Evening star., 1942-11-30
81 the Associated Presg

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Two Sundays ago, bells rang to
celebrate the victory of our
desert army at Alamein.
Here was a martial episode of
British history which deserved
special recognition. The bells
also carried with their clashing
joyous peals our thanksgiving
that in spite of all our errors and
shortcomings We have been
brought nearer to the frontiers
of deliverance.
We have not reached them
yet.
But we are becoming ever more
entitled to be sure that the awful
perils which might well have
blotted out our life and all we
have and cherish, will be sur
mounted and that we shall be
preserved for further service in
the vanguard of mankind.
We have to look back along the
path We have trod the last three
years of toll and strife to value
properly all we have escaped and
all we have achieved. No mood
of boastfulness, of vain glory, of
over-confidence, must cloud our
minds but I think we have a
right, which history will indorse.
to feel we had the honor to play
a part in saving the freedom and
future of the world
The wonderful association of
states and races spread over the
globe, call it the British Empire
or the British Commonwealth if
you will do not quarrel about
it-and above all our small is
land, stood in the gap alone in
deadly hour.
Here we stood firm though all
was drifting. Throughout the
British Empire not one commu-
nifty faltered. 1t was very dark.
Here we kept the light burning
which now spreads broadly over
the vast array of the United
Nations. That is why it was
right to ring out bells and lift
our heads for a moment in graf
itude and relief before We turned
again to the grim and probably
long ordealS which lie before us
and to the exacting tasks upon
which we are engaged.
Since we rang the bells for
Alamein the good cause has pros
pered. Our 9th Army has
advanced nearly 400 miles, driv-
ing before them in rout and ruin
the powerful forces or remnants
of powerful forces with which
Rommel boasted, and Hitler and
Mussolini believed, Egypt would
be conquered.
Another serious battle may be
impending at the entrance OF
Tripolitania. I make 1t rule
not to prophesy about battles
before they are fought.
Immense Distances
Must be Traversed.
Every one must try to realize
the immense distances over
which the North African war
ranges and the enormous labors
and self denial of the troops
who press forward relentlesSly
20, 30, 40, sometimes so miles
in a single day.
I will say no more than that
we may have the greatest con-
fldence in Gems. Alexander and
Montgomery, and in our soldiers
and airmen who at last have be-
gun to come into their own.
At the other side of Africa, a
thousand miles or more to the
westward, tremendous joint
undertaking of the United States
and Britain which was fraught
with so many hazards, has also
been crowned with astonishing
success.
To transport large armies of
several hundred thousand men
with intricate, elaborate. modern
apparatus secretly across the seas
and to strike to the hour, almost
to the minute, simultaneously at
a dozen points in spite of all the
U-boats and all the chances Of
weather, was feat of organiZa-
ton which would long be studied
with respect.
1t was rendered possible only
by one sovereign fact-the per-
feet comradeship and undertake
ing prevailing between British
and American stats and troops
This majestic enterprise is
under the direction and respon-
sibility of the President Of the
United States and the 1st
British Army is serving under
the orders of the American
commander in chief, Gen. Esen-
hover, in whose military skill
and burning energy we put out
faith. and whose orders to attack
we shall punctually and un-
fiinchingly obey.
Behind all lies the power of
the Royal Navy, to which is
joined a powerful American feet,
all under the command of Ad-
miral Cunningham, and all sub
ordinated to the Allied COM
mander in chief.
1t was not only that U-boats
were evaded, brushed aside by
powerfully escorted British and
American conveys. They were
definitely beaten in 10 days of
conflict that followed the land