The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-11
TRIP0LI LOST
TO ITALIANS.
TURKSREPORT
Tribesmen Are Said to Have
Bottled Forces Up in
Seaport Towns.
$4OO,O 100000 SPENT;
THOUSANDS KILLED

BERLIN. via London. Dec. l0.--Practi-
caily the whole Of Tripoli has been oc-
cupied by Arabs and Senussi tribesmen.
according to reports received here to-day
from Constantinople. and 1t is said that
the italian forces remaining in the coun-
try have been bottled up in Tripoli and
Benghasi. the only important coast towns
in the region.
According to the reports, the italians
have lost 5000 men killed and have
abandoned large quantities Of arms and
munitions.
II the Italians have been driven from
TripOli as 10 indicated in the Berlin
despatch, 1t means that the campaign
conducted against the Turks for the pos
session of the country and later against
the Moslem natives for its subjugation
at cost of many thousands OF lives and
some $4O0. .OOO. 900 in money has gone FOR
naught.
since the entry Of Italy into the Euro
pean war agents of Turkey and OF the
Central Powers have been negotiating
with the Grand Senussi. the religious
head Of the tribe, for aid against the
Italians in Tripoli and against the Brit
ish In Egypt.
Interior Defencea Aha ndOned.
Early In the present war II was an
nounced in Rome that the entire force
garrsoning the interior OF Tripoii had
been withdrawn and that the ltalian
troops had been concentrated In the CHIEF
towns. At the same time the defences OF
the city OF Tripoli. which had been IN
course Of demolition, were repaired ana
strengthened, barbed wire entanglements
were erected and steps were taken to pro-
tect the city against attack by the trioes-
men.
| The situation of the Italians in Tripoli
has been described as serious for many
months. In the lighting Of last spring
| and summer the Italians were handi-
capped by the frequent deserNon OF the
irregular native troops which they mao
organized for the defence OF the interior
| The rebellion In TriPoli has been at
tributed In Rome to the work OF ger
| man as we'll as OF Turkish agents. Ger
man and Turkish gifts were sent to the
| Senussi, according TO reports, and Ger
| man money was found among the tribes
men The holy war" which the TURK
! !sh Sultan proclaimed at the entry ol
! Turkey into the war as an ally of Ger
many was said to have had much TO dc
with the disaffection among the tribes
, men.
Enver Paaha Caused Attacks.
Enver Pasha, the Turkish Minister oI
| War who led the defence OF Tripo!
against the Italians at the time OF the
Turco-Italian war. and who organized
the Senussi and Bedouin troops on mod
ern lines, is said TO have acquired grea'
influence in the country and IL is through
him that the Turkish activity resulting
IN the present rebellion has come.
Before Italy entered the European
war both Germany and Turkey repeat
edly assured the Italian Government tina
the holy war did not apply to Tripoli
but the Italian Government did not con
slider these assurances satisfactory
The Grand Senuss Ahmed-el-Sherv
has never given up the fight against th'
Italians since the latter first invaded tn.
country. Even when peace between Tur
key and Italy was declared the Grant
Senussi. with the arms and munitions i'm
ported by Turkey. continued the struggle
and II was necessary early In the pres
ent year for the Italians to institut,
against him campaign which met witt
inferior success.