surrounded white by green marble valleys buildings and with presented its a fas- cinating picture which belied the filthy conditions which the Americans found after they entered the city itself. The invasion had taken place only one month previous to this time and the Major's party found few people on the streets and the living conditions of the local population appeared to be very bad.The people had practically nothing to eat except black bread and wine, until the arrival of lend-lease supplies relieved the situation. A form of Military Government was set up to improve sanitary conditions which was absolutely necessary, according to the Major, in order to make the place livable. There is marked class distinction are in the area illiterate and the poorer’ and shiftless. classes The streets are full of cripples and blind and conditions under which most residents live are unspeakable. Part MAJOR JOE A. SIMONSON OFFICER AT Major UTAH ARMY SERVICE FORCES DEPOT | Joe A, Simonson, newly appoint- in Officer ed Assistant Executive surrounding officers termaster EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT APPOINTED RECENTLY of the country charge made with arrangements farm farmers in the locality to furnish products such as cabbages, carrots, tomatoes, oranges, and tangerines to our troops. for raw hungry’ the soldiers were Although of troop training at the Utah Army Service Forces Depot, has recently returned from green foods, it was considered unsafe give them any food which had not been 22 months ed because throughout In of active foreign duty. | June 1942, Major Simonson to the North Ireland Base placed in charge of all which included receipt clothing and in North Ireland. November with other sail with equipment 1942 arrived to American troops him in England officers who were preparing Quartermaster Headquarters the Mediterranean and Major and was supplies of all class two and issue found in Oran, Base Section. North Simonson was Africa, put of the large the area, to to The group in December in charge receipt and issue of subsistence troops in the Mediterranean area. of disease ‘The Quartermaster Headquarters, ing to the Major, food. An average worth for of all period. city of Oran, according Major, is very beautiful but only distance. The city is situated on to the from a a hill accord- of handled a vast amount of approximately $235,000. of subsistence was This issued daily required amount of labor, and at one in addition to many Italian a for a large time 3,000 prisoners, Arabs were employed. The supplies were shipped by rail “coaster" which, &# small is one tion. according of the fastest The railroads, means which were very and to the Major, ship following the coastline. ed by our army, The amount — to cook- reported Section four-month of has been irrigated and has became highly productive. Four crops per year can be raised. Shortly after their arrival,the Quar- is This of transportewere not operat- poor. Major Simon- son referred to the engines as “teapots "and ( to the cars as “wooden boxes". He also said that the trains moved (laws taued on Page 22)