to it some days ago. There can surely be few parallels in history to the indifference towards the opinion and conscience of civilised States which the aggressor has shown in entering on this quarrel.
But was the aggressor more culpable than the accessories before the fact, who, for their own selfish ends, acquiesced in the "crime?"
The Daily News editorial of September 30 added prophecy to its outspokenness:
Thus opens—it said—the first war which French action in Morocco has launched upon Europe; the first, but who knows whether it will be the last?
It was the precursor of Armageddon, but when Armageddon came the Daily News forgot, and concluded that it was a holy war.
Meantime enthusiasm ran high in Italy. Patriotic demonstrations were held in many of the principal cities. Bishops issued pastoral letters declaring the war necessary to uphold the national prestige and honour. But these sentiments were not altogether universal. The Prince of Teano, Deputy of Rome, who knew more of Tripoli than any living Italian, denounced the Government's proceeding as "an act of criminal political brigandage, which would cripple the prosperity of the nation for the exclusive advantage of a few clerical capitalists." Mario Borsa, the well-known journalist, described it as a "raid pure and simple, not excused by the shadow of a pretext; it is an act of military violence." How the Italian ultimatum impressed foreigners residing in Tripoli, may be estimated from the letter which Mr. Richard Norton, the director of the American excavation party at Cyrene, wrote to the Times, in the course of which he said:
The reasons which Italy gives to show that she has suffered desperate wrongs at the hands of the Turks have been greeted in Tripoli with the ridicule they deserve… No, Sir, let the Italian Government grab Tripoli if they are able, but let them at least cease to steal the laurels of Gilbert and Sullivan by such lists of grievances as they have put before us.
In the opening days of October, the Italian fleet bombarded Tripoli town and Benghasi. At the former place practically no resistance was offered and little damage was done, the Turkish garrison retiring inland. At Benghasi the bombardment killed some three hundred civilians. The Turkish Government sent telegrams of protest to all the Parliaments of the world, to the various
