VICTORY CERTAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 151, 28 June 1943, Page 5

VICTORY CERTAIN

BUT AXIS WILL FIGHT HARD :,.„ ■..;, /...RUGBY, June..26. Speaking in Johannesburg1, FieldMarshal Smuts said he knew now that we could win, but also that winning might mean some of the heaviest land j fighting of the whole war. Even if the desperate* Nazi and Fascist leaders had! lost all hope of victory, as they prob- ! ably had, they would continue to fight for a state of universal exhaustion, stalemate, and a compromise peace. "Victory, complete and unconditional, J is in sight," said General Smuts." "But] the main struggle for it is on the Continent of Europe and is still to come— this year, and perhaps to be continued to the conclusion of next year. For thatj struggle the Allies are marshalling all; their man-power 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 South Africans .not to rest content in 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 j oppression. The cause of freedom is i indivisible and will not be won finally anywhere till it is won everywhere."— 8.0. W.