24 TURCO-ITALIAN WAR 



Heavy rain fell from November i3th onward, adding greatly to the discomfort of 

 the troops and increasing the difficulty of operations. 



During this period the aeroplanes had done good service, in spite of violent winds; 

 the dirigibles had, however, been reshipped to Italy for repairs owing to damage suffered 

 in a storm in December 1911. 



Meanwhile in Cyrenaica the Turks had attacked Benghazi on the night of December 

 loth and nth and Derna on December i6th and 26th. On the latter occasion the 

 Italians lost 4 killed and 77 wounded. In January Enver Bey, who had now assumed 

 command of the Turks in this quarter, took up a central position near Benghazi, and 

 tried to entice the Italians beyond the range of the ships' guns. Additional reinforce- 

 ments (including one brigade 4th Division and a combined Brigade) reached Cyrenaica 

 in November and December 1911. 



The total number of Italian troops in Africa at the end of 1911 had risen to 100,000 

 distributed approximately as follows: 



Battalions. Squadrons. Batteries. 

 Tripoli and Ain Zara ... . . . 37 6 18 



Horns 

 Benghazi 

 Derna 

 Tobruk 



18 2 5 



13 i 3 



6 





. . 



79 9 30 



In addition 4 battalions, 2 squadrons and 10 batteries were awaiting embarkation at 

 Naples. A battalion of Askaris from Eritrea reached Tripoli early in February 191-2. 



The Turks and Arabs combined were estimated at 12,000 round Tripoli and 10,000 

 to 20,000 in Cyrenaica. 



The Winter of iQii-i2. After the action of Bir Tobras the war entered on a new 

 phase, which lasted till April 1912. Except for local enterprises the Italians remained 

 on the defensive on land, allowing the enemy to waste his strength in attacking their 

 entrenchments. These attacks were pressed with great vigour and sometimes succeeded 

 against outlying works, but were always repulsed in the end with heavy loss to the 

 assailants. The only exception to this policy was an attempt to occupy Zuara with 

 troops of the loth Brigade from Italy. The town was bombarded on the i7th of Janu- 

 ary, but no landing could be effected owing to the rough weather and to the opposition 

 of the Turks entrenched on the beach. 



The seizure of the French vessels " Manouba" and " Carthage " by Italian warships 

 January i6th and i8th, on suspicion of carrying contraband and combatants, evoked 

 a protest from France; Italy finally gave way and released the vessels. 



On January i8th and igth the defensive perimeter of Tripoli was extended by the 

 occupation of Gargaresch; on February 27th the heights of Merkeb, two miles south-east 

 of Horns, were captured by the Italians and held in spite of efforts by the Turks to retake 

 them on February 28th and March sth and 6th. On February nth and again on March 

 3d vigorous attacks were made on the Italian lines at Derna; on the lattef- occasion Enver 

 Bey is said to have been wounded. Marsa Tobruk was attacked on February 23d and 

 again on March nth. 



On March 1 2th a brilliant success was gained by General Ameglio over a strong force 

 of the enemy assembled near the Fojat oasis within range of the defences of Benghazi. 

 The attack was carried out by two columns supported by heavy artillery; the enemy 

 were completely defeated, losing 400 killed. The Italians lost 29 killed and 62 wounded. 

 This victory earned General Ameglio a step in rank. 



Meanwhile, on February 23d, Italian cruisers had appeared off Beirut and had 

 sunk two small Turkish warships which were in the port. This step was, perhaps, in- 

 tended as a warning that Italy would extend her sphere of operations if peace were not 

 concluded. 



Operations in the Red Sea. The Italian operations in the Red Sea were directed to 

 neutralising the Turkish gun boats in this sea, and, indirectly, to putting pressure on 



