att “tng, 941 Mr. DeBrrnu. We wanted to get there in time. At times we had serious transportation problems and were down to one ship for trips to the outer islands. Sometimes. the odds were against us, but we tried to do the best we could. Mr. Yates. What do you mean. the odds were against you! Mr. DeBrcau. We were down to one ship for al] the outer islands at (imes. Mr. Yatrs. And one ship would not service the island or the people? Mr. DeBrrat. It takes three field trip ships to service. to make a complete circuit of the Marshall Island group. once a month. Mr. Yates. How many ships do you need for the fuod for the people who were on Bikini? Was one ship adequate for s month's sup ly of food? r. DeBrrar. If we have one ship committed only to Bikini. yes, one ship wil] do it. The ship that is committed to service Bikini also services other islands in the Marshal! Islands. Mr. Yates. You mean provide food for the other islands? Mr. DeBrro. It provides services, it brings in copra and tekes in trade goods so the people can buvit. FREQUENCY OF SERVICF TO BIKINI ISLAND Mr. Yates. Maybe we had better find out about where y ~ work throughouttheislands. How long would vour leys*« be? Presumably your schedule was one ship a month with food for Bikini. Mr. DeBres. Yes. Mr. Yates. And lowoften were there lapses in this? Mr. DeBrra. Not very much. There were times. as I recall. when we could not provide a ship until it was a month and a half Jate.sir. Mr. Yares. A month and a half late; you mean two weeks after the schedule. Mr. DrBreu. Two weeks after. TYPE OF FOODS PROVIDED Mr. Yares. After the schedule date. And what kind of food? You said you provided staples? What do you mean bystaple:? Mr. DrBrus. Staples in Marshallese terms is rice, flour, canned meats, milk. Mr. Yates. No coconuts? Mr. Di Brea. No coconuts. Mr. Yates. J mean from the otherislands. Ar; DeBrru. We never shipped any coconuts from the other ~ islands. Mr. Yates. Why would you not! If coconuts were such a delicacy for the Bikinians. why would you not provide coconuts for them,too! Mr. DeBreust. ]t was not a part of our feeding program.sir. Mr. Yatrs. Jf vou were a Bikinian vou would fave likeli cocnnuts. would vou not, from other slams STi. Di. . would be climbing a tree and gettin Mr. Yares. You would not worry wdialion. it myself. DCE ARCHIVES SO001422