DECISIVE ROLE TO U.S.
In European War GENERAL SMUTS' ESTIMATE (Rec. 1.0) LONDON, Oct. 19. General Smuts, in a commentary on the progress of the war said: A grand assault by all arms against Hitler’s central fortress of Europe will be launched in 1944 and American troops may have to play a decisive part. In view of the intense and prolonged strain of excessive demands upon the ..‘British Commonwealth, American manpower - has been rightly looked upon as our grand strategic reserve in the west for the final moves in the war. While therefore, every ally will go all out to bring about the final climax, the United {States, the latest, fresnest and most potent newcomer into the field, may have to play a decisive part in the concluding act of the great war drama. Such a role in the war will .also be the best justification [for the all-important part American is likely to play in the peace and the building, up of a new world thereafter. For no nation in history has so great and honourable .a destiny been marked out by the course of events. None ever had so high a mission of good and goodwill.. On none have such high hopes beeri built.’’
Looking back at the hopes and forecasts those best able to judge had entertained for 1943, General Smuts disclosed: “We have already gone farther, .achieved more than we planned to do by next winter. Stalingrad and El Alamein were the real turning points of the war and while great American forces will play a decisive part, nothing can rob the Soviet and the British Commonwealth of the glory and honour of having turned ithe tide when the enemy was in sight of colossal achievement. The Russian contribution: to the war has been immense. Our gratitude and admiration is unbounded but in justice it should be said there has been no greater’ evept in the war than the success of Allied strategy in the Mediterranean. I say with all emphasis, nothing comparable or of greater. importance has been achieved in this war and it is proper and necessary for a fair share in a perspective about the war as a whole that/ these things should be said and borne in mind. U.S. War Contracts SCANDAL REVEALED. ARMY OFFICERS TOO “LIBERAL” (Rec. 8.55.) WASHINGTON, Oct. 18. Mr. Lindsay Warren, U.S.A. Comp-troller-General, addressing the House of Representatives Military Committee, said: Officers have allowed hundreds of erroneous contractors’ claims on war contracts, including charges for artificial teeth, liquor and juke boxes. In one case an employee’s wife’s maternity hospital fees were charged to a war contract. On another contract was charged the cost of flowers sent to the funerals of employees’ families. One contractor was paid. 163,000 dollars as a Christmas bonus to his employees, and he charged the amount to the Government. Another contractor contributed generously to a local community chest, and he was hailed bv the press as a naragon of generosity, but his contribution was charged to the Government, and it was allowed by an army contracting officer. > Mr. Warren criticised the practice of the Army contracting officers wining and dining with the war contractors, which! tended to make those officers too liberal. Mr. Warren also, expressed the opinion that the War Department should peremptorily stop the present contract settlement procedures. which, he said, amazed and astounded him He added: ’T solemnly warn you that these regulations permit of a grand cover, absolutely precluding any chance of detecting fraud.”
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Grey River Argus, 20 October 1943, Page 5
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584DECISIVE ROLE TO U.S. Grey River Argus, 20 October 1943, Page 5
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