The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1912-01-13
GuN5oATs REFUSE TO sURREN.
DER AND ARE PROMPTLY SUNK
BY HEAVY RRoADsIpEs.
Armed Yacht Captured by Italians,
But Seven Mar Vessels Were Sent
,*a Ts-e'.'t
to Bottom by Well. Aimed Shots
Many Sailors Rescued.

Rome, Jan. 12.-Seven Turkish
gunDoats were srnk and large num-
ners Of Turkish tars were drowned or
killed in the first important naval en-
gagement of the Turko italian war
on the 9TH of January, according to
an official account given out here to-
day.
The battle was fought out on the
he'd Sea. The Turks were preparing
TO convoy military expedition, which
Was to cross Egypt and join the Tur-
klsh forces in Tripoli.
The number of Turkish sailors who
We're drowned was not given out.
After the italian ships had battered
the Turkish war vessels with broad
sloes of shells and projectiles, the
turkish tars swarmed into the sea.
Great numbers of them were picked
up by small craft from the Italian
gunboats
A Turkish yacht in convoy was not
fired upon. She is being sent to
Italy,
The division of Italian cruisers
which has been securing the coasts OF
the Req Sea in search of Turkish war
vessels and ships conveying contra
band destined for the Turkish garri.
sons in the Yemen province in Ara
b1a, encountered the fotilla of Turkish
gunboats and at once opened fire. The
Turks replied, but their feeble arma-
ment succumbed to superior weapons
of the italian war vessels. The fight
was stiff, but soon ended in the N1c-
I tory of the Italians.
Note Issued Yesterday.
A brief official note issued this art
4 ernoon says: "The Italian fleet in the
Red Sea encountered today and de-
stroyed seven Turkish gunboats and
captured Turkish armed yacht. The
Turkish warships offered violent re-
slstance, but no loss was sustained
by the Italians"
The action occurred on Januarv :
outside the bay of Kunfida. a small
walled town with garrison and two
forts about 500 miles north of Alden
on the east coast of the Red Sea.
The italian warships which took
the principal part in the battle were
the cruiser Piemonte and the destroy
ers Garibaldino and Artigliere. The
commander inchief had received or.
ders to destroy or capture the Tur.
klsh gunboats, as advices had been
received that they were Transporting
from Arabia, Turkish troops destined
TO reinforce the Turkish army to Cy-
renalca by way of Egypt.
Refused to Surrender.
AS soon as the italian warships pie
monte, Garibaldino and Artigliere en-
countered the Turkish gunboats a
snort distance out of the bay of Kun
hda they sent shots across their bows
and called on them to surrender.
Inc Turkish vessels gave no sigr
OF compliance. The Italians immedi-
ately opened a terrific fire, throwing
IN hail of shells from their broao
sides.
Inc Turkish gunners replied feebly
but did not succeed in striking the
Italian vessels.
All seven of the Turkish boats were
soon on fire and in a few minutes be-
gan to sink.
Boats were lowered from the ItaI
ian warships, which picked up many
Turkish seamen, but large number
were drowned.
Turk Gunners Incompetent.
During the brief combat the Turk
ish gunners displayed utter incompe-
tence, their small guns being fired
wildly.
Shells from the italian ships were
not directed at the Turkish yacht
Fauvette, which accompanied the
gunboats and she was the only unit
of the Turkish flotilla which was not
destroyed during the fight The Fau
vette is being brought to Rome under
convoy.