North Carolina Newspapers

Watch The Label On Your Paper, Aa It Carriea The Date Your Subscription Expiree THE ENTERPRISE Advertisers Will Find Our Col umns A Latchkey To Over 1,60(1 Homes Of Martin County. VOLUME XLIV?NUMBER 41 IF'illiamtlon, Martin County, North Carolina, Friday, May 23, 1941. ESTABLISHED 1899 Ten Colored Youths Leave Th is County Thursday For Army Draft Board To Claaaify More | Repi*trant? at Meeting Here Tonight The volunteer list virtually ex hausted, the first young colored men to be drafted for army service offer ed no objections to the call yester day morning when they boarded a bus with two volunteers for Fort Bragg. If the eight draftees had a care in the world, it was not to be noticed in their acts or expressions. In fact, the group showed every will ingness to do the bidding of their government in the name of defense of country Holding order No. 21, William De grafrenread was the first colored man to be drafted into service from this county. He would have answer ed the roll call last fall had there been no volunteers to take his place, but the patriotic lads aided him in keeping out of the army for six or seven months. Degraffenread is from Chapel Hill. He came to this county not so long ago to work in a lumber plant at Jamesville. Several sections of the county were represented in the group of ten who left yesterday morning for the army fort. Their names are, Euphrates Eu gene Singleton, Jamesville; George Henry Forrest, Robersonville; Fran cis Lucious Thomas, Hasaell; Louis Embor Ruffin, Williamston; Isaac Cornelius Sutton, Jamesville, Wor ley James. Hardens; Thomas Ed wards, and William nr>flmff??nrna H of Chapel Hill; William Henry Bos ton. Dardens, and Thomas Ryan, Wil liamston. Sutton and Ryan were the only two volunteers in the feroup. The first Martin County colored native to be drafted into service was Francis Lucious Thomas, of Hassell Next Tuesday, four white draftees leave for Fort Bragg. Ten more white youths are slated to leave oh June 3rd. The county draft board, meeting here tonight, will classify several hundred registrants, and order med ical examinations in preparation for more quota assignments next month. There are approximately 700 ques tionnaires to be reviewed for the classification of registrants in this county. The distribution of question naires has been delayed pending the receipt of additional printed forms from the government. While the present draft machinery continues to turn at a fairly rapid speed, changes in the Selective Serv ice Act are being considered. Accord ing to reports, war department offi cials favor a lowering of the draft age to include men 18 years of age up to and including those 25 years old. It is understood that an act of Congress will be necessary before the present system can be changed, meaning that it will be several weeks or months before a change if any will be made. An unofficial check is not avail able just at this time, but it is esti mated that Martin County now has around 400 men in the nation's arm ed forces, including those young men who volunteered their services. Local High School Band To Appear in Concert Next Week Special Program To He Held Under Light* Here On May 28th Bringing to a close their first year of training, members of the local high school band will appear in a public concert under lights at the local ball park next Wednesday eve ning at 8 o'clock. The Edenton band was to have appeared in concert with the local musicians, but Director McCullers stated a few days ago that on account of the uncertainty of travel over the river fill, and be cause a few of the band members would be on vacation, it would not be advisable to participate Director Butler of the local band has rear ranged the program and will offer an hour of real entertainment for the audience. Members of the local band are: Cornets: Frances Jarman, Court ney Jenkins, Louise Griffin, Hugh Horton, Jr., Billy Mercer, Alberta Swain, Anne Lindsley, Lola Peele, Lib Taylor, Betty Sue Clark, Betsy Manning; Clarinets: Jack Bailey, Fred Har dison, John Whitley, Joe Wynne, Anne Meador, Carrie Dell Wobble ton, Hal Dickens, Zack Piephoff, Jack Booker, Bruce Powell Roger son; Altos: James Carrow, John Goff, Simon Perry, Reuben Williams; Baritones: Eliza Daniel, Jimmie Leggett, Susie Revels; Trombones: Milton Moore, Billy Peele, J. B. Taylor, Jr., Billy Waters; Percussion: Frank Lilley, Benny Weaver, Jimmy Mitchell, Marjorie Grey Dunn, Mary Kate Swain, Bill Griffin, Gilbert Woolard, Sammy Taylor, Julian Mason, Tom Bran don. Drum Majorettes: ^nne Fowden, head drum majorette; Delia Jane Mobley, Mary Warren, Roae Leggett Sylvia Green. ? Crop Outlook in the County Darkened by Adverse Weathei Unfavorable weather during the past few days has darkened the out look for tobacco fanners in this county, some of the growers declar ing that the situation as it existed yesterday wis becoming serious. While there are a few bright spots on the farm for some crops, the sit uation. as a whole, is not at all en couraging. one farmer was quoted as saying yesterday. Troubled by cold weather and the prospects as of,March, farmers then experienced an almost ideal season for transplanting their tobacco crops Perfect or near-perfect stands were generally reported in late April and in early May. Dry weather has since reversed the picture, and in some the plants died. Quite a few farm ers are busy resetting their crops, and the season for that work is get ting late. In those cases where norm al stands were reported, the crop is growing very little, some of the far mers believing that the plants will harden and "button out" premature ly. Favorable weather conditions from now on will alter the outlook considerably, but just now tobacco farmers are disturbed over the crop prospects. A fairly good stand of cotton is reported over the county as a whole. The corn crop is doing well, and pea nuts planted early m the season are growing fairly rapidly. Late plant ings. however, have not come up. and instances, farmers are resetting the > in quite a few cases soybeans will crops in their entirety. It is estimat- have to be replanted for a stand, ed that on an average 20 per cent Gardens are drying up and even the of the crop has been reset in the fruit trees are failing. The rain fall county. One Bear Grass farmer, de- ing last Saturday night hardly laid layed by blue mold, finished trans- the dust in some sections, but crops planting his crop only last Saturday, are doing fairly well where a heav Last reports state that nearly all of i ier fall was reported. CHECK TAX DODGERS | A final check tu round-up tax dodgers in this county will be effected next Monday when the several list-takers meet with Commissioner C. I). Carstarphen for a study of a long list of sus pects. Every effort is bring made not to accuse any one unjustly, but at the same time equally strenuous efforts are being made to run down the tax dodg er, willful or otherwise. Commissioner Carstarphen es timates that there are between 750 and 1.000 persons in this county who should have but who did not list their holdings or poll for 1941 taxation. Lone Case Is Called In County Court by Judge W.H.Coburn Grimr lloliduy (fivi'H Stiiiimrr Slump Appruruiu'i* of Final Bunkriiptcv ? # 1 Experiencing a seasonal slump j iuring the past several weeks, the Vlartin County Recorder's Cotirt last Monday appeared on the verge of bankruptcy. Business was bad, the rourt collecting hardly enough to neet oyer-head expenses. As for meeting the payroll, the court left he officers holding the bag. I Judge W H. Coburn, convening ' the tribunal promptly at 9:30 o'clock, cleared the docket in about ten min jtes and ordered an adjournment. There have been very few times in the history of the court that there wasn't more than one case on the docket. In one or two instances there have |>een 3s few as two or three cases on the docket, and in other in stances there have been as many as H or 32. When the docket carries only one case, it is fairly certain that crime is taking an holiday in the county. There were possibly a few fights and assaults and while it is possible that one or two of them will find their way to the court for Judge Co burn and Solicitor Don Johnson to settle, most of those minor or trivial cases will be cleared from the dockets in the justice of the peace courts. Booker T. Hill, charged with vio lating the liquor laws, pleaded guil ty and the court suspended judg ment upon payment of the cost. Oth ?r than Hill and a few of his sym pathizers there were few others in .he court room for the session Mon day morning. t Vital StatistiesFor Griffins Township ??? Births outnumber deaths three and )ne-half to one in Griffins Township last year, a review of vital statistics for the district showing there were 21 births and six deaths during the period. Ten of the 21 births were among the white population. Four jf the eleven colored births were classed as illegitimate. There are two unusual features noticed in the vital statistics for the district Although it is about an av erage township. Griffins has about the lowest birth rate in the county. It has a correspondingly low death rate, and strange as it may seem there wasn't a single death reported among the colored population there last year The case is equaled in Bear Grass where there were no deaths reported among the colored popula tion last year. There are compara tively few colored families in Grif fins. and yet the colored births out numbered the whites by a margin of one: They live to a fairly ripe old age in the district, the youngest penon to die there last year being 39 years of age. The average age for the sev en who died during the period was 63 years, five of the persons being 64 years old or older. Various causes for the deaths were given as follows: tuberculosis, apoplexy, pneumonia, Brights, asthma and cancer. Martin Farmers To Cooperate In Food Plan For Defense # Mori- Tliun Three Have Pledged ,To Plant Ami Knlnr^r (?ur<h?ii* ? , That Martin County farmers can | Fir cfcpcndod 'upon to cooperate in } the food and feed for family living campaign in connection with the Na tional Defense Program is already established as a fact, according^tc a report coming from the agricultur al building here this morning. More than 300 farmers have already sign ed special cards, declaring their will ingness to participate in the pro gram. While the authorities behind the program are not saying that there will actually be a food shortage, it is indeed evident that they are tak ing every step possible and plead ing for the nation to make ready for any emergency that might present itself. There are large stores of such basic commodities as tobacco, but if the hungry millions could get food the supply would soon be exhaust ed Three hundred thousand enroll ment cards have boon printed and distributed to every North Carolina farm family, together with a letter of explanation from their county and home agent. There is nothing com pulsory or binding about signing the cards. It is merely a statement of the intention of the farm family to aid in the National Defense Program. Next fall farm families will be graded, and those who have produc ed at least 75 per cent of their food and feed requirements for the year will receive handkomely engraved certificates signed by the Governor The Extension Service has prepar ed a guide to show the daily and an nual food requirements for individ uals and families as a part of the campaign. One of the guides has been placed in the hands of every family, ^^^rovide an adequate year Food Guid<- shows that "be produced on th farm anmm^^Jor each person at least: 73 gallomPVif milk; 26 pounds :>f butter; 53 pounds (dressed weight) r>f beef and veal; 75 pounds (dressed weight) of pork and lard; 31 pounds (dressed weight) of poultry; 30 doz en eggs; 22 pounds of lamb*fish, and game; 4 bushels of sweet or Irish potatoes; 160 pounds of green and yellow vegetables; 20 pounds of dried beans arid peas and nuts; 2 bushels of tomatoes; 160 pounds of other vegetables, such as beets, on ions, and parsnips; 160 pounds of fruits; 3 gallons of syrup or honey; 2 bushels of corn for meal and grits; and 2 bushels of*wheat for flour and cereal. A careful check will be made on participation in the program, and those who fail to fill in and return their cards will be visited by one of the workers of the county council to clear up any misunderstandings about the campaign Installing Paper Making Equipment ??? It is understood that 11 of the 22 freight carloads of machinery be ing brought to the plant of the North Craolina Pulp Company in the lower part of this county from the Cher ry River Paper Company plant at Richwood, W Va., have arrived and are being unloaded. TTie equipment includes a large paper machine which was obtained when the Kieck hefer Container Company, of which the North Carolina Pulp Company is a subsidiary, bought the West Vir ginia plant about two years ago Officials of the firm hope the re mainder of the machinery will be received and the machinery reassem bled in time to begin operation of it by the latter part of July The plant at Richwood was closed down about the first of May to dismantle and re move the machinery?to this county. It is understood that about 30 fam ilies, members of which have been engaged in operation of the equip ment being moved, will arrive with in the next few weeks. Need For United Service Group Is Stressed At Meet Martin (loiinty A*kr?l t?? Rai*e 0350 For support of the Inited Program Combining into the United Service Organizations for National Defense, tin agencies of the Young Men's Christian Associations. National Catholic Community Service. Salva tion Army. Young Women's Christ ian Association, the Jewish Welfare Board and the National Travelers Aid Association are launching an ex tensive drive in an effort to handle a big problem resulting from the en campment of more than one and mo-half million men The govern ment can handle the situation on [he military reservations, but trou ble is looming off the reservations, ind a united effort is being made to remedy that situation. There have been few times in history when a drong morale was more necessary than now. It is for building up and maintaining that morale, that the government is appealing to the Unit ed Service Organizations to step in and help, to create acceptable cen ters of entertainment and training for the youth of the land when on leave from the military reservation. In this connection. Chief of Staff General George C. Marshall said i few days ago. "If you could see my iaily mail . from women all over the country who have boys in this Army, you would realize bow vastly important it is that we do something [his thing on the military reserva tion. but we very urgently need your assistance . . to help matters off the eservation." Deplorable conditions have been reported off tin- reservations in many sections, and it is to improve these conditions that the several organi sations have been united into one group to tackle the problem. Martin County has nearly 400 men n the armed forces It is to provide raining and wholesome entertain meht off the reservations for these 400 men and the million and half ither members of the armed forces that a nation-wide drive to handle he problems, to assist service men uid supplement the morale of fight ing men is being launched. Martin County is being asked to raise $350 between now and June 15 :o support the program. North Caro lina's quota is $124,500 and that for he nation is $10,765,000. Ray H. Goodmon, chairman of the (Continued on page six) Norton Unpledged For Committeeman While apparently leaning toward the Hoey camp, Attorney Hugh G. Horton, member of the State Dem >cratic Executive Committee, has lot pledged his vote in the hot race .or National Committeeman. "I am ?c7tng to the meeting tonight at eight /clock feeling free to vote for eith t Mr Hoey or Mr. Reynolds, und he facts as they are revealed there vill determine my vote," Mr Hur on declared this morning before eaving for Raleigh about noon The Hoey ring in this district is -laiming a solid vote, but the claims ire apparently unfounded according 6 reports coming from the common /oters. Possibly Hoey holds an ad /antage as a hang over from .the old Shringhaus clique, and he will pos sibly get a majority of the executive ?ommitteemen's votes in this dis rict. In this county a preliminary sur /ey made at random and admittedly >n a small scale, the county wa.^ more han three-to-one against Hoey, the ither fourth confessing no great in Lerest in the contest. The office of National Committee Tian of the Democratic Party appar ently is more important than many xdieve judging from the fight be ween Clyde Hoey and Dick Rey loldsf The old political ghost from he Hoey-McDonald gubernatorial ?ampaign is riding again, but this ime it has met with stubborn op position offered by Mr Reynolds he man who supported and work d for President Roosevelt's re-elec ion last November, while Mr Hoey emaintd at home with his state po itical knitting and did nothing. Dick Reynolds is not to be confus d with olio Bob Reynolds. They are lot related. COMPLIANCE i j Starting their annual check of Martin County farms to de termine compliance under the farm program, eight supervisors or surveyors felt the heat of a mid-summer and angry sun this week. Other supervisors will be added to the list in early June, County Supervisor D. N. Hlx stating that efforts will be made to complete the check by early August. Farmers are asked to cooper ate with the supervisors by ac companying them on the field trips and by definitely deter mining the plan of operation, meaning to what extent each tenant shares, If any, in the crop. Movement Started fori County-Wide Library' State Funds Will Be Made Available For Library Units Soon * | I'ri-Counlv Set-lip Future-el In K<'|*r?'H4>nlaliveH in Meet AI KiiIh thoiiv ill< ? ?| Assured State aid, representative citizens Imm the various sections of Martin County meeting in Roberson ville Wednesday afternoon launched a vigorous movement for the crea tion of a county-wide library service as a part of a possible tri-county or two-county set-up. Meeting with the group of more than fifteen leading citizens of the county. Miss Marjorie Heal, of the North Carolina Library ! Commission, explained the State-aid library program and discussed a pos sible set-up for this and adjoining counties. The program was heartily approved, and during the next few days plans will be advanced in an effort to perfect a set-up possibly with one or two adjoining counties. the proposed program which is .certain to make available library books to citizens in every nook and corner of the county, is dependent upon county cooperation. The little band of leaders, supported by inter cmu ..?r '1 the ten townships, will appear be r, .. * ? "I'Ft ai uc I lore the county commissioners at their next meeting and discuss the proposed library program A com paratively small appropriation will be necessary to match the State aid and place the plan into effect |>ur ?ng the meantime plans of a more l,ss defm lie pattern for a pro posed set-up will be pr,.pared and laid before the authorities It was pointed out at the meeting n Robersonville Wednesday after n t,la! ,h<> library service will ?>?? made available, to every section of the county, that the distribution of ooks Will be effected common iowmsh,;r,M "v,ry ,,n-,,r Those who hayvmade a study of c proposed plan are convinced that erne' ru "" '""P rate he worth-while movement which will cos, a, the most notour live cents per capita Commenting on the proposed Stat,, ?m' program. Miss Heal a. W(,?. say ay '""I the wing to The I<141 General Assembly do tenan! f ''s,i1'll,llsll""nt and main gr I m rt # u! libn'r''s an bit, gral purt of the educational program of a great state. K m Public library service in North Carolina has been very uneven the !~ of no county has been s'uffi I ant fo, books, trained service, and In extension of facilities to all the P'i'P.e ery section needs addi amal money The Stat,. Aid Fund shall supplement local funds and Th. N* nzi""' publir 'ibraries. Hie North Carolina Library Com missi,Hoard was ,barged by the ,41 General Assembly with the ad ministration of a I'ubbe Library ?Service Fund of $100,000 a year to improve*, stimulate, increase, and equalize public library service, throughout all sections of the Stale I At a meeting on March 31, 1941 | he Library Commission Board a< cordingly adopted plans for alloca tion of th,. fund, taking into consul J ration local needs, ares grid popu lation to be served, local interest I and other factors. ?' Whereas, the improvement anil in ereas,. of public library service rests t r'citv I""1 *""" P^'hcipation. or the a n .COU"ty "PPfupiistions or the amounts voted for public li brary purposes shall be to, or, equit loca'i ''i'Cr'"SIS "V?r such funds al ine ated e,r voted for library se rvice during the year 1940-41 Library service depends upon the "h'hty. the training, the- experience and the Wide knowledge of th?- li brunan. It is recommended that in regions and countie s participating in ! StaU; A"' program, the extern (Continued on page six) " ? (county (jlroup Will Attend Institute ??? County officers and authorities in cluding also Sergeant L. L Jackson of the Highway Patrol and possibly one or two membe rs of the local po le departments are planning to7o to Chape Hill tomorrow in searfh of biMik laming' The Institute of Government is conducting a two day institute for the interpretation Of the laws of the. 1941 General As sembly and the National Congress particularly affecting cltie-s ami ?owns, counties and the State of Nui th Carolinir. ? Similar xchixils have been of marked value to officers and county and town officials, and reports state that this county will be represented tomorrow on the Hill. As far as it could be learned early today, Messrs Joe H and C. B Roebuck, L. B. Wynne, Robert L. Perry and C. D. Carstarphen will represent the var ious county departments. ( II M'l.VIN Martin County has a woll-balanc ed representation in Uncle Sam's arn\ed forces, including possibly 400 men in the various branches of the service. Up until recently, however, the county had no representative in the Army's religious training group. Rev It T Cox, former Oak City young man and son of the late Mr. 4ud?M-i*.?lt>MH>.. .C.ox, c sol ving chaplain at Camp Croft, S C . and holds the rank of lieutenant. A bro ther of Mrs. R A. Haislip, of this county, the young man was graduat ed by Phillips College. Oklahoma, and earned liis master of arts de gree at Drake University. He held a successful pastorate in Virginia be fore volunteering his services. Jehovahs Witness Jailed On T Vespass Charge In W indsor ??? !No \ i-il Milllr Ill-re Keeelillx ll> l{e|iri>H?>iilali\i>H of Special Krli^iun- Seel ?J S. tiufflier', member of a relig ions sect known as "Jehovah's Wit masses," was arrestee! in Windsor Wednesday on a charge of trespass. Maintaining his innocence, Huffie r, a Norfolk man, refused to pay the $ti costs of the trial held before Man istrate IV T IVrry. and lie was or deled jailed to await trial in Bertie County's general court on June 2 No fine was assessed against the man, and reports state that he made no effort to raise the $25 appeal hond | Another report stated that it was j fairly apparent that the Witness was inviting persecution, just or unjust, I whichever" it might - be. *~ Riltlner, traveling with a woman I Witness, went to the home of Nov ill Freo Surratt, Methodist minister, in Windsor thai morning Offering I to sell the minister certain kinds of none was needed, the rpinister fur ther explaining that he laid more | than he could read already. Huffner was said to have started arguing. Tlie minister kindly asked him to leave the home. Huffner continued the argument, and the minister gen 11V escorted him to the yard Wln;n _ Huffner failed to leave the yard, the police were called They arrested him for heing a public nuisance and called him before Magistrate Berry. Direct reports from Windsor clear | ly indicated that the minister and the town authorities-.wanted no trou hie with a member of the unique re ligious sect, and they acted only af ter the man virtually invited prose cution in the courts. Members of the rVligious organization have been ar rested in several eastern Carolina towns during recent months for a I leged violation of the law as it rf\ lates to the distribution of pamph lets and nther?printcd papers. Sever al have been detained for making themselves public nuisances Their rights have been upheld by the high er courts, hut the ease in Windsor apparently has a little different an (Continued on page six) Bids Hi wived For Paving River Fill Bids for paving the Roanoke Riv er fill at this point were received by the State Highway and Public Works Commission in Raleigh yeg> terday, a contract being delayed pending thy completion of a study of the low hid by the authorities to day. While the bid is subject to re jection. it is generally believed that II Will be iUTCpied &h<J colitTueT terms entered into today. Ben H. Martin, Qf Eusley, S. C., was the low bidder on the 2.94 mile* paving project. The proposed con tract calls for a price of $86,980.50. Details in connection with the pro posed contract have not been made public. It isn't likely that the paving work will be started before some time in July. Assessed Property Valuations Show Increase in (.ounty (>ain Stau-?l al Half Million Hollar- ^ illi JawaviH*' To?n?bif I nr< |>orl?-<l Assessi it |>f4?i??-rt \ values in Mar tin County continue upw ard a more township It t taki lenort theii listings A cheek <?l nine townships .lain esy lilt- indcpoi ted shows a M.,m in m.U.. . of $52t!.3?fi over those uf 19411 The ya"! does not include any K.un that miftlil he reported by the col |M>rat inns whose values art' determined with one or two excep tions hv the utility commission Kvrry one of the inly townships re|xirting ?? far show gams, in real property value Only two town ships Cross lto.nl- and Griffins, re ,.oiled lo- ? their 1" noniil prop elt\ Ii.-t11if "lid in each ease the ,,, ,, al \ alio no.I. than offset the lo- in pelaon.il pioiwllt values Cross Roads getting, III W illi a gain of <a.;t101 Personal properly values in Cross Roads dropped from $121. 927 uf 1940 to $95,448 tliis year, a n suiting docr? .ise ??f $26 479 Heal property values jumped from $446, 450 t.> $478,738. ;t resulting gain of $32,288 The nam was reduced to $5,809 after the personal property loss scv>is deducted. In Griffins Township, personal property values dropped from $155. 585 to $1 hr>,174. a decrease of $10, 411 Heal property values jumped from $398 850 to $439,255. a Ham of $45.405 and an inerease in ? ??nihim>f*? v idu. s of $35,094 The seven other townships report ing had gains in personal property values ranging from $377 in Bear Grass to $78,816 in Williamson Heal property values reflected gains in all of the nine townships, ranging from $5,186 in Poplar Point to $217. 014 in Williainston The following tabulation shows the gains, br losses in both personal and real property values for the William Griffins Bear Grass Wdliamston Cross Roads Rohei sonydle Popular. Point Hamilton (loose Nest Totals * IVnotes decrease'. These figures are subject to Cor red it hi and slight changes Wliile there has been an increase in ihi listings hu i? |"'0? d. the v.iiii in values i hardly U|> I" 14''" y , i ;il i xpeclutron II Iim bt > ii I'.iiiil , ,| ..tit, ln'W'1 v. r. that iiiimy mequali lies were eliminutcd ln the listings. the ii valuation was ordered mure for the purpose "f eliminating those inequalities than to hood the total values. A eompnrisoii of values by town slop- will he prepaied liv County T.x Supervisor S. H. Grimes just as soeft- as all the li itn arc strhmrtted and a study can be mad'' Personal Heal $ 3,352 5 22.489 19,411* 45.405 377 18.411 78.816 217.014 26.479* 32.288 18 243 74.403 1.522 5.186 1.145 41,451 24.654 14,509 $128.119 $471,147 Baltic f.oiitimies On Terrific Scale In Mediterranean Hitler Sacrificing Unman Life In Greiil Siiimher*; Hrit i*li Suffer Sen Lohhi'm The battle of the Mediterranean continues to ru^e with increasing ferocity, late reports from the little islam! of Crete stating that Hitler is sacrificing human life 111 great num bers and that British men of war have suffered heavy damage. Launching an attack to capture the island of Crete where tin- Greek government fled for safety, the Germans since last Monday have poured thousands of soldiers into the island by plane, gliders and boats. The invaders were killed in numbers and many were captured, but two key points have been taken and it is certain that Britain has a tough fight on her hands. Other islands are be ing taken, and the whole Mediter ranean picture looks dark for the Knglish. \ The British have been driven from the air and the Stuka dive/t>ombers are raining death and destruction on the opposition, the GerrftaHjr claim ing today that four British cruisers and several destroyers had been sunk in the battle. On the other hand, Britain's navy has dealt death and destruction to Nazi attempts to cross the approximately 80 miles of sea from Greece to the island in boats. The crowded boats were blasted to bits. * In France the unfavorable situa tion is being aggravated by increas ed German pressure. Britain has sent stiff wariimga Lo Lin: French rat lead its, advising them that unoccupied France would be bombed if contin ued collaboration in the manufac ture of, munitions for Germany is continued. The United States has voiced its disgust with the Vichy regime and German stooges parad ing as French leaders. According to the terms of the (Continued on page six)