WILL STRIKE HARD

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21009, 4 February 1943, Page 3

WILL STRIKE HARD

ALLIES IN EUROPE PLANS AT CASABLANCA PRESIDENT’S SURVEY (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (10.30 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Feb. 3. President Roosevelt told his press conference that the decisions reached at the Casablanca conference would lead to newer and harder blows against the Axis. He emphasised that the United Nations would strike hard in Europe. The President quoted from his message to Congress on January 7. in which he said: “I cannot prophesy nor tell you where we are going to strike, but we’ are going to strike hard.” Referring to criticism of the absence of M. Stalin and Marshal Chiang KaiShek from the Casablanca conference, President Roosevelt pointed out that Russia was not fighting Japan and China was so geographically situated that she could not engage in an offensive against Germany. He said that virtually ail the political prisoners in North Africa who wanted to fight the Germans had been released. Some were still held because they were accused of crimes. The report that support for General de Gaulle was regarded as a crime was absolutely untrue. President Roosevelt emphasised diat almost universal goodwill prevailed between the Americans and French forces which opposed the Allied landing in November. Many Frenchmen then did not want to light but they obeyed orders like good soldiers and inflicted rather heavy casualties. The French showed extraordinary bravery in resistance and when the “cease lire” order was given, there was complete fraternising with the American forces.

President Roosevelt referred jokingly to the rumours prevalent in Casablanca, one of which was that General Franco was participating, and another that a member of the Italian Royal Family had arrived to arrange for the surrender of Italy.