VICTORY IN SIGHT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 June 1943, Page 3

VICTORY IN SIGHT

BUT MAIN STRUGGLE STILL TO COME ON.CONTINENT OF EUROPE. SPEECH BY GENERAL SMUTS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June 26. General Smuts, speaking in Johannesburg, said he knew now. that we could win, but also that winning might mean some of the heaviest land light-| ing of the whole war. Even if the desperate Nazi and Fascist leaders had lost all hope of victory, as they probably had, they would continub to fight for a state of universal exhaustion, stalemate, and a compromise peace. “Victory complete and unconditiona is in sight,” said General Smuts. But the main struggle for it is on the Con’tinent of Europe and is still to come—this year, and perhaps to be continued to a conclusion next year. For that struggle the Allies are marshalling ah their manpower and material resources. The great hour is approaching. There is a hush of expectancy in men’s hearts. Immense issues are at stake.”

Appealing to more South Africans not to rest content with cleaning up Africa, but to follow the tide of war across the Mediterranean to the final decisive European fronts. General Smuts declared: “Europe calls. Our Springbok prisoners in Italy call us to come and fetch them. We must answer the call, not only of our comrades, but also of the small.nations who are now victims of Nazi oppression. The cause of freedom is indivisible and will not be won finally anywhere till it is won everywhere.”