The Progress of the World. 



467 



not suffice to ensure the position of Great 

 lirituin. . . As Tunis cannot be rendered 

 in<iipcndent and the Protectorate prevented 

 from one day or another hn-coming a sove- 

 reignty, it is of great importance that we 

 provide against future occupation of Tripoli 

 bv France by forestalling her in taking 

 possession of that country If we held 

 Tripoli, Biserta would cease to be a 

 menace cither to Italy or Great Britain. 

 We are your necessary allies, and our 

 union guarantees your dominion in Malta 

 and Egypt. Thanks to this union, Italy 

 would no longer have to fear a double and 

 simultaneous military expedition directed 

 against her from Toulon .and Hiserta. 

 Lord Salisbury agreed with this point 

 of view, and is reported to have 

 niiide the following declaration : — 



" The occupation ■ of Tripoli by Italy 

 most be accomplished regardless of what 

 may happen in Kgypt, that is to say, 

 whether Kgypt remain under British con- 

 trol or in ihe hands of the Sultan. The 

 interests of Europe demand this occupation, 

 that llie Mediterranean may be prevented 

 from 'twconiing a French lake. The only 

 point to be further considered is whether 

 the present moment be the best suited for 

 putting this undertaking into execution." 



Crispi fell, and with him his ideas ; 

 otherwise it is quite conceivable 

 that Italy would be our ally, and 

 instead of Italy and Turkey being 

 at war, the two countries might 

 well have both been linked together 

 through Great Britain. Were such 

 an entente possible to-day the Metli- 

 terranean f|ucstion would be settled, 

 and Auslri.i would have no reason 

 for buildinL; further Dreadnoughts. 

 It would be a coup worthy of a 

 great statesman. 



Reproduced hy f'enttissiofi /roll the " Tiiih-^," .///.vco, ] 



Map to illustrate Italian Operations in the /Egean Sea. 



Tho New Phase 



in 



the Turkish War. 



Finding small comfort in the news 

 from the coast of Tripoli, where the 

 Italian army of invasion or occu- 

 pation has made very little pro- 

 gress, and where the Turks and the Arabs arc carrying 

 on a very successful resistance to all attempts to 

 advance into the interior, the Italian Government 

 determined upon a new phase. The Italian fleet seized 

 first the island of Stampalia in the /Kgean Sea, and 

 then further islands, imliiding .Samos. These islands 

 afford excellent bases for operation^ against European 

 Turkey, being no great distance from the Dardiinellcs. 

 l'i)llowii)g on this in< iiisiim into l'"iir()[)can waters an 

 Italian licet shelled the entrance to the Dardanelles on 

 the opening day of the newly-elected Turkish Parlia- 

 ment. Little damage seems to have been done, as 

 indeed is always the case in these encounters between 

 warships and forts, but the attack forced the Turks 



to mine and block the Dardanelles. This was possibly 

 the aim of the Italian Government, and they 

 may well have believed that so serious an in- 

 convenience to international and especially to 

 British and Russian trade would force the Great 

 Powers to put pressure on the Turkish Govern- 

 ment to bring hostilities to an end. The exact 

 understanding existing between Rome and St. 

 Petersburg is the key to the situation, and as yet 

 there is very little light on the question. One thing, 

 however, is clear— lliat tiic Italian plan failed, since 

 no concerted action was taken against Turkey, nor is 

 there likely to be any such tiction. 



Despite the outcry of the grtiin- 



Tho Closinu shippers of this country, and admit- 



the Dardnncllos. l''>K freely that they have lost 



money and contracts by the closing 

 of the Black Sea outlet, there is no question that the 



