Evening star., 1943-07-10
Roosevelt Calls
Drive Beginning
OF the End
Announced Invasion
During White House
Dinner to Gen. Ghuud
By J. A. FOX.


The invasion of Sicily by the
Allied forces is hailed by Presi-
dent Roosevelt as just about "the
beginning of the end" of the
war on the Axis powers.
However, this expression of con-
fidence on the part of Mr.. Roosevelt
was tempered by his saying, I'VE
haven't won the war yet, but one Of
the happy things is that with the
help of Gen. Giraud we have a mil
itary situation that goes a long
way"
The President spoke at an official
White House dinner last night in
honor of Gen. Henri Giraud, at the
conclusion of which Mr.. Roosevelt
announced the invasion of Sicily.
The Chief Executives remarks were
made public at the White House
today.
To the assembled guests who in
cluded high-ranking American Army
and Navy officers and other off,
cials who had been invited to meet
Gen. Giraud, co-president of the
French Committee of National Lib
Grafton and commander of French
forces in North. Africa. Mr.. Roose-
welt in announcing the invasion
said:
Il think you can almost say that
this action tonight is the beginning
of the end.
Assures French.
1--WE are going to be ashore in a
naval sense-air sense-military
sense. Once there we have the op-
portunity of going in different di-
rections. l want to tell Gen. Giraud
that we haven't forgotten that
France Is one of the directions-one
OF our prime aims, of course. Is the
restoration of the people of France
and the sovereignty of France. Even
If move is not directed at this
moment toward France itself. Gen.
Glraud can rest assured that the
ultimate objective iS-We will do it
and in the best way-to lberate
the people of France. Not merely
those in the southern part of France
but the people of northern France
Paris.
The President then praised the
co-opera ton that had been neces-
sary forerunner to this new in
vaSlon.
Improve Opportunity.
I'm this whole operation, the
President continued, L should say
rightly that in the enormous plan
ming We have had the complete
cooperation of the French military
and naval forces in North Africa
Gradually our opposition has cooled.
The old regime is breaking
down. We have seen what has
happened or is happening at the
present moment in Martinique and
Guadeloupe. That is very major
part toward the big objective"
This was a reference to the Vichy-
controlled islands in the Caribbean.
now in the process of coming under
control of the French Committee of
Liberation.
The President said, I'VE want to
help re-arm these French forces "a
White House explanation was that
this referred to military and naval
forces in North Africa and to build
up French strength so that when
the time comes from military point
of view, when we get into France
itself and throw the Germans out,
there will be a French army and
French ships working with the Brit
ish and ourselves. 1t is very great
symbol that Gen. Giraud is here
tonight, that he has come over to
talk to us about his military prob
lens. To help toward the same OBJ
jectiveS that all of the United Ma
tions have-freedom of France and
with it the unity of France"
The Presidents remarks were made
public today by his press secretary,
Stephen T. Early. About o'clock,
Mr.. Early explained, the White
House received word of the land
ing of Allied troops in Sicily. The
news was delivered to the Presi-
dent at the dinner where Gen.
Giraud sat at his right and Gen.
George C. Marshall, Army chief
of staff, at the left.
Across from Mr.. Roosevelt were
(See ROOSEVELT IT page AL