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Show ITALIANS SM IB BOATS SURPRISE FLOTILLA RETURNING FROM IONIAN SEA AND DESTROY DE-STROY THREE VESSELS. A Fourth Vessel Escaped From Italian Ital-ian Squadron by Hoisting a Foreign For-eign Flag Unsuccessful Attempt At-tempt to Recapture Tripoli. London. A dispatch to a London Lon-don news agency from Peru sitya the Turkish torpedo boats Tokat, llamld, Abad, Alpagut and Antalll, while returning re-turning from the Ionian sen, were surprised by an Italian suadron near Mytllcne, October 9. A smart engagement followed anil three torpedo bout a were severely damaged and sunk. Th fourth escaped es-caped by hoisting u foreign flag. Trljoll. Turku apparently do not intend to abandon Tripoli to the Italians Ital-ians without further reactance. For several days horsemen have been re-connolterlng re-connolterlng In the vicinity of Italian outposts. Several times at night they have been discovered by tuo searchlight of the warships ami shells drove them back Into the hills. About 1 o'clock Tuesday morning about 3ooo Turkish troops with field guns were discovered advancing in two columns with the evident intention inten-tion of recapturing the town. A large body f na!iv. marched with the PRINCE THOMAS. Commanding the Italian Navy. troops, and presented a formidable srray. The Italian commander, however, how-ever, had an intimation that such an sttempt probably would be made, and his men were prepared. The Italian guns were well placed, and the Turks were met with a heavy artillery and rifle Are, to which they replied with equal energy. It was moonlight and the fleet turned the searchlights on the contending forces. When the engagement was at Its height, the battleships and cruisers Joined in with the smaller batteries, directing the shells to cover the ttalian'f ront and flank. For more than an hour the firing on shore was continuous, but about 2 o'clock it ceased. The. Turks retired re-tired in good oNer, although It is re ported they suffered heavy loss. Another body of Turks tried to turn !he Italian eastern flank, but without nircess. The Italian casualties were slight. |