ALLIES REJOICE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 May 1943, Page 3

ALLIES REJOICE

OVER NORTH AFRICAN VICTORY JUBILATION IN BRITAIN & RUSSIA. SOMBRE. MUSIC IN BERLIN. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, May 8. Russia, like the rest of the Allied world, is greeting the news from Tunisia with excitement and pleasure. The “Red Star” says: “Our victorious allies have crowned their successes in Africa by a brilliantly-executed operation. The forthcoming blows from our allies on the Continent, jointly with further blows from the Red Army, will provide the final destruction of the common foe.” The “Izvestia” in a leading article says: “Our allies have shown great skill and bravery and a high degree of organisation. The mighty and decisive utilisation of this brilliant achievement is a task of the very near future.” Jubilation is the keynote in all the

British evening papers. The “Standard” points out that the Allies can now be strong at points selected by the High Command; they possess the power to impose their will on the enemy. “The Tunisian victory will send British and American political prestige soaring in every capital from Stockholm to Istanbul,” it adds. The announcement of the capture of Tunis and Bizerta came as a great surprise to the American public. . Only a day or two ago they were being told that bloody fighting was ahead in Tunisia. China has cheered the victory as being likely to mark a turning point in the war. Informed sources expressed the hope that the news might break the dam which held up help for China and turn more attention on the task of crushing Japan. The Government of Iraq has ordered a public holiday in Mosul and Basra to celebrate the victory. The Berlin radio quoted the Nazi Foreign Office’s spokesman as saying: “Whatever the outcome of the battle in Tunisia, it will have no decisive influence on the issue of the war.” Sombre music replaced the usual political commentary after the reading of the Italian communique over the Rome radio. “Tunisia has been termed the advanced defensive bastion of Europe, but it does not constitute an important and decisive factor if this great war is viewed as a whole,” said the radio.