TIME HAS COME

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 July 1943, Page 3

TIME HAS COME

TO CARRY WAR INTO ITALY & EUROPE MONTGOMERY’S CONFIDENT DECLARATION.. IN MESSAGE TO HIS TROOPS. LONDON, July 14. '‘The time has now come to carry the war into Europe and into the continent of Europe; the Italian overseas empire has been exterminated, and we will now deal with the home country,” declared General Montgomery, in a message to the British and Dominion forces under his command before the invasion of Sicily. “To the Eighth Army,” he continued, “has been given the great honour of representing the British Empire in the Allied force which is now to carry out this task, and on our left will be our American allies,” he stated. “Together we will'set about the Italians in their own country in no uncertain way. They came into this war to suit themselves, and they must take the consequences. They asked for it, and now they will get it. The task in front of us is not easy, but it is not so difficult as many we have had in the past and have overcome successfully. “In all our operations we have always had the close support of the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force, and because of that support we have always succeeded. In this operation the combined effort of the three fighting services is being applied in tremendous strength, and nothing will be able to stand against it. “I want all of you my soldiers to know that I have complete confidence in the successful outcome of this operation. Therefore, with faith in God and with enthusiasm for our cause and for the day of battle, let us enter this contest with stout hearts and determination to conquer. The eyes of our families, and, in fact, the whole of the Empire, will be on us once the battle starts. We will see they get good news, and plenty of it. “To each one of you, whatever be your rank and employment, I would say: Good luck and good hunting in the home country of Italy.” The Allied invasion forces in Sicily are known as the 15th Army Group, it was announced officially today. It is under the. command of General Alexander. The group comprises members of the British Eighth Army (including Canadians), under General Montgomery, and the 10th United States Army under General Patton. The 10th Army is a completely new force, but it contains some of the units which fought successfully in Tunisia.