The Transylvania Times
Published Every Thursday by
TIMES PUBLISHING COMPANY
Brevard, N. C.
THE NEWS THE TIMES
Estab. 1896 Estab. 1931
Consolidated 1932
Entered as second class matter, October 29,
1931, at the Post Office in Brevard, N. C.,
under the Act of March 3, 1879.
ED M. ANDERSON...Publisher
HENRY HENDERSON_Ass’t. Publisher
MISS ALMA TROWBRIDGE_Associate
IRA B. ARMFIELD_Business Manager
SUBSCRIPTION RATES, PER YEAR
In the County, $1.50 Out of the County,$2.00
Thursday, March 18, 1943
Let’s Do It
One of the major accomplishments of
the 1943 session of the state General As
sembly was the passage of the ninth month
school term, which is to become effective
next fall.
This progressive measure provides that
counties have the optional privilege of
operating on a nine months’ basis, or of
continuing on the present eight-month
schedule. In either case, the state will
pay the entire cost.
For years we have favored the nine
months term, but because of the nation’s
dire need for increased production of food
and the corresponding need for children
to help produce this food, we felt that it
would be better to make this plan opera
tive in 1944.
However, an overwhelming majority of
the members of the legislature and Gov.
Broughton were apparently of the opinion
that by next fall the war outlook would
be bright enough to justify this action.
In order to prevent our county from
losing many of its best teachers and to
give our children the advantages of an ex
tra month’s training, we urge the school
authorities to plan now to operate on a
nine months basis during 1943-44.
It is only natural that every good teach
er w'ould prefer to be in a school system
that will operate nine months instead of
eight, and counties that fail to make the
change may have difficulty in getting a
sufficient number of teachers to fill their
requirements.
Really Not So Bad
With two Transylvania county men re
ported by the War Department as “mis
sing in action” on the North African front
during the week of February 14-20, we
were delightfully surprised to learn from
an official statement released last week by
Secretary of War Stimson that the United
States lost only 2,242 men that week as a
result of the big German thrust.
We had concluded that if the losses
from this county were about the average,
the total casualty list for the nation would
be large.
Of the losses, Secretary Stimson report
ed. only 59 were killed, 176 wounded and
2,007 missing in action. It is quite prob
able that Donald Howard Nelson and
Arthur Gravely, as well as the other 2,
005 “missing in action,” may be prisoners,
and not casualties. We share with their
families and friends the anxiety of know
ing more about the whereabouts and wel
fare of these fine young men.
More Victories Needed
While the news for the past week from
the lower Russian front has been bad for
the allied cause, at the same time releases
from all other theatres of the global war
have been given much encouraging in
formation.
In North Africa it is revealed that the
cornered axis armies did not get anywhere
by their desperate lunges in Tunisia and
that the combined allied forces are now
poised for a large-scale offensive that will
destroy Rommel.
General Dwight Eisenhower, who is in
supreme command in Africa, told his men
that the combined weight of the allied
land, naval and air forces would push the
enemy “back into the sea and to destruc
tion.” Action this week is beginning to
prove that statement.
From London came another most grati
fying bit of news. “The British, now push
ing their monthly bomb-sowing rate to the
high level of 12,000 tons, have wrecked
2,000 German war factories, cut Nazi steel
production by 1,250,000 tons annually and
driven at least a million Germans from
their ruined and roofless homes,” the dis
patch stated.
In France thousands of French patriots
waged war on the Nazi invaders, killing
several hundred and wounding many oth
ers. The uprising is still in progress, too,
and supplies are being delivered to the
French guerillas by plane by the allies.
In the Russian central front area, the
Reds are continuing to move forward, re
capturing many towns and in the Pacific
allied bombers are sinking Jap ships at a
rapid pace and destroying enemy planes.
But the tremendous comeback made by
the Germans in the Kharkov area is dis
heartening. With lightening speed, the rein
forced Hitler armies have driven the Rus
sians back and have retaken the Soviets’
fourth city.
A few weeks ago most of us were feel
ing secure in the belief that Germany was
weakening and that the Russians would
continue their march to the German bor
der. In fact, even our high ranking of
ficials were so sure of it that great post
war plans were being advanced rapidly
and our Ambassador to Russia came out
with a strong criticism of Russian govern
ment for failure to stress the amount of aid
which we had sent.
These utterances, were probably sane
and justified, but to say the least, they
were poorly timed. Hitler has just dem
onstrated that he can show as much
strength as ever and unless a real second
front is opened in Europe, he may soon
destroy the Russian army.
It is fine to discuss postwar plans and
to harmonize our peace terms with those
of all of the allied nations, but it seems to
us that the greatest and most important
job of all right now is to win more major
victories. We want to see fewer battles
of words, fewer political battles in Wash
ington, fewer battles of complaint on the
home front and more victories on the
fighting fronts!
On “Sharing”
Rev. B. W. Thomason last Sunday morn
ing at the First Baptist church preached a
compelling sermon on “sharing,” using as
the basis of his discourse the incident of
the rich young ruler who, seeking eternal
life, “turned sorrowfully away” when
Christ told him how he might attain it. He
was unwilling, the minister said, to share
his wealth and privileges with others and
went away into “oblivion.” At life’s end
he found himself rich but impoverished.
Mr. Thomason predicted another world
conflict in a quarter century if the Christ
ian people of the world did not share the
burdens and aspirations of other peoples.
He stated an unpalatable truth, viz., that
we are in large measure responsible for
Hitler. After the last world war, he re
called, we withdrew to our own shores
while Europe drifted into another strug
gle.
Red Reports Fairly Correct
From the outset of the war between the
Hitlerites and the Soviets, the latter have
made what appeared to be fantastic claims
as to the losses inflicted on the enemy.
Premier Stalin himself on more than one
occasion has placed total casualties at a
figure believed to be in excess of all the
German soldiers on the Eastern front. And
as for planes downed, tanks smashed,
guns captured, the claims are even more
astounding.
How much credence can be placed in
these reports?
Henry C. oassidy, chief of the AP bur
eau in Moscow and now on leave in this
country, undertakes to answer the ques
tion. He says they are “substantially reli
able,” and gives the sources as Red Star,
army newspaper; Pravda, Communist or
gan; and the communiques issued twice
daily.
Early in the war, however, Cassidy con
cedes, figures on enemy casualties appear
ed to correspondents to be over-estimated.
Now, since the Reds are going the other
way, he continues, the pressmen consider
the figures more reliable.
The?Red censorship, stern at the begin
ning of the war Cassidy says, is the most
liberal of any warring nation. “Any ar
ticle,” he states, “which seems to them
(the censors) a reasonable interpretation
of the facts given by the Soviet press or
communiques, or witnessed at the front,
is permitted to pass.”
tmm _
By BwlMallon
Washington, March 17 — This
much we know about Ambassador
Standley’s accusation that Stalin
has played down our billion and
a half aid to Russia before his own
people:
Standley is an adult personal
representative of Mr. Roosevelt,
and all such know enough not to
criticize a diplomatic host without
word from the boss. *
It is difficult for any observer
here to believe the old friend of
the president would have dared
to speak even the simple truths
he did without authority. Of cour
se, occasionally, diplomacy requir
es a government to officially deny
what it unofficially knows to be
true.
This much we know despite all
the official and congressional ef
forts to becloud and smooth over
the incident:
At Casablanca, Stalin was worse
than absent. He was unrepresent-;
ed, and he explained the vacuum!
he left there in a very peculiar
way. He said he was busy fight
ing.
He left out all mention of
American aid in his speech to the
world last week, saying Russia was
carrying the brunt of the fighting
alone.
But more important to skilled
phrase-fencers in the diplomatic
world at this end, all Stalin’s re
cent speeches have taken the posi
tion that he is not warring on Ger
many, that he has no intention of
destroying Germany as a nation,
or even Germany as a military
power—but only Hitlerism.
These Moscow winds have sown
the seeds of suspicion, not only
here, but among all the American
people, that Russia may be fight
ing for herself alone, and there
fore might consider a different
kind of peace than we would, per
haps an earlier one.
It is only simple, truthful re
porting to set out these facts,
none of which is secret, although
the official reaction' to Standley’s
very limited statement here was
a beating of the bushes in con
gress demanding Standley’s re
turn.
Whether Standley returns is un
important by comgw-ison with the
fact that he has thrown out into
the open a situation which must
be met by both Moscow and Wash
ington fairly and honestly on the
open table. The time for pretend
ing by both sides has long since
passed.
To let such seeds grow unnotic
ed under a plea that no questions
should be asked concerning an
ally, would only plant a real dis
trust which could never be ad
justed. Open questioning brings
answers and genuine understand
ing.
The only thing remarkable about
Standley’s views to me was their
suggestion that while Russia
knows everything going on in the
United States and has $1,500,000,
000 of our planes, tanks, etc., we
know nothing about what is going
on in Russia.
Stalin can easily prove that he
is not fighting a war for himself
and will not expect a peace for
himself by his deeds in the im
mediate future — including the
sending of an authentic represen
tative to the coming Welles meet
ing here on the post-war world.
Most confusing aspect of Stand
ley’s observations was the simul
taneous speech of Vice President
Wallace, warning Americans they
would never attain post-war peace
“if they doublecross Russia.”
Standley and Wallace seem to
have the official shoe on opposite
feet.
But juggling of shoes is the
order of the day. Mrs. Roosevelt
announced that fourth term talk
should be cut off, because it would
hurt the immediate war effort.
Her friends, like Senator Mead, of
New York, who would not for the
world say a word she would not
want said, simultaneously endors
ed the fourth term.
All the talk has been coming
from such sources which are ob
viously convinced that despite
what Mrs. Roosevelt said,, she will
not be displeased to any serious
extent.
All this seems to be confusion.
But is it?
Franklin Boy Is
Elected President
Of Student Body
Grover Arvey, of Franklin and
a sophomore at Brevard College,
has been elected president of the
student body at the college, suc
ceeding David Franklin, who en
tered military service recently.
Arvey has made an outstanding
record at the college. He was vice
president of the student body.
Luther Earwood, of Asheville,
has been chosen to succeed him as
vice president.
SArf YOU SAN IT IN THE TIMES
__"ANY OLD PORT IN A STORM!"
n ~t - -aninhinWjflaalBBiggBBaw .<■
OLD TOXAWAV
By Miss Myrtle Aiken
Mr. and Mrs. uiemmons Chap
pell and son, W. C. Jr., and Miss
Myrtle Aiken spent the past week
end visiting Mr. and Mrs. R. J.
Stewart and family at Eastatoe,
S. C.
Mr. and Mrs. Meece and daugh
ter, Shirley, and son, Billy Joe,
f<»Vmmii
of Middle Fork, were guests Sun
day of Mr. and Mrs. Gaston Chap
man and family.
Pvt. Elford Chapman, of Camp
Croft, S. C., spent the week-end
here with relatives and friends.
Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Whitmire
and Mr. and Mrs. Chris Galloway,
of near Rosman, were visitors here
Sunday.
Howard Aiken visited relatives
near Rosman the past week-end.
Several Are Sick
In Penrose Section
By N. L. Ponder
Mrs. J. R. Brown was taken to
the hospital at Hendersonville
last week. It is reported that she
had to undergo an operation and
was in a rather serious condition.
Her many friends here hope for
her a speedy recovery.
Billy Wilson, who lives with Mr.
Middleston, is reported ill with
flu and not able to be out.
Lloyd Cantrell, Associational
Director of the Lord’s Acre work,
was present and spoke at Enon
church last Sunday. The church
voted to adopt the work and elect
ed T. F. Middleton as chairman.
Herbert Williams moved last
week from the George Lyday’s
house to T. F. Middleton’s house
near Enon Hill.
W. L. Talley was teacher of the
adult Sunday school class last
Sunday and every one enjoyed his
teaching.
All enjoyed his presence be
cause he had been absent a few
Sundays being ill with flu.
Mr. and Mrs. Harris, who live
on C. W. Talley’s place, took a
sick six-year-old boy to the hos
pital at Sylva last week.
Arthur Griffin and family, who
live with Mr. Reeves here, attend
ed the funeral of his step moth
er in Jackson county last week.
One hundred and eighteen miles
of tunnel are used to bring water
to New York City.
When your doctor asks where you
prefer to have your prescription
filled, say: VARNER’S, because:
Filled only by registered pharma
cist; as written and at reasonable
prices. (AJvt.) 12-18-tfc
| Griffon Suits Wartime
Business Men
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