SOUTH AFRICANS
AXIS ODDS DEFIED GENERAL’S ADMIRATION LOSSES REGRETTED (Reed. Dec. 1, 9 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 30. "The Libyan offensive, a complete success from the beginning, apparently surprised the enemy,” said Field-Marshal J. C. Smuts, the Prime Minister of South Africa, broadcasting from Capetown. “The South Africans’ stand at Sidi Rezegh was comparable to the South Africans’ immortal two-day stand against the Germans at Delvilie Wood in 1918,” he continued. “They continued against Panzer, air and infantry attacks by superior numbers until their ammunition was exhausted. “Do not let us count our losses. Our losses, generation after generation, hav 1 won for us this fair land and the heroic tradition which forms the immortal soul of our people.” General Smuts added that he had received a message from General Sir Claude Auchinleck expressing deep regret that the South African troops should have suffered so heavily in their first major engagament, General Auchinleck said he could not express sufficiently his admiration and pride in the South Africans’ tenacious gallantry.
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Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20627, 1 December 1941, Page 5
Word Count
168SOUTH AFRICANS Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20627, 1 December 1941, Page 5
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