TIME RIPE FOR OFFENSIVE

Southland Times, 16 October 1942, Page 5

TIME RIPE FOR OFFENSIVE

GENERAL SMUTS ON VISIT TO LONDON LONDON, October 13. “We have now reached the stage where the defensive can be replaced by the offensive and the war can be prevented from dragging on endlessly,” said General J. C. Smuts, Prime Minister of South Africa, who has arrived in London for consultations and discussions. “So far we have been able with very great difficulty to hold our own defensively against overwhelming odds,” he added. ‘‘The switch-over will determine the outcome of the war and therefore it deserves the most careful planning. We have now reached a stage in the war which calls for a careful review of the course before us. I am convinced that with the resources we command, victory should be ours if we follow the right strategy with the utmost energy. “This is a man-made war and the peace which follows should not prove to be beyond human capacity, or beyond the untapped resources of wisdom, planning, forethought and goodwill which are still the portion of our race. I hope to have an opportunity of exchanging thoughts with our leaders on this most important of all problems —the winning of the peace.” General Smuts said that, like other Dominion Prime Ministers, he had had frequent and pressing invitations from Mr Churchill to visit London. He had not come earlier because of circumstances beyond his control. He was, indeed, peculiarly tied down by his duties in South Africa, where the political situation was very different from that in the other Dominions. However, the position in South Africa had now considerably eased and his talks with Mr Churchill in Egypt in August had made it clear that it might be of some advantage to have further talks in Lond°Mr Churchill announced that during his stay General Smuts would address a joint meeting of both House of Parliament. His speech would be broadcast.