South Yorkshire Times – Saturday 24 October 1942
A Great Occasion
Long after the war is over the Trafalgar Day speech of Field Marshal Smuts will be recalled as one of its greatest occasions. Coming at a most significant moment in the war the speech brought refreshment of ideals, a new sense of dedication to a splendid cause, and a strengthened confidence in the power of the United Nations to achieve not only victory, but the future fulfilment of a great mission of peace.
To share with such a great warrior, statesman and philosopher something of the breadth of his wisdom and experience was a privilege which we shall realise yet more fully in retrospect. The veteran leader of our South African comrades gave a masterly survey of the war at the same time shrewdly analysing the implications of its critical moments, allotting to each a significance astutely assessed by a coolly calculating brain. And although he did not withhold his full meed of praise for our unquestionably great efforts when we stood alone, he also underlined three major mistakes on the part of our adversaries as steps which marked our climb out of the abyss.
His reference to the defeat of the Luftwaffe over Britain as saving not only Britain, but the future of the whole world may well prove very near the mark. That Hitler erred in the timing of the onslaught on England is already clear. The seriousness of the mistaken attacks on Russia, and America at Pearl Harbour, grows daily more apparent. Whether a fourth cardinal blunder of a Japanese attack on Russia will be committed was a thought which Field Marshal Smuts tossed into the field of interesting speculation. As soldier and strategist the Field Marshal freely endorsed the expressed views of our own Prime Minister that from the defensive phase the United Nations are now swinging over to the time of attack. But he was the soul of discretion in his references to future plans. At the same time he made a pertinent point when he stressed the folly of over-preparing to the extent of missing the opportunity for the great counterstroke, though he was quick to make it clear that we are not likely to do this. The Trafalgar Day moral which he pointed will not make Hitler’s head lie any more easily on the pillow. Like the French and Spanish fleets one hundred and thirty seven years ago the vaunted military might of the Nazis may yet find itself disconcertingly sought out and discomfited.
As for the duration of the struggle Field Marshal Smuts spoke of it as another Thirty Years’ War, viewing the present conflict as a continuation of that which started in 1914, and envisaging a persistence of hostilities until 1944. Indications are that at any rate this prophetic term is not likely to be shortened and, in fact, it may well be extended.
Reviewing the mistakes which were made in hammering out the peace settlement in 1918 Field Marshal Smuts revealed a recognition of the impracticability of some of his own ideals. He spoke of the peace that is to be as one fully aware of the pitfalls which beset the peacemakers. A pillar of strength in time of war, South Africa’s great leader will be invaluable when the sword is sheathed and the nations set to work to establish a better ordered society wherein the world’s wealth is shared; not murderously striven for. It must be one of our chief hopes that this grand veteran is spared to contribute his sagacious counsels when inevitably the conference table is reached.