Evening star., 1942-11-05
Snuts Sees Defeat
OF Romme| Possible
Turning Point Of War
South Afrieun Wires
Troops Playing Big r.
Role in Egypt Drive
BY the Associated Press.

oy tuC ASSUV1AtCO 1ACS0s
LONDON, Nov. 5.-Field Marshal
Smuts, Prime Minister Of the Union
of South Africa, suggested today
that Allied successes in Egypt
might assume the proportions of
a victory which would be "the turn
ing point In this war"
Field Marshal SHUTS, whose con-
fidential conferences in London
preceded the current Allied on
slaught in which South African
troops are playing an important
role, made the suggestion in mes
sages of congratulation to officers
in Egypt.
To Gen. Sir Harold Alexander,
commander of British forces in the
Middle East, he expressed gratitude
for, your. magnificent victory, the
final dimensions Of which will, I
hope. make it the tdrhing point In
this war. s4. -
The defeat of Rommel will be fol-
lowed by other Allied offensives
which will give relief to the en-
battled :, Russians, Sir Stafford
Cripps, lord priyy seal told an all
dience of war workers today.
This is not, the only diversion
we can or shall make to help our
Russian Allies" Sir Stafford, for
mer Ambassador to Moscow, de-
clared. LAS our strength and that
of our American Allies builds up
other offensives will be started in
other areas"
Mrs. Roosevelt Sends Message.
Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt sent a
telegram of congratulation to King
George vi on the brilliant victory"
in Egypt, the ONCE of War 1nforma-
ton announced.
King George described the rout
of Marshal Erwin Rommel's AZ
rican forces as brilliant victory
and his phrases set the pace for
elated comment by normally re-
strained British military observers
today.
Allied governments in London
hailed the news as forerunner OF
imminent offensives againset the
Axis in Europe. Optimism was par
ticularly noticeable in Norwegian
government headquarters.
The same feeling was shared by
spokesmen for the exiled govern
ments of Poland, Belgium, Yugo-
slavh, Holland and by the Fighting
French.
A Norwegian official said the news
would spread swiftly throughout
Norway over illicit radio sets and
would be ''the finest thing for Nor
wegian morale" in months.
The London Daily Express said
Axis losses probably already totaleC
not less than 10000 men killed
wounded or captured, along with &c
per cent of the available air strength
and at least half the gun power.
Half Of Force Sacrificed.
It was estimated that more than
so per cent of the German and
Italian armored forces were repre-
sented by 260 tanks sacrificed in .
vain attempt to halt the westward
push.
Well-informed observers said
Marshal Rommel controlled about
800 Nazi tanks and possibly 400 o1
italian manufacture when the Al
lied offensive opened the night o1
October %.
The British radio hammered the
story home to the peoples of Ger.
many, Italy and the Nazi-occupiec
and neutral nations Of Europe with
broadcast after broadcast In many
tongues.
/ Political commentators said Prime
Minister Churchill would report K
the House Of Commons on the
fighttng in Egypt In new review
Of the war when Parliament rcas.
sembled.
/ Congratulates CommAndefS.
King George congratulated Gen
Sir Harold Alexander. British Mid.
die East commander, f1eld oficer.
and men for the cooperative blow
by 1t. Gen. b. L. Montgomery.
9th Army, the RAJ and the Roya
Navy. He said its Importance can.
not be exaggerated"
/ II can assure all three services
embracing as they do many rep
resentatives Of the British com.
monwealth and our Allies. Of thl
admiration and pride Of the Who'll,
empire In their brilliant victory,
he said.
/ Commentators cited Gen. Mont.
gomerys battle orders ITO destro,
Rommel and his army" to support
the view that the engagement Wuule
continue . ! battle Of manellvel
for the annihilAtion Of 11eld forces
rather than oyerrunning of ground
II = q.