small guns being fred wildly.
The shells from the Italian ships were
not directed at the Turkish yacht Fau-
yctte. which accompanied the gunboat-
and she was the only unit Of the Turkish
hotilla which was not destroyed during
the nght. The Fauvette is being brought
to Rome under convoy.
The Italian warshlps cruising IN the Re-
Sea since the beginning Of the war IN
clude the third class cruisers Piemonto
Calahria and Puglia and a noula OF de-
stroyers Massowa, in the ltall2n colony
Of Fritrea, Is the base from which theS
operate on several occasions they have
bombarded villages and forts along th'
Arabian coast which they search day au'
night for Coutrabaud ships and for 'vi
doncos of concentration of Turkish
troops. The shellng Of Sh'Ik Said, Mocha
and Akahah has been reported on vario.:
occasions within the last few weeks.
The Identity Of the Turkish Cunboats
sunk to-day in the Red Sea by the Italian
feet viii not be asrertainahle until further
reports Of the engagement are forwarded
by the Italian commando.
Turkey possessed at the beginning ~ th'
war twcnty-four cruising ships of various
rla eses The torpedo cruisers Peik-i-SheV'
kct Eerk-l-Satvet and Pelcuk-i-D"ria, OF
-75 tons disbursement. IN" dispatch yesse
Mcrmcris. A. tons. tie dcstrcycrs Aintah
Barra. Gukjcdah. Malatla. Ncrchehir
Tachkcuprln and Refadle Of .l5 tons each
the Zuhof and the Kidil-ul- Bahir, Of 81
tons each. the Castamon! and the Nosgad
OF Isj tons each the Barikaizdn'r. the
Nourilbahar and five others Of the same
class. AL about lss tons. and the seyad and
the Frat. Of 80 tons. composed the whole
list They are armed with small guns
ranging down from fl-lnch krupp guns tc
onc-pounder guns, but all carried machine
guns. Their speed ranges from ten tc
twenty-five kTots.
London. Jan. l2-Thc Turkish vessels de-
stroyed hy the Italian warshps were those
which took refuge at Sucz several weeks
ago. according 10 a dispatch 10 news
agency from Rome. As a result OF protests
by Italy, the dispatch adds. the Egyptian
authorities dIsarmed the vessels. and the
Turkish commander subsequently obtained
permission 20 leave While departing, the
notlla WAS oyertaken by the Italian way
ships and sunk.