?hr J)- rank liu |}r*ss ssft klltf Mi^hlnntis Jttarmiiaii Published every Thursday by Tlx Franklin Preu I At Franklin, North Carolina Telephone No. 24 VOL LVIII 1 Number El?ht Xlr>. J. W. C. Johnson and W. S. Johneon Publishers Entered at the Poit Office. Franklin, N. C, as second class matter SUBSCRIPTION KATES One Year S.x Months Three Uomths ?r Single I o?y The Challenge WU1 Be Met ry'RINC; March the American Red Cross will appeal to the American people for 125 million dollars! It is for their sons and brothers and hus bands in the armed forces. It is to guarantee the health and safety of our fighting men's loved ones at home. The American people never have let their Red Cross down and they will pot do so now. Indeed, the\ cannot, for these millions of dollars will un derwrite Red Cross War responsibilities for the year ahead? obligations charged by Congress and borne by those at home for whom the men at the front are fighting and suffering and dying. It is our chance to minister in the only way possible, through the nien arid women and supplies sent by the vol unteer Army at home under the banner of the Red Cross. Then this service is carried on at home ? with part of the funds raised in each community ? by volunteer workers in every chapter. The raising of every chapter's quota depends upon this army of chapter volunteers. Here in Macon county it is up to the men and women, who during the month of March will give its citizens an opportunity to con tribute more generously than they have ever done before. In this thev'ane only serving their country. The Macon chapter has recently been given the rating of a "Direct Contact Chapter" on account of the increased quantitiy and quality of work done, a rating held by only one-fourth of the chapters in the state. Swain County chapter and Macon are the only Red Cross units west of Buncombe to attain this rating. This recognition of work done and gifts made should spur every worker. The Chapter officers are mobilizing for action during the next few weeks. It is essential that the chapter organization be bet ter than ever before. For in the words of War Fund Chairman Walter S. Gifford, "The Red Cross has the biggest job and the biggest opportunity it ever had. and 1 am confident the challenge will be met. This is the trust our chapter holds. The chal lenge will be met ! "Our Job Grow* Bigger" TH.IS- has been a momentous week in the progress * of the war to the American people. We have learned of the loss of more than 800 lives on (two transports that sunk in the North Atlantic thirty minutes after being hit by torpedoes from enemy; submarines. Our troops have suffered defeat with much loss of life in their first encounter with .seasoned and desperate troops of Rommel's army in .Tunisia Homes throughout the nation are darkened as they learn that their men have been lost. Two great leaders of our Allies to whom we today owe our freedom, and thousands their lives, have spoken to the world, and have let us know in no uncertain terms that they expect more of us. Madame Chiang Kai-shek, American educated wife of China's Generalissimo, and one of the most remarkable women of her time, has impressed con gress as no foreign visitor yet has done, in her plea for more aid to China. Stalin, in less subtle manner, and with a power ful punch, has spoken to the United Nations and the world, letting us know that he is impatient that the promised "second front" in Europe is not vet realized. Lewis B. Hershey, Director of Selective Service, recently addressed the American people on the sub ject "Our Job Grows Bigger." Here are a few of the things he said: Not one of us should need to be told what total war is going to mean to America; All of us have relatives or friends who have left their homes and families to fight for our survival. Many of us have felt a tantalizing aJixiety about someone we know who has not been beard from, or has been reported missing, or captured, or woun ded. Some of us already mourn an American soldier, sailor, marine, or merchant seaman who has died in action. Here at home we are learning to accept restric" tions and privations with better grace than we did just a few months ago because the heroism of our American boys on land and sea is biting deep into our conscience. We are beginning to understand that every day, every hour, every minute this war continue* our boys. will continue to sacrificc, to suffer, andtto die... We are fighting a fanatical foe who wilkt^row lives at us to take our boys' lives ? throw munitions and weapons at us to destroy our munitions and weapons. We will not beat him, and American boys will not stop dying, until \Ve overwhelm and de stroy him with the power of our war production. When that day comes the war will be over. There is no question about the ability of our fighting men to do their jab, if we give them the things they need to do it. . Letters to Editor February 13. 1