military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) (09/21/90)
From: military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) Saturday, 21 September, 1940 The London government officially sanctions the use of Underground stations as bomb shelters; this has been common practice for some time. Daylight raids over Britain become sparse, but the night bombing of London continues. RAF aircraft bomb Italian positions in and near Sidi Barrani. With British approval, the Egyptian government decides not to declare war on Italy. Four cabinet ministers of the Saadist party resign; their party believes that armed resistance to Italy is the only honorable option. Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies is re-elected by a wide margin, and the Labor party becomes the largest in both the House and Senate, but holds a majority in neither. The raising of the 9th Australian Infantry Division is announced. The results of the 1940 U.S. Census are announced; the country's population is estimated at 131,409,881. References: C.Argyle, _Chronology of World War II_ R.Dupuy and T.Dupuy, _The Encyclopedia of Military History_ J.Keegan, ed., _The Times Atlas of the Second World War_ C.Messenger, _Atlas of World War Two_ J.Piekalkiewicz, _Tank War 1939-1940_ C.Salmaggi and A.Pallavisini, _2194 Days of War_ Brig. P.Young, _The World Almanac of World War II_ The New York Times, daily editions Time magazine Newsweek -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker military@att.att.com Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com "You know that the armistice has left us few powers of taking the initiative except as regards our empire. We are going to try to assure it as best we can." - French Foreign Minister Paul Baudoin.