GREAT HOUR NEAR

Southland Times, Issue 25691, 28 June 1943, Page 5

GREAT HOUR NEAR

GENERAL SMUTS ON* INVASION

(Rec. 10 p.m.) CAPE TOWN, June 26. General Smuts, speaking at Johannesburg, said that we knew now that we could win, but also that the winning might mean some of the heaviest land fighting of the whole war. Even if the desperate Nazi and Fascist leaders lost all hope of victory,, as probably they had, they would continue to fight for a state of universal exhaustion, stalemate and a compromise peace. “Victory complete and unconditional is in sight, 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 a conclusion next year,” General Smuts said. “For that struggle the Allies are marshalling all their man-power and material resources. The’ great hour is approaching. There is a high expectancy in men’s hearts, immense issues are at stake.” Appealing* to South Africans not to rest content with cleaning up Africa but to follow the tide of war across the Mediterranean to the final and 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 now victims of Nazi oppression. The cause of freedom is indivisible and will not be won finally anywhere until it is won everywhere.” STALIN AND SECOND FRONT M. Stalin in his reply to Mr Roosevelt, General Giraud and General de Gaulle, broadcast over Moscow radio, thanking them for their messages of congratulation to the Red Army on its two years’ struggle, emphasized the importance he placed on the Second Front.

To Mr Roosevelt he said: “As a result of the Soviet Union’s two years’ struggle and the _ serious blows the Allies have inflicted on the Italian and German armies in North Africa conditions have been created for the final defeat of the common enemy. I have no doubt victory will come—the sooner we strike our joint blows against the enemy from east and west.” To General Giraud and General de Gaulle he said: “The Russians are confident that the Allies’ joint effort will terminate in complete and final victory.” President Kalinin, in a similar message to Dr Benes of Czechoslovakia, brought out the same point. He said: “I share your full confidence that the United Nations’ joint active efforts will lead to victory.” Moscow radio, quoting the Russian journalist, Yaroslavsky, said Russian tank production had increased 38 per cent, since last year. Hundreds of factories were working behind the lines turning out ever-growing quantities of arms and equipment. Russian rail and river transport since the outbreak of the war had successfully coped with the transfer of millions of people and vital industries to the eastern areas of Russia. New railway lines and canals had been built to facilitate the gigantic traffic of troops and arms to the front. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says the United States Ambassador Admiral Standley paid tribute to Russian, British apd American co-operation. He expressed the opinion that this co-opera-tion had reached the maximum effort. “It must not cease with the defeat of Germany: must be continued until the defeat of Japan and must be maintained after the war,” he said. INVASION OF ITALY

' The semi-official newspaper, Popolo d’ltalia gives three reasons why the invasion of Italy is regarded as imminent: (1) The systematic air bombardment of Italian and Sicilian towns and ports. (2) The increasing concentration of air, naval and landing forces in North Africa. (3) The presence of heavy j British naval units at Gibraltar and i their reinforcements by the United | States. Rome radio says that the Allies have made 72 raids on Naples since April 30. The Neapolitans spent 243 hours in air raid shelters.