. Italy in North Africa : an account of the Tripoli enterprise . Ben Gashir—all were marked in the south-eastern segment of the half-circle that formed the field of operations. Save for theone expedition to Zanzur, the Italian troops had made nomovement on the western side, and the enemy had shownno signs of activity in that direction. Zanzur seemedempty and lifeless, and Italy had only to stretch a handto grasp it. Gargaresh was practically in Tripoli, underthe very walls of the town, almost within the lines. Corre-spondents used to write of the avamposti at Gargaresh,though in point of fact
. Italy in North Africa : an account of the Tripoli enterprise . Ben Gashir—all were marked in the south-eastern segment of the half-circle that formed the field of operations. Save for theone expedition to Zanzur, the Italian troops had made nomovement on the western side, and the enemy had shownno signs of activity in that direction. Zanzur seemedempty and lifeless, and Italy had only to stretch a handto grasp it. Gargaresh was practically in Tripoli, underthe very walls of the town, almost within the lines. Corre-spondents used to write of the avamposti at Gargaresh,though in point of fact the oasis of that name lay a longtwo miles beyond Fort B., the westernmost point of theItalian position. Still, Gargaresh practically counted aspart of Tripoli. Natives came and went with gardenproduce, and no disturbance had ever threatened. But the centre of gravity was swinging westward. Forthe Turks it was essential that their communications withTunis should be kept open, and it seemed deducible thatthe real theatre of war, so far as the Turkish army was. X ™ m B W o & a PREPARATION ? 125 concerned, would be the western half of Tripolitania proper,including the chain of hills from Gharian to the Tunisborder. The establishment of their headquarters at Azizianot only put them astride the main caravan to the Jebel,it placed them in the Urshefana country, in the midst ofthe strongest of the coast tribes, and from this centre theirinfluence radiated over all the field strategically necessaryto them. The first small indication of the fact that the directionof outlook must be changed was found in a sudden raidupon the inhabitants of Gargaresh. On January 4 a bandof desert Arabs swooped upon the oasis, and carried off allthe supplies they could lay hands on. The performancewas repeated with added emphasis on the following day,and the wretched villagers^ reduced from misery to sheerdestitution, fled lamenting to the Italian lines. Some menhad been killed by the raiders, others w
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