But we have
already begun to save the lives of the men, women and children of
Rome.
This, I think, is an example of the efficiency of your machinery of
war. The magnificent ability and energy of the American people in
growing the crops, building the merchant ships, in making and
collecting the cargoes, in getting the supplies over thousands of
miles of water, and thinking ahead to meet emergencies--all this
spells, I think, an amazing efficiency on the part of our armed
forces, all the various agencies working with them, and American
industry and labor as a whole.
No great effort like this can be a hundred percent perfect, but the
batting average is very, very high.
And so I extend the congratulations and thanks tonight of the
American people to General Alexander, who has been in command of
the whole Italian operation; to our General Clark and General Leese
of the Fifth and the Eighth Armies; to General Wilson, the Supreme
Allied commander of the Mediterranean theater, to General Devers,
his American Deputy; to General Eaker; to Admirals Cunningham and
Hewitt; and to all their brave officers and men.
May God bless them and watch over them and over all of our gallant,
fighting men.
June 23, 1944.
All our fighting men overseas today have their appointed stations
on the far-flung battlefronts of the world.
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