Evening star., 1940-09-23
British Warp|anes
And Ships Attack
Egypt's Coast Again
Martial Law Is Declared
BY Cairo Government;
Sidi Borroni, Mined
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
CAIRO, Egypt. Sept. 23.-The
Mediterranean war for Africa and
the Near East quickened today as
the British Navy and air force raid
ed Italian positions and the neutral
government of Fascist invaded
Egypt declared martial law.
Martial law was invoked as a de-
tense measure by Premier HaSSan
Sabry PaSha. who, however, headed
a new cabinet committed against
immediate war even though an Ital-
ian spearhead is so miles inside the
Egyptian border
A naval communique said a feet
Of warships attacked Italian posi-
tions about newly y-occupied Sidi
Barrani. Egypt, with good results"
early yesterday This was the sec
ond naval bOmbardment of the area
so miles inside the Egyptian from
tier, In an effort to diSorganize Ital-
ian preparations for further ad-
vance across the desert toward Alex
andria and Suez.
British "bombardment" of
Sidi Barrani damaged various
dwellings but caused no caSu-
alties, said an Italian COM
munique. The communique ad-
mitted British submarines were
operating in the Tyrrhenian Sea,
the 300 mile-wide body of water
between the italian toe" Sicily
and Sardinia. and said an
empty steamer" had been SUNK
Sidi Barrani was declared by a
Reuters British news agency dis
patch to have been the scene of
great slaughter among occupying
italian troops when British land
mines were exploded, blowing the
village to bits.
The British previously have re-
ported their fleet returned intact
and unchanged from its first bonn
bardment of Sidi Barrani
Under Siege for Year.
The proclamation of martial law
In Egypt was in line with the gov
ernments determination to defend
the Nile Valley should Italians near
that home of nearly all Egyptians
The country has been under state
of siege" since September l, 1889.
Ahmed Maher PaSha, leader of the
Saadist party, however. was re-
ported to be attempting to bring
the question of war or peace to an
issue before Parliament next week
Four Saadist members of the cab
irfet resigned Saturday over refusal
of the premier to entertain declar-
alton of war now To get the issue
before Parliament. however, the
SaadiSts must induce the premier
to consent to a special session.
Saadists who quit the cabinet de-
clared in a letter that the Italians
penetration of Egyptian territory
and attempts to fortify themselves
there leaves no doubt of their de-
clSlon to conquer il. contrary to
Mussolini's declaration that he has
no intention of aggression against
Egypt"
The sufferings Of war, no matter
how great. were preferable to the
shame and cowardice of counting
on others for her (Egypt's) defense"
said the Saadists.
Qtalian dispatches said political
developments in Egypt were re-
sarded by official Italian quar-
ters as a demonstra ton of lack of
sympathy among Egyptians for
the British causeD
Cabinet Reduced to 10.
The cabinet-reduced from IA
members to 10-still is headed by
Premier Sabry and has the same
members as the last with the eXcep-
ton of the four SaadiSt party men,
bers, who resigned because of the
governments refusal to comply with
their party's demand for an imme-
diate declaration of war.
The new ministry announced in
favor of intensive defense prepara-