Attend the Big Johnston County Community Chautauqua at Smithfield, N. CM June 9th to 13th
VOLUME 88 SMITHFIELD, N. C., FRIDAY. JI NE 8, 1917. Number 27
GERMAN LINE BADLY HACKLEI).
One Million Pounds of High Explo
sives Set off by the Allies, the He
port of Which is Heard for 130
Miles Away, Which Brought Con
sternation to the Germans. Fight
ing Continues Along Austro-ltalian
Front, trance Preparing for Ar
rival of American Troops.
(Associated Press War Summary.)
In one of the most elaborately
planned and daringly executed man
euvers of the war, Sir Douglas
Haig's forces have dealt a mighty
blow against the German line in
Belgium and been rewarded with not
able gains in Terrian and the capture
of more than 5,000 prisoners and nu
merous guns of various calibre. In
addition they inflicted heavy casual
ties on the Germans.
Over a front of more than nine
miles, extending from the region of
Ypres southward nearly to Armen
tieres the British started their drive
in the early hours of Thursday morn
ing and at nightfall had everywhere
advanced their line, capturing villages
and numerous points of vantage,
among the latter the Messiness-Wyt
schaete ridge, which commands the
surrounding plains for miles and
which for two and a half years had
been a troublesome salient.
The villages of Messiness and Wyt
scheate fell into the hands of the
British during the attack, and the
British even pressed on eastward
from Wytschaete and occupied the vil
lage of Costtaverne and trenches east
of the village on a front of more than
five miles.
Probably never in history was an
attack launched with greater prepa
ration. For days the Wytsehaete sal
ient had been the objective of the
British guns which had hurled tons
of steel upon it. When the time for
the attack came, the British loosed
mines containing 1,000,000 pounds of
high explosives in front of the Ger
man positions, the detonations be
ing heard 130 miles away in England.
With consternation reigning among
the Germans and under a curtain of
fire, English, Irish, New Zealand and
Australian infantrymen, with "tanks"
to aid them, started across the open.
The Germans offered only slight re
sistance, and everywhere were beaten
off, even late in the afternoon when
they had somewhat regained their
composure and attempted a counter
attack near the southern end of the
line, which was broken up by the
British artillery fire.
Except for a German attack against
the French northwest of St. Quentin
which the French troops repulsed,
quiet prevailed everywhere on the
French front Thursday except along
the Chemin Des Dames, where the
artillery activity was violent.
Considerable fighting continues be
tween the Austrians and Italians in
the Carso region. Along the Vipacco
Valley the Italians delivered several
thrusts which were repulsed, while
near Jamiano the Austrians have
made further gains, according to Vi
enna. Rome, however, asserts that
the Austrian attacks failed the lat
ter region as likewise did an offen
sive in force rn the Trentino front.
Great preparations are being made
in France for the arrival of Ameri
can troops. Already an American
transport containing food for them
has arrived in a French port and
American warships are anchored off
the French coast. Camps have been
prepared for all branches of the
American forces who are expected. ?
News and Obesrver, 8th.
Weather Summary for Cotton Region.
Washington, D. C., June 6. ? Cotton
has improved in almost all districts
?specially in the east, yet the crop is
still backward and dryness in ex
treme south, and cocl in northwest
caused slow growth. Numerous com
plaints of poor and irregular stands.
Somo blooming in Florida, but the
weevil is active in several counties
there. Some lice injury in Texas.
Corn in the south mcstly growing
well but needs rain locally. White po
tatoes are in good condition and are
being harvested and sweet potatoes
aro being set except where dryness
hinders. Truck in the east Gulf
States needs rain badly. Sugar cane
needs rain except in Georgia but pea
nuts and tobacco are mostly in good
condition.
"Let us make 'the bondholders' and
'the people' interchangeable terms "
?Theodore Roosevelt.
OPEN LETTER TO THE PUBLIC.
Concerning School Work, Home and
Farm Demonstration Work and a
Few Other Things In Johnston
County.
This article may be read with in
terest just now in Johnston because
of the situation in regard to these
things mentioned above, and because
of the special stress that needs to be
laid upon these things at a time
when as never before every available
means should be used for making the
best better.
In the first place I want to make
every citizen of Johnston County
know exactly the basis upon which
the Home Demonstration work of
Johnston County rests. Last year the
County Commissioners appropriated
$500 which was met by an equal
amount from the State and Federal
funds. $800 of this money was set
apart for Miss Pickens as salary
which was $00.66 per month. $200 of
this wxs set aside for traveling ex
penses which was $16.66 per month.
Miss Pickens is becoming too well
known in the county for me to say
anything concerning her worth as a
tireless and effective worker.
Last year I bought and paid for,
out of my salary, a Ford car that I
might be of greater service to the
work in Johnston. Miss Pickens used
this car for all her work and in ad
dition to that I gave to her any help
that I was able to give. The part Miss
Pickens paid toward expense of the
car was about half what the cost of
running it actually was. I mention
these facts not because I am trying
to play to the grand stand or to put
up any hard luck tale, but that the
following paragraph may be clearly
understood.
This year the County Commission
ers appropriated $600 for the Home
Demonstration work. Again the State
and Federal funds will duplicate the
amount. $75 per month or $900 of
this is set apart for salary for Miss
Pickens. $300 or $25 per month is to
be used for transportation. This $25
will just about buy gas for a Ford
card to do the work Miss Pickens is
planning to do and will leave nothing
for extra tires, repair, etc. This is
going upon the supposition that Miss
Picken3 has a car which, as Mark
Twain would say, is greatly exag
gerated.
I went before the Board of County
Commissioners last Monday and
stated these facts hoping they might
in their great wisdom find it expe
dient to furnish a car to Miss Pick
ens. They did not think it worth
while. For this reason I am submit
ting the following for their consider
ation and for the consideration of
the people of Johnston County:
Salary and expense appro
priated $1,200.00
Expense account.. $300.00
Board at $20 per
month 240.00
Cost of Ford car. . 387.50
Extra cost of run
ning car 120.00
d>i f\ An r a I
(.OU
Balance $152.50
You will note that the above leaves
$152.50 with which Miss Pickens
may clothe herself in purple and fine
linen and buy a jar or two of cold
cream to keep too painful sunburn
blisters from driving away restful
slumber after a day's loitering out
in the country over a canner tryiag
to be thankful that she has the priv
ilege of serving the people of John
ston County.
Please understand that Miss Pick
ens is in Raleigh attending the can
ning school and she knows not that
I am writing this. Just "cuss" Kelly
if you do not like it; but remember
it is the truth ? and somewhere I have
read: "The truth shall make you
free."
Knowing Miss Pickens as I know
her I would judge that she is no
"quitter" and will do just about what
the above figures indicate before she
will quit the job while she is needed.
I am just wondering if the sense of
fair play which I know is inherent
in the right thinking people of John
ston will permit this thing. Remem
ber also I have no word of criticism
for the County Commissioners. They
have done what they think best, and
that being the case I honor them for
standing by their convictions. Even
if that were not true I have barely
enough sense as a woman to know
better than to set lip my feeble opin
ion against a decision handed out
from superior brains contained in th?
craniuma of any set of men whatso
ever.
In passing I might as well mention
the fact that all this has confirmed
me in the opinion that it is not a
pood business policy for me to fur
nish a car to do work in Johnston
County that the county itself is not
able to do. I take it that if the county
is not able to do this thing, then it
would be disrespectful for a pen
sioner of the county and a small
atom such as I to presume to do this
thing. For all of the above reasons I
hereby respectfully offer my resig
nation as a candidate to furnish a car
and to furnish myself for about half
of the work as heretofore for abso
lutely nothing. It places Johnston
County in the pauper class and I
know full well she with all her good
people does not belong there.
Finally, I know that the commis
sioners will do what the people of
Johnston County want them to do
lt must be fear of censure by igno
rant or conservative voters that keeps
any set of men in office from doing
what wisdom, prudence and far-sight
edness would dictate. The good of the
whole county and the best interests
of all its people are the things 1
personally desire. For these things 1
have toiled and hoped without fear
or favor for the pa^t five years. For
these things in Johnston and else
where I shall always be ready to "do
my bit."
Last year there were more than
twice enough canned goods reported
saved that would otherwise have
been lost than it would have taken
to pay the whole of Miss Pickens'
salary end expense. This year some
thing like 20,000 tin cans are already
accounted for out in the homes of
Johnston and these good women and
men who are going to fill these
cans have either been taught already
or must be taught how to do this
work.
In addition to this work of conserv
ing products that would otherwise
be wasted is the great big purptue
of helping make better living con
ditions all over our county. This is
being done and may be done by fol
lowing out the plans we have already
begun of working through the schools
and school centers. I know this is
worth while. What do you think
about it?
And now comes the statement of a
fact that may be of more or less in
terest to my beloved teachers and
pupils and friends in Johnston Coun
ty. It is that I will not be connected
with the work in Johnston r.ftor July
first. For almost five years I have
gone in and out among the highways
any byways of Johnston doing what
ever I might do to be of help in the
better development of the best in
terests of Johnston County people.
I do not know what of good I may
have done or whether anything worth
while. I do know that the people as a
whole have been mighty good to me
and the keenest regret I have in
leaving is the fact that I may not
again find people who may be as
loyal to me or whom I may learn to
know and to love as I love the peo
ple of Johnston County.
There are so many .whom I would
like to see and so many words of ap
preciation that I would like to say
that I shall content myself by saying
all the good things are treasured up
in my heart where they will stay to
make my life stronger and happier
than if I had never known my John
ston County people.
I shall bo in my office in Smithfield
the greater part of the time until
July first and I want to see any and
all of my friends who may find it
convenient to call before I go from
Johnston.
ELIZABETH KELLY.
Smithfield, N. C., June f>, 1917.
Messrs. Will I). Arera and George
T. Whitley attended the commence
ment at Chapel Hill this week. They
are enthusiastic about the addresses
of Secretary of War, Newton D.
Baker, and Secretary of the Navy,
Josephus Daniels. Seldom has any in
stitution of learning been so highly
honored with commencement speak
ers as has been the State University
this year ? two members of the Presi
dent's Cabinet, and they the two men
on whom the eyes of the world are
centered at this time.
Rev. J. M. Duncan will preach next
Sunday morning at 11 o'clock at
Sardis church and at Live Oak church
th? sam? day at 4 ?'clock.
AT THE CAPITAL OF BANNER.
Mr. J. A. Holt is killed in Railroad
Wreck. Mr. Nat McLamb Dies of
Toxine l'oison. Banner Township
Registered 228 I'nder Selective
Draft. Boy Scoute Take An Out
ing. Many Other Items of Interest.
Benson, June 7. ? Mr. and Mrs.
William Henry Barbour, of Fuquay
Springs, left for their home today, af
ter spending several days with rela
tives near town.
Miss Julia Canaday left this morn
ing for Aulander where she will visit
Miss Mary Cook for some time.
Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Surles and Mr.
and Mrs. A. E. Surles went up to
Kenly yesterday on business matters,
returning home last night.
Miss Swannie Paschal returned
home yesterday from Jonesboro
where she spent Sunday and Monday
with relatives and friends.
Messrs. Charlie Johnson, A. L.
Barefoot, Jefferson Barefoot, A. B.
Hudson and Jim Raynor went up to
Raleigh Monday on business.
Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Faircloth went
to Sanford the first of the week
where they were called because of the
serious injury of Mr. J. A. Holt in a
railroad wreck. Mr. Holt is a brother
of Mrs. Faircloth.
Mr. R. P. Todd was a visitor to
Garner and Raleigh Tuesday on busi
ness matters, returning home Wed
nesday morning.
Mr. Charlie L. Guy, of Dunn, was a
visitor to our city Wednesday after
noon for a short while.
Messrs. D. B. Denning, W. R. Den
ning, Lonnie Denning and Ezra Par
ker returned Wednesday morning
from Washington City where they
went Monday to atend the Reunion
being held there.
Mr. J. F. Thornton, a prosperous
farmer, of Bentonsville township,
was in the city Tuesday on business
matters.
Miss Floy Johnson, of near Four
Oaks, recently spent several days
here at the home of her sister, Mrs.
E. F. Moore.
Mr. Lynn Reaves, of Raeford, was
here Sunday to attend the burial of
his sister's husband, Mr. Nat Mc
Lamb.
Mr. Edgar Johnson, who holds a
position with a jewelry store in Ox
ford, was here Sunday visiting rela
tives.
Messrs. A. V .Norris, Joe Norris,
W. H. Royal, George Holland and
others attended the Federal Court
at Raleigh Monday.
Mr. Leary Wood, who has been in
school at Trinity College for the past
year, returned home the first of the
week.
Mr. William Moore, of Smithfield,
was hsre Sunday with his parents,
Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Moore.
Mrs. Lucy Canaday, of Elevation
township, recently spent a few days
here at the home of her son, Mr.
Claud Canaday.
Miss Vallie Hill was a visitor to
Smithfield Sunday, returning in the
afternoon.
Mr. Eugene Jernigan left Satur
day for Philadelphia where he has
accepted a position through the sum
mer.
Messrs. Charlie Benson and Rich
ard Benson returned yesterday after
noon from Washington City, where
they attended the Confederate Re
union. They report a very large
large crowd and a fine time.
Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Woodall and
children and Mrs. O. A. Barbour and
son, O. A. Barbour, Jr., went up to
Pittsboro and spent Sunday and
Monday at the home of Rev. and
Mrs. Preston Woodall.
Misses Vivian Connor and Mabel
Evans, of Rich Square, are here for
several days visit to the home of
Rev. and Mrs. J. T. Stanford.
Mrs. H. W. Royal and little daugh
ter, of Richmond, Va., are here for a
few days at the home of Mr. and
Mrs. W. H. Royal.
Mr. Mark Barbour, of Duke, re
cently spent a few days here with
relatives in and near Benson.
Mr. C. L. Porter, Superintendent
of this Division, with head-quarters
at Rocky Mount, was a visitor to our
city for a few hours this week.
Mr. Baldy Barber took his daugh
ter, Mrs. Talton Jernigan, up to the
Wilson Hospital the first of the week.
She is suffering with appendicitis.
Mr. and Mrs. R. U. Barbour and
Mr. Talbert Stevens went up to
Raleigh today on business matters.
The little child of Haywood Lucas,
?f Duke, died Friday night and was
buried at the cemetery here Saturday
afternoon.
Mr. Carrol Holmes, of Farmville,
recent spent several days here with
relatives. He returned to his home
the first of the week.
Mr. A. L. Barefoot is spending a
few days in Raleigh where he is
having his eyes treated tins week.
The Boy Scouts, of Benson, are
spending this week down in Cumber
land County at Rhodes Pond. They
are about ten in number and left
hero Monday afternoon to camp till
Friday, taking their tents, cooking
utensils and other camping articles
with them.
There were 228 young men who
registered here Tuesday between the
ages of 21 and 31 years. Judging
from this number from our township
Johnston County registered far above
the number accredited to it for regis
tration.
Mr. J. A. Holt, brother to Mrs.
J. B. Faircloth, of our city, was
killed Monday in a railroad wreck in
South Carolina, or so seriously injur
ed that he died later in a hospital
where he was taken. He was only 23
years old and was not married. The
remains were taken to Sanford where
the interment took place yesterday
afternoon.
Mr. Nat McLamb, a farmer about
sixty-three years of age, a resident
of Benson, diet! at his home here
Sunday night, after an illness of five
days flrom Toxine poison. His re
mains were buried Monday afternoon
at the McLamb Cemetery one mile
south of Benson. He leaves a widow,
besides a large number of brothers
and sisters, to mourn his death. His
wife, who has also been very sick, is
slowly improving at this time.
In the voting contest which has
just closed at Peacock's Drug Store,
the first prize, a five passenger Ford
touring car, was won by Mrs. E. R.
Canaday, the second prize, a 15
jewel Elgin watch with a check for
$125, was won by Mrs. S. C. Smith;
the third prize, a fifteen-dollar Ivey
brush set with a $10 check, was won
by Miss Myrtle Ashcraft; the fourth
prize a ten-dollar lavalliere with a $15
check, was won by Mrs. Alie Smith;
and the fifth prize, a $15 diamond
locket, was won by Miss Claudia
Wood.
THE MIGHTY ROI.L OF HONOR.
Many Still Registering. Attorney
General Approves Action of Pro
vost Marshal General in Authoriz
ing an Extension of Time for Reg
istration.
Washington, June 6. ? The mighty
roll of honor of American manhood
had begun to reach Washington to
night from the States that had com
pleted their count of the men of mil
itary r.?c registered yesterday. At
a late hour only a few complete re
ports had been received, but prelim
inary unofficial returns were sufficient
to show that millions of men await
the call to arms.
The official figures were too scant
for an acurate estimate of the num
ber who have registered. The first re
ports showed that the census bureau
estimates of eligibles had not been
equalled, but officials pointed out that
the numbers by which one or two
cities alone had exceeded the esti
mates would wipe out the entire de
ficiency of the several smaller States
sending in the first official returns.
In some of these cities registration
still was in progress today, the attor
ney general having approved the ac
tion of Provost Marshal General
Crowder in authorizing an extension
of time where cards were lacking or
where the registration machinery
proved inadequate to its task.
Until the records of the great man
ufacturing centers are completed re
sults of the registration cannot be
gauged accurately. General Crowder
said tonight that it was not to be ex
pected that the registration figures
would check with the census esti
mates, if for no other reason becr.usa
some hundreds of thousands of men
in the army and national guard who
were not required to register.
Messages from governors all over
the country shewed that there are rel
atively few slackers to be dealth with.
Heavy Rainfall Yesterday.
Smithfield had a heavy rainfall
here yesterday, 1.72 inches. There
were two downpours and the second
was one of the heaviest rains that
ev#r f?U here.
THE NEWS IN CLAYTON.
Young Dentist of Raleigh Claims
One of Clayton's Popular and Ac
complished Young Women as His
Life Companion. Superintendent
lluggins and Complete Corps of
Teachers Ke-Elected With Only
Two Exceptions. Others Items.
Clayton, June 6. ? Miss Mary Pitts,
of Elk Hill, Va., is visiting friends
here.
Miss Mildred Branham spent last
week in Baptist Center section with
Miss Veta Austin.
Messrs. Aubrey Massey and Battle
Tomlinson, of Wilson's Mills, were
here Monday and Tuesday to attend
the Bass- Massey wedding Monday
night.
Misses Alta Dedham, Elizabeth
Denton, Mrs. L. L. Dedham, Mrs.
Dick Griffin and Mrs. W. R. Smith,
all of Selma, were in town for a few
hours Tuesday.
On last Sunday night the pastors
of the Baptist and Methodist churches
here changed pulpits. Mr. Hamby
preached at the Methodist church
and Mr. Sikes at the Baptist church.
Miss Eloise Turley is spending
some time with friends and relatives
at Pine Level.
Messrs. C. E. Kornegay, A. L. Fu
trell, Misses Gladys Whitley, Mildred
Perkins and Omeiga Wellons, all of
Selma, were in town for a few hours
Sunday afternoon.
Mr. M. A. Huggins left Wednesday
of last week for his home at Marion,
S. C. After a few days visit there to
his parents he will attend the sum
mer school at Wake Forest, taking a
special course in German and French.
At the beginning of the fall term Mr.
Huggins will return to Clayton as
our Superintendent for another year.
Clayton is indeed fortunate to have
such an ideal man to fill the place of
Superintendent of Clayton Graded
School.
Mr. and Mrs. Waldo H. Gower, of
Grifton, spent several days last week
with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. R.
H. Gower at West Clayton.
Mr. James Hall, of the Second
North Carolina Regiment, now sta
tioned at Goldsboro, spent Sunday
here with Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Car
ter.
On Monday night, June 4th, 1917,
at the hour of nine o'clock, at the
lovely home of Mr. and Mrs. J. W.
Massey, on Main street, their daugh
ter, Miss Lois Massey, became the
bride of Dr. C. L. Bass, of Raleigh.
This marriage was announced for
June 26th, but owing to the regis
tration on Tuesday, June 5th, it was
hastened. The bride is a very pop
ular young woman of our town, hav
ing finished high school here two
years ago and since that time has
been in school at Oxford College. She
has a host of friends here as well as
elsewhere, who wish for her a long
and happy married life. Dr. Bass is
a young dentist of Raleigh, a man of
distinguished character and well
known throughout Raleigh and vicin
ity.
We feel proud to say that all of
the teachers who taught here during
the past year have been re-elected
except Miss Katiebet Morris, who did
not apply, and Miss Stringfellow,
third grade teacher. Because of short
age of funds some of the teachers
will have to double up on their work
and no one will be elected to take
the places of these two left out. It
is a great loss to the school to lose
such an excellent primary teacher
as Miss Katiebet Morris. She has
been engaged in the work here for
about six years and has done excel
lent work. Many of the parents re
gret that she is not coming back.
Miss Louise Taylor, of Rocky
Mount, is visiting Mrs. T. M. White.
Miss Taylor was one of the bride's
maids at the Bass-Massey wedding.
Dr. p.nd Mrs. J. H. Broughton and
Mr. Jack Broughton, of Raleigh,
were in town Sunday.
Mr. J. J. Lane, of Auburn, was in
town Monday on business.
Mrs. Bennette Nooe, Jr., spent
Wednesday in Raleigh.
Up to the present time the coun
try as a whole has been practically
sleeping with regard to the war. But
we will awake with a sudden start
when the selective draft begins to
draw our own sons and brothers to
the trenches. Tkere will be no lack of
interest from then on. Once thor
oughly rroused to the seriousness of
the situation, the American people
will wade in with sleeves up and stick
until the last dog is hung.