EGYPT'S ATTITUDE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24410, 23 September 1940, Page 6

EGYPT'S ATTITUDE

ENTRY INTO WAR PROBABLE CAIRO, Sept. 21. (Received Sept. 22, at 11 p.m.) As the R.A.F., artillery and warships relentlessly pound Marshal Graziani's supply columns west of Sidi Barrani, Egyptian party leaders continue the conferences with the Government with regard to a declaration of war. Ahmed Maher, the leader of the Saadist Party and Speaker in.the Chamber, is heading the campaign for Egypt's entry into the war, and in a speech said: "The enemy has invaded our country and attacked our children. We cannot be onlookers and must disregard our own strength and stand beside our strong ally, whose mighty fleet and mighty air force have astounded the world! They have proved able to frustrate the enemy and confound him."

The military communique states: There is no change in the situation in Egypt. Anti-aircraft guns at Mersa Matruh brought down a raider. The R.A.F. communique says: "We raided grounded aircraft at Menastir in the Western Desert and caused considerable damage. An enemy plane which flew into a bursting bomb is believed to have been destroyed. We damaged a concentration of motor transport at Sidi Barrani.

" The enemy raided Mersa Matruh and caused slight damage. We successfully bombed Diredawa and Berbera, and twice attacked the Gura aerodrome and set fire to workshops. We bombed a military post at Mersa Taclai on the coast of Eritrea, causing severe damage. Italian planes ineffectually attempted to bomb the British Fleei at Alexandria early this morning, unloading explosives against the port area. All the bombs fell harmlessly into the sea and the planes were forced back after a 45-minute alarm.