VICTORY IN SIGHT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 28 June 1943, Page 5

VICTORY IN SIGHT

SPEECH BY SMUTS MAIN STRUGGLE YET IN EUROPE Rugby, June 26. Field-Marshal Smuts, speaking in Johannesburg, said he knew now that we could win, but also that winning might mean some of the heaviest land fighting of the whole war. Even if the desperate Nazi and Fascist leaders had lost all hope of victory, as they probably had, they would continue to fight for a state of universal exhaustion, stalemate, and a compromise peace. “Victory complete and unconditional 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 that struggle the Allies are marshalling all their manpower 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 more South African! 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 oppression. The cause of freedom is indivisible and will not be won finally anywhere till it is won everywhere.”—B.O.W.