GENERAL SMUTS

Grey River Argus, 21 October 1943, Page 5

GENERAL SMUTS

ON WAR PROSPECTS SPEECH INLONDON LONDON. October 20. General Smuts, Prime Minister of South Africa, in a speech at the Guildhall, said: “Nobody foresaw such a vast change as has come over the whole war situation since a year ago. A policy of continued pressure against Germany should be prosecuted ceaselessly so that the final decision can be forced as soon as possible next year. More advances especially in south and south-east Europe can be reckoned on this year. By the coming of winter the Allies will be closing in on Hitlers European fortress. While this goes on we shall be taking all necessary steps for the assault on Japan, oui’ second priority. The fall of Hitler might be marked by a cataclysmic turn in events in the Far East and an early end of the war. The great change since a year ago has only reinforced my belief that events will more and more take a catastrophic turn. Crises and climaxes will come more sharply and suddenly until the final overwhelming collapse of the enemy. Two things have happened which transformed the whole course of the war and perhaps history. The destruction of the German Army at Stalingrad sent a shiver and a shock through the German line from end to end of Russia, and the long line has ever since been bending or reeling back until now it rests temporarily and uneasily behind the Dnieper. The Axis debacle at El Alamein spread over the whole of Italian North Africa until now the British and American approach to the Mediterranean has been cleared. Italy has been beaten out of the Axis and the war and Allied forces are marching on Rome. The Italians are out and the Germans retreating everywhere. The passive agency of Europe under the Nazi heel is everywhere changing to active sabotage or guerrilla resistance. The U-boat campaign for the moment has been countered and shipping losses are less than at any other time, though the recurring menace must be expected and prepared against. The' grand design of a Nazi-Samurai world was shattered by the Russians at Stalingrad, and by the British Commonwealth at El Alamein. The end is not yet, but these two victories mark the beginning of the end. They were decisive turning points and are now developing to the logical inevitable conclusions.” General Smuts recalled the immense Russian contribution surpassing even the most sanguine expectations, which was unversally recognised with ungrudging admiration. That Russia .after all the sufferings in the last war and in the revolution since and after losses in this war, of her most valuable agricultural and industrial territories, after the loss also of millions of her brave .army and a very large part of population —that Russia could stage such a comeback and keep hr up remorsely in all weathers, was one of the most amazing chapters of history. He continued: “But from Alamein onwards we of the British Commonwealth have done things on the battlefront which will stand comparison with' the contributions of anv of our allies. The conquest, with American assistance, of Africa, of the Mediterranean, and especially the bringing of Italy to her knees are events of first-rate importance. I doubt whether any other service of greater importance for final victory has been rendered. The restoration of vital war communications, the conquest of vital bases for the attack on Hitler’s fortress of Europe, the knock-out of a great European Power, the coming over of the powerful Italian Navy to us, all this followed from our successful Mediterranean strategy. The British Commonwealth, in particular, may be proud of its contribution. Nothing comparable or of greater importance has been achieved in this war. Nor have we to omit our standing cantribution on the high seas and the maritime transport for the whole Allied cause. We have already achieved more than planned by the coming winter. We may confidently reckon on still further advances, specially in Southern and South-eastern Europe, and by winter we shall have closed iin upon Hitler’s central fortress m I Europe, and be making dispositions for the grand assault by all arms next year. That assault will be the first priority, and while it. goes on we shall be increasing pressure in the Far East, making all preparations for the steps to assault Japan, which is the second priority. From now on every moment counts. Already tne moral and physical conditions, especially in occupied countries, are indescribably worse than in the last war. The longer this agony lasts, the worse it becomes and the more difficult, if not impossible, it wll be to restore the Continent to normal conditions. The sufferings surpass all limits of human nature and past experience in barbarous times. A new darkness of ruthless, brutal, monstrous inhumanity, l until liminated by the mercy of Christ covers the fact of. Nazi . Europe. It must be ended soon if Europe is to be saved. The policy of continuous pressure began at Stalingrad and Alamein must be prosecuted ceaselessly so that a final decision could be forced as soon as possible next year.. General lines of strategy are agreed and settled, the resources for carrying it out will be forthcoming, and we are not lacking the genius of great leadership.’