The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1943-06-18
U. S. RELIEF
OPERATIONS
In TUNISIA

LIE OlllC6 Ol OlclSn UtlleI dIt
Rehabilitation Operations announced
that its operations in Tunisia now
have been centralized at field mission
headquarters in the city of Tunis
I Members of the OFRRO field mis-
sion, assisting the military detach
ment which has primary responsible
ity for relief during the initial stages
of liberation, moved into major cities
of Tunisia Immediately after cessa.
ton of military operations. Distribu
ton of food and colthing to civilian
populations of Tunisia we begun in
such centers as Sousse, Sfax and
Gabes even before the final Allied
victory in Tunisia.
Mr.. Fred K. Hoehler, chief of Mis-
sion for OFRRO in North Africa, APP
pointed Mr.. E. Reeseman Fryer to
take charge of Tunisian operations.
| Mr.. Fryer is assisted by a civilian
staff of 10 OFRRO field workers, ad-
ditional personnel assigned by the
military, and national personnel as
signed by the local French authorities
Mr.. Paul w. Gordon, also a member
of the OFRRO North African mission,
is assisting Mr.. Fryer supervising ac-
tivities to assist the military in South
ern Tunisia.
Mr. Fryer, who has been attached
to the Tunisian mission since late last
winter, was formerly Deputy Director
Of the War Relocation Authority and
previously wtas regional director of
that agency at San Francisco Prior
to that service he was general super
intendent of the Navajo office of In
dian Affairs at Window Rock, Ariz.
His home is in San Francisco.
Preliminary reports from the field
indicate that plans for distribution of
essential supplies to distressed civil
lians in Tunisia were executed close
on the heels of Allied military opera
lions in that area. While Mr.. Gordon
was cooperating with military author
tiles of the British and United States
armies in Southern Tunisia and Tri-
politania, Mr.. Hoehler dispatched two
teams of field men with truck con-
voys provided by the army into areas
where military action had made it es-
sential that local supplies of food and
clothing be supplemented by relief
material as a matter of military and
political necessity
Initial reports to Mr.. Herbert H. |
Lehman, director of Foreign Relief |
and Rehabilitation Operations, from
Mr.. Hoehler show that small stock
piles of essential food and clothing as
sembled by OFRRO in cooperation
with the military in or near Tunisia
were utilized for primary civilian
needs This stockpile, which by the
time of the major military offensive
1pproximated 10 thousand tons, was
of cotton cloth, condensed
md powdered milk, flour, sugar and
Hoehler's reports, based on his own
and those of Mr.. Herbert W.
oarisius of Elroy, Wisconsin, chief
agricultural expert ON the OFRRO
North African staff, indicate that
for supply of civilians in
Tunisia are much better than had
'een anticipated prior to the Allied
'ictory over the Axis forces.
Mr.. Parisius, who is chairman of a |
ommittee on agricultural production l
nd requirements of the North Afri- /
an economic board in connection ,
With his assignment from Mr.. Leh- !
nan. reported that preliminary sur :
eys indicate that there may be 30 2
tons of olive oil available {
4 Tunisia, although some parts and +
epairs will be necessary for pressing '
lants which process this important +
egetable oil. Mr. Parisius reported y
nat prospects for cereal harvest in h
unisia are good. II
The liberation of Tunisia had shifted +
mphasis of the relief program to that :,