The Italians were 500 strong and the French troops, consisting soldiers from Tibestie and Taureg Saharan tribes under French offers and non-commissioned officers, com manded by Lieut-Colonel Colonna Dornano, were greatly outnumbered.
Nevertheless, the Italians immediately withdrew into their fort in the centre of the town leaving the free French to destroy at will the aerodromes, hangers, workshops and other installations, together with a number lof aircraft on the ground.
The French carried on the work destruction unhindered throughout the day, while the Italians remained behind walls of the fort.
The French withdrew at nightfall their work finished, but Lieut-Colonel Dornano had fallen a victim to a sniper's bullet.
There were few French wounded and, they brought back a score of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.