Evening star., 1942-11-14
President Pledges
Food and Arms 10
People Under Axis
North African compoien
Called Serious Blow
At Nuzis' Supplies

BY the Associated Press.
While the Yanks In North Africa
drove an unexpected blow into the
Nazi breadbasket. the cold, hungry
and disarmed peoples Of Axis-occu-
pied lands had President Roosevelt's
pledge today that food, clothing and
fighting equipment would be pro-
vided them with the coming of the
Allies.
BY Presidential order, lease-lend
supplies will be sped to the people
of French North Africa where
American capture of vital Axis
bound food and materials In recent
days is expected to put morale
damaging cramps in German stom-
achs and production lines alike.
In strategic move aimed at
softening even pseudo-resistance to
the spreading Allied offensive, the
President late yesterday made it
clear that the same consideration
would be given any territory occu-
pied by United Nations troops, If
1t Is humanity within our powers"
Hits German Supplies.
Meanwhile, the ONCE of War
Information pooled studies from
domestic and enemy sources and
predicted that American occupation
of North Africa would hit Germany
heavily in food and raw material
sources and slash some of the Nazis
blockade-running supply lines from
Japan.
Specifically, the predictions said
the North African coup would cost
Germany annually $4,000 sheep,
thousands of barrels of wheat and
flour, 80,000,000 Kilograms of olive
oil, 100000 tons of phosphate, 1000
tons Of rubber, small but important
shipments of cobalt, manganese,
molybdenum and antimony, and
quantities of cocoa, coffee, tobacco,
dates and bananas.
In addition, owl said Germany
had been getting some tin, tungsten
and rubber from Japan, frequently
using North African ports.
There can be little doubt that
loss Of these supplies will hit Nazi
war production seriously" Owl said.
More, the loss will hit German peo-
pie In the stomach-a good way to
break morale"
Blow at Morale.
But even more mortal a blow at
Axis morale was seen in the Presi-
dents promise OF aid, thrown open
to the entire world with the words
that mo one will go hungry or with
out the other means of livelihood in
any territory occupied by the United
Nations, if it is humanity within
our powers to make the necessary
supplies available to them. Weapons
also will be supplied to the people
of these territories to hasten the de-
feat of the Axis"
Not only did the Presidents move
open the door to the legions of free
fighting men the world over who
have escaped from the Axis heel in
Europe and Asia, but observers saw
in it a shot in the arm for the vast
underground which has constantly
1nn1l harrled conaufFprs in ! ocrup1F
High sources said it meant arms
would be supplied to the citizens of
the dominated nations, as we'll as
the footloose armies, navies and air
forces-and some even interpreted
it as an open Allied bid to the
French fleet, presumably still at
Toulon.
Orders to Stettinius.
There was no question but that
it would mean mighty armies of
liberation would be set to spring
up in support of Allied footholds on
far corners of the Axis-ruled terri
tories, for the promise of food alone
would bring new heart to the starv-
ing hordes.
Stephen Early, White House sec
retary, said the Presidents order
went to E. R. Stettnius, jr., lease
lend administrator, to extend aid to
all areas in Africa occupied by
United States forces and that such
aid be carried out in cooperation
with 1t. Gen. Dwight D. Eisen-
hover, in command of all American
forces in the European theaters,
and the State Department.
Food, clothing and other necessi-
ties of life will be made available
to the peoples of the occupied ter
ritories.
Mr.. Early said the order also pro-
vided that arms would be supplied
to the army, navy, air forces and
citizens of the occupied areas to
carry on the fight against our COM