North Carolina Newspapers

PAT PAT WAS \\ ^4 BOND BAT ?nr srtmmt?urt mum THE ENTERPRISE waiMTP FOR VICTORY HWTED STATES Ml BONDS-STAMPS VOLUME XLV?NUMBER 58 William?ton, Martin County, North Carolina, Friday, July 24, 1942. ESTABLISHED 1899 USO Fund In This County Well Over The Original Goal| Total of $1,329.41 Reported] In Campaign Now Draw ing To a Close A semi-final report released this week by Chairman John W. Hardy shows that the USO fund drive in this county now stands at $1,329.41 or well over $300 in excess of the original quota. While the drive is fast drawing to a close, several town ships have not yet made final reports and it is likely the fund will approx imate $1,450 or even $1,500 when fi nal tabulations are made. Only one township, Poplar Point, has made no report. Robersonville, getting a late start, has raised $193.60 of its $225 quota and the workers there are pusing for the goal. Sev eral townships, including James ville. Griffins, Bear Grass, William ston and Goose Nest, have exceeded their quotas Several other town ships, including Williams and Cross Roads, have turned in portions of their quotas, and Hamilton report ed that its goal would be reached. According to unofficial reports, eight of the ten townships reported $1,329.41, as follows: Jamesville, $150: Williams, $32.10; Griffins, $71.10; Bear Grass, $10.13; Cross Roads. $25.15; Williamston. $637.13; Robersonville, $193.60, and Goose Nest, $72.30 In connection with the successful drive in Williamston, Chairman Wil liam R. Burrell made the following statement: Hie colored citizens are working to increase the fund locally, but they have not yet reported. To the good people of Williamston; As you know I was given the privi lege of soliciting your contributions to the United Service Organizations. My territory covered the entire town. As a result of your generous response to our appeal I am most happy to tell you that you have near ly doubled your allotted amount. My grateful thanks are due es pecially to that noble band of wo men workers, who, without excep tion, went out during the heat of these trying days, with no compen sation whatever, going from door to door and street to street, making numerous return calls, in order that everyone might have the opportun ity of doing their bit for this most worthy cause. I am especially in debted to the Rev. J L. Goff, for his invaluable assistance without which this fine result could not have been achieved. To the various manufac turing plants for their generous as sistance and to all who contributed, according to their ability, whether | (Continued on page six) ? Work Of Observer At The Local Post Cited By McClure Thousands of Observers Face Hardships To Carry On In War Effort By LT. BARNEY H. M'CLURE (Norfolk Information Center) From the rural areas of North Carolina and Virginia and a dozen other eastern states a true story of sacrifice and patriotism is gradual ly writing itself. This is the story of the airplane spotters, members of the Ground Observer Corps, who are doing a twenty-four hour a day job of keeping track of every plane that takes to the air from Maine to Florida, from the coast to a distance of more than one hundred and fifty miles Inland. The country posts per form the same service as those in the city but the hardships suffered at many of them make their story a different one. Articles and cartoons in newspapers and magazines have ridiculed the work they are doing, and perhaps there is humor in the rooftop stations in the metropolitan areas. But, in the distant country posts where there are only a few telephones in the whole district, where roads are poor and relief vol unteers live miles from the stations, and where there are few conven iences to make the monotonous vigil more comfortable or interesting, the service is one that should bring dec orations instead of jibes for the vol unteer workers. Take the case of Hugh Spruill, who is a bridge tender for the state of North Carolina, on Roanoke Riv er, Williamston, and also is the weather and river observer for the United States Weather Bureau as well as being a highway checker at intervals. On December 11, 1941, "at 12:00 o'clock noon by mail," Mr. Spruill received a request from the government to report all planes that passed his way. He was to add to his list of duties the job of being chief observer for his sector. That doesn't sound like a big job?but Mr. Spruill lives quite a distance from his near est neighbor and his wife was sick and couldn't help him. So he report ed, all by himself for more than six weeks until his wife got wall, every plane that passed overhead wheth er it was during the day or late at night In a letter to Major Butler, commander of all the posts in this (Continued on page six) First Registrations In County About Used Up RED CROSS Preliminary plans lor making 30,000 surgical dressings or bandages in the Martin County Red Cross chapter have been completed, Chairman J. C. Man ning announced today. Begin - ning next TutOdl?, Mitt NCir Harrison, who is to head the project, will instruct a training class, lor a group ol supervisors. Work on the project itsell will get underway the early part ol August. The work project will be han dled in the rooms over the West ern Auto Store, the owner, Mr. J. T. Barnhill. having ottered them to the Red Cross rent free. Volunteers will be called lor work within the near tuture, officials explaining that it will require 200 hours ol work each week Irom early Aurust to Jan uary to complete the project. Federal Employee Is Quite Critical Of His Government Charles Flynn, ATII Special Agent, Belittle* Civilian Defense anil Other Units Charles Flynn, working as a spec ial agent or investigator lor the Al coholic Tax Unit of the United States Treasury's Division of Internal Rev enue, is indeed critical of his govern ment, all civilian defense efforts, gas rationing, tire rationing, the Am erican Red Cross, the USO and pos sibly all other things connected di rectly with the government or the war effort. He capped his criticism by belittling the efforts of those who volunteer their services for country and fellowman The spotter who maintains a watch in the observer's post is a dumb fool, Flynn declared while hanging around the Martin County courthouse this week. The fellow who gives to the USO is a sucker, the man, talking more like a fifth columnist than a federal gov ernment employee, added A sup porter of the American Red Cross is a sucker, too, Flynn said. In so many words, the govemmertt employee declared it was ridiculous to even propose a $25,000 annual salary lim it. The brass hats should be chased out of Washington, and the Congress is a disgrace, Flynn continued, add ing that he wished he could vote out the entire crowd in his home state, Virginia. There was one who took issue with the man who travels around the country at the expense of the government. It was admitted that the charge on the federal govern ment's payroll was entitled to his opinion, even though it had a Hit leristic scent, but he was going a bit too far when he, after a smurt fash ion, called those who volunteer to man the airplane observer's post dumb fools. Flynn, working out of the office in Baltimore, ordinarily works on conspiracy cases, but his recent mis sion in this section was not disclosed. Flynn, it was later learned, threat ened certain action if his remarks were "written up." "I have three lawyers doing nothing now and they will be ready," he was quoted as saying. ??, ? Supplemental Gas Ration Explained The issuance of supplemental gas rations to preferred vehicle opera tors or those who are entitled to more mileage than allowed under the Basic A card carries with it a solemn obligation, the violation of which is likely to bring condemna tion down upon the head of the spec ial card holder. Applying for a supplemental ra tion, the applicant has 150 miles de ducted from his Basic A card, leav ing him only six gallons or an aver age of only 90 miles a month for pleasure driving or for handling any other business. The system has its apparent inequalities, but when the man with a supplemental ration considers the position many are now finding themselves in he csn appre ciate the six gallons of pleasure gas. It is quite clear that the preferred applicant who gets an extra allow ance is violating the program when he uses more than six gallons of gas oline a month for pleasure or for driving not specifically outlined in his application. The economy of many people who have depended on their cars for a living is being drastically changed, and the man who has an ample al lottnent to carry on his business and then grumbles because he can't ride all over the country for no good rea son at all is challenging the program and doing exactly as Hitler, Hiro hito and Musso would have him do. Calls In August To Go Well Into Third Registration Group ??? (UusMifiration Work Likely to Be Reaulktt^l by Board In Short Time The Nation's Selective Service sys tem is gradually but steadily tight ening its grip on the available man power in this county, an unofficial report from the draft board office this week stating that the August calls will exhaust the supply of 1-A classifications in the early registra tions and will very likely dip into the third registration group. The un official report indicated that 1-A men with order numbers ranging up to 10,300 in the third registration will have been called up lor examination in time to clear the preliminary tests in time for the August calls. A good ly number has already been called to the "screening" physical exami nations. ?The July calls, one^ already Tilled^ and another ready to be answered, exhausted order numbers up to 2, 700 in the first and second registra tions, leaving about 570 numbers in that group but a comparatively small number of available 1-A men. Just how far the new call will reach into the third registration officials can not determine, but they are almost certain that a few in the 35-to-45 age group will be included in the August calls which are understood to be the largest assigned to this county so far in the current war. While the trend is pointing direct ly to men with dependents first, married men with no children, sec ond and married men with children, third, just how soon the Selective service system will reach out and grab men in those groups cannot bo determined at this time. The size of the calls, the physical fitness and lit eracy ratings of the 1-A men before them are important determining factors. If all 1-A men with order numbers between 2,700 and about 3,270 in the first two registrations measure up to the physical and lit eracy requirements then the draft will not reach into the married class ifications right away, unless the siz.e of the calls is materially increased. The induction activities are being speeded up, and it is likely that ad ditional questionnaires will start go ing out to more men in the third registration and that the 20-year old lads in the fifth registration group will be getting their question forms within a short time. Classifi cation work will follow in due time. ? , , ? ? More Volunteers For Local Post The list of volunteers for main taining watches in the local observa tion post has passed the 100 mark, Chief Observer W If. Carstarphen announcing this morning that 38 ad ditional persons had offered their services since last Tpesday. More volunteers are needed, the chief said, explaining tljat with a large number available,' the task would not greatly inconvenience any one. Names of the recent volunteers: Hugh Horton, Jr , J M Rawls, Henry Gurganus, Rev. B T. Hurley, Mrs. Louis Coker, J O, Manning, Jr., Ben D. Courtney, L B. Wynne, Con rad Getsinger, J. Sam Getsinger, John L. Goff, Jr., Mrs. P. B. Cone, Robert Levin, Wheeler Martin, Dampy L. Simmons, Miss Edna Barnhill, Charlie Moore, Fred Wheel er, Jimmie Mitchell, Tom Brandon, Jr., W. W. Tice, Raymond Heath, Miss Patsy King, Miss Mary Peel, Miss Anne Lindsley, Miss Irene Tet terton. Mrs. Kenneth Lindsley, Mrs J. T. Barnhill, Jr., Mrs. Z. T Piep hoff. Rev. Z. T. Piephoff, Miss Edith Staliings, Mrs Bill Howell, E. J Eatman, Mrs. John Eagles, Mrs M T. Sullivan, Ira Harrison and Miss Jane Goff. * Georgia Markets Open Next Monday The marketing of the 1942 tobac co crop will get underway down in Georgia next Tuesday morning more than a week ahead of the opening date a year ago. No detailed reports from that area have been received, but according to individual messages the crop there is a bit spotted, some farmers have a good quality leaf and others having inferior tobacco. Explaining that the leaf was of an inferior quality last year, thp Georgia belt reported an average of about 23 cents a pound for its open ing day sales. The price was about 5 cents a pound higher than the av erage for the 1M0 season. Quite a few local tobacconists are leaving this section over the week end for the Georgia and Florida mar kets which will operate for about three or four weeks. UNCLE SAM Americas Freedom BATTLING TO UPHOLD THE 32ND WEEK OF THE WAR President Roosevelt told his press conference he is considering asking Congress for more effective controls to keep down the ooat of living, in ; eluding wage control. The National, situation as regards the cost of living must be kept in line, he said. The one criterion that must be kept in mind is what it costs the average family to live. The War Labor Board announced a formula for a National wage sta bilization policy designed to main tain workers purchasing power at January, 1941 levels. The Board said "as a general rule workers are en titled to 15 per cent more w ages than they had on January I, 1941. to meet the increases in living costs from that date to May 1, 1942. Work ers who have received a increase of 15 per cent or more during that per iod will not be entitled to raises ex cept in cases where their rates still are sub-standard and a raise is nec essary to wipe out inequalities." The WLB ordered an increase of 44 cents a day, retroactive to last February, for 157,000 " Lit tie Steel" 1 workers. The union had asked $1 a day increases. The Board ruling al so provided maintenance of union membership and a checkoff of union dues. President Roosevelt, referring to the Board's "Little Steel" ruling said the entire National problem of wages is relative. In production of an article like steel an increasAif 5 per cent in the wages would not force up the cost of living nearly as much as a comparable increase, for instance, in a canning factory that produces food, he said Labor Supply War Manpower Chairman McNirtt reported approximately 12.500,000 persons were working in direct war employment on July 1. compared with 9,000,000 on April 1 He estimat ed 5,000,000 more will be added to the industry forces during the last six months of this year. Federal Works Administrator Fleming said total U. S. employment increased between May and J&ne by 1,700,000 (Continued on page six) $ Funeral Held For Griffins Township Farmer Wednesday Cluuilr Mriulrnlinll Dice Here In lloHpilal Monday After l.uii|t IIIih-hh FumJTal services were conducted Wednesday afternoon for J. Claude Mendenhali, Griffins Township far mer, who died in a local hospital late last Monday -afternoon. Rev. M. L. Ambrose, his pastor, assisted by Rev. W. B Harrington, Baptist minister, conducted the last rites. The serv ices were in the church at Maple Grove at 3 o'clock and interment was in the Hardison Mill Cemetery. Mr. Mendenhali, a hard-working farmer and respected citizen of his community, had been in declining health for about a year. Despite his feeble condition he continued at his work until a little Over two months ago when he entered a Durham hos pital for treatment. His condition was considered hopeless there, and he returned home, entering the lo cal hospital about five weeks ago and where the end came gradually and after long and patient suffer ing The son of the late James and Aphia Coltrain Mendenhali, he was jborn in this county forty-four years ago, livin gin Griffins Township all his life. He was a hard-working far mer and enjoyed a large frierfdsjiip circle in the county. He was a mem ber of the church at Maple Grove for a long number of years. When a young man he was married to Miss Lyda Coltrain who survives him. He also leaves two children, James C. Mendenhali, of the U. S. Army with headquarters in Washington City, and Miss Essie Dare Mendenhali, of the home, one sister, Mrs. T. L. Heath of Tarboro, and five brothers, Hor ace Mendenhali, of Bethel; Melton, Walter, Pete and Spencer Menden hali, all of near Williamston. TO DISCONTINUE J The Dardetu postoffice, after a lon( service to the people of that community, will discontinue its activities as of July Slat, ac cording to a brief announcement appearing in a current issue of the Postal Bulletin, official post office publication. No explana tion for discontinuing the office was offered, but it ia understood that the volume of mail handled there has dwindled during re cent months. On and after Saturday of next week, mail handled by the of fice at Dardens, should be ad dressed to R.F.D. No. 1, James ville. Many Calls For Extra Gas Quotas In County Supplemental Cards ^ill Not Be Ready Before Next Week Mnny Applications for l.ihcr tH?Allotments Art1?Itr^ creased Bv Authorities ?-? Numerous calls?possibly 1,000 or more?for supplemental gas rations have been received by the rationing board in this county during the past few days and the deluge has liter ally swamped the board members. Chairman C. C. Martin said he could not even guess when the supplement al rations would be made ready for delivery, but it is fairly certain that the distribution will hardly get un derway before some time next week The number of requests is so large that the supply of supplemental books will not Ik1 sufficient to meet the demand, and considerable delay in the deliveries can be expected in some cases, it was learned today. Chairman Martin said today that the board would announce next Tuesday when the supplemental gas books would be made ready for dis tribution. that applicants would aid the work by not calling for them un til the announcement is made. The A books should take care of most needs until the extra rations are made available. The rationing board office yes- I terday and the day before remind ed one of a beehive, and how in tin* world the board members could hold up under the strain is a puzzle. Basic gas rationing, now in its third day under the more or less permanent system, is apparently working smoothly. Filling station <iperators declare that much nf travel is being supported from ra tions allotted under the old system. , Gas sales on the first day of the pro- j gram were considerably less than they had been, some large stations reporting sales as low as 40 gallons for tin- day. The basic A and D books are to last one year. The coupons with the number "one" on them are good at any time between now and Septem ber 21. 1042 The number 2 stamps on the second page are good only during the period September 22 to November 21. Number 3 stamps are to be used between November 221 and January 21 The number 41 stamps are good between January | 22 and March 21 of next year. Num [ her 5 stamps are good for the two months between March 22 and May 21, and the last page or the No. 6 stamps are good from May 22 to July 21. The basic A book coupons (Continued on page six) <3, (/roup Is Certified For Canteen Work Twenty-five local women were certified this week for canteen work following the successful completion of a 20 hour nutrition course and a Red Cross school also of twenty hours. The school, sponsored by the women's clubs, was climaxed by a test meal served to fifty "refugees", and hungry ones, too, at the club room yesterday noon. Served after j the armv style, the meal was deli cious and well balanced, and enjoy ed, too. \ Miss Irene James, recently mar ried to Mr. Dixie I). Roberson, taught the course, and in appreciation of her services the pupils remember ed her with an appropriate gift. Canteen certificates were issued to the following: Mesdamcs J. D. Higgs, W. H. Book er, P B. Cone, T. S. Critcher, E P. Cunningham, A. R. Dunning, J. I. Eagles, R II. Goodmon, N. C. Green, G H. Harrison, F. J. Margolis, Z. T. Piephoff, H. L, Swain, G. E. liiorpe, J. W Watts, J. O. Bowen, Joe Glenn, J. E King, Irving Margolis, Jasper Whitley, R. II. Clayton and Misses Jane Goff, Patsy King, Anne Linds ley and Helen Lmdsley. Should a large-scale evacuation be considered necessary and the mul titudes start traveling through here, these women are now prepared to serve at least 150 people at a time. Officers Find Two Stills In County Raiding in the Reedy Swamp sec tion of Williamston Township yes terday morning, officers captured a crude liquor plant The still had a tin bottom and a wooden top with pump pipe connections A keg was used as a cap and the doubter and cooler were made of wood. After wrecking the home-made still, the officers poured out about 100 gal lons of molasses beer. Yesterday afternoon the officers wrecked aSO-gatlon copper still and plant above Highway No. 11 in Ham ilton Township, and poured nut an* other 100 gallons of molasses beer. Officers J. H. Roebuck and Roy Peel, assisted by ABC officers from Pitt County, made the raids. SHORTAGE The shortage plague or bless ing, which ever it may be, Is spreading. The Martin County rationing board announces that the supply of gasoline coupon books for non-highway users has been eshauoted. that while utli ers have been ordered they have not yet been received. It is quite likely that the rationing of gas to non-highway users or to those persons using gasoline for tract tors and other machines will be delayed. Just how long the dis tribution of the books will be delayed, the board cannot deter mnie just now. Some of the ap plications for non-highway use have been approved and books issued, but the work was stopped when the supply was exhausted. Judge R. L Colnirn Runs His Court on Strictly ('ash Basis Only Tliree (!aw?s IIhii<II<mI During Short Seggion Momluy Morning Although every courtesy is ex tended and every consideration pos sible is given the defendant in his court. Judge Robert h. Coburn still operates the tribunal on a strict ly cash basis It may seem a bit hard to come, hut since they seal their own fate by voluntarily or other wise challenging the law of the land the defendants, in the sight of the judge, must bear the consequences. The cash policy was upheld in a case reviewed by Judge Coburn in the county recorder's court last Monday The ease charging Curtis Little with an assault with a dead ly weapon was tried in the court on July 13th Found guilty at that time, Little was sentenced to the roads for a term of DO days, the court sus pending the sentence on condition that he pay a $20 fine, the court costs and $5 to the Ward clinic for medi cal services Another week rolled by and learning that the judgment could not be met even in part, the judge ordered the man to serve DO days at the County home where he is to work under the supervision of tin* welfare department and the home superintendent. John Bland. After the county had lost consider able amounts in unpaid fines and costs, the late Judge W II. Coburn adopted tin* cash or road policy, which policy has been continued in effect by the present judge with marked success. There were only 1wo.tu?w cases on the docket, quite a few others of a minor nature having been hooked for consideration in the lower court. The tribunal was in session only a short time and a very small crowd was present for the proceedings. Robert Woolard, alias S L. Wool aid, was before the court for assault ing another with a deadly weapon. The Bear Grass Township colored man pleaded guilty and the case w;is continued under prayer for judg ment. Final judgment was delayed pending an investigation of the man's status in the arm< d forces. Common ly known as S. I.. Woolard, the do (Continued on page six) Rains Offer Some Relief Tor Crops A break in the extremely hot spell gripping tins section for the past week and light rains falling during today and yesterday have brought some relief to parched crops. Farm ers hastened to point out, however, that the backbone of the dry season has not yet been broken and that the dry weather continues to offer a serious menace to most crops A little over a quarter of an inch of rain has fallen here in the past two days, including six-hundredths of an inch early this afternoon. So far this month only 1.24 inches of rain have fallen, the total for the year to date being less than fifty per cent of normal. This is the third straight dry yefcf* in this section, but despite the limited rainfall there are some good crops spotted here and there over the county. No general report on the rain this afternoon could tx- had immediate ly, but farmers earlier in the week declared that even with heavy rains their corn crops would fall far be low a normal production figure Numbers of farmers have already cut down their corn and are feeding it to their stock. Although light, the rains yester day and today are expected to aid the peanut and cotton crops. Ripening and burning under a hot sun .tobacco is being harvested rap idly, and some farmers* will likely complete, the harvesting task this week. Many are expected to finish the job next week. The break in the weather and rains, although small, brought re newed hopes. Speculation Grows For Opening Second European War Front $ Situation on Kuaaian Front Oitiral; Japs Establish New Raget* There's little to be had from offi cial sources, but speculation over the opening of a second European bat tlefront is rife today as England dips deeper into her manpower and the landing of one of the greatest con voys to cross the Atlantic was an nounced Strict secrecy is being maintained about any plans that would send Un invasion force to the continent. Second front speculation is rising as the situation on the Russian front becomes more critical day by day. Rostov, reported burning a few days ago. is claimed by the Germans to have fallen. Street fighting is said to be still underway there, howev er. and the Russians have not ad mitted the fall of the all-important center. It is apparent, however, that the city is nearly surrounded, plac ing tin4 defenders in a critical situa tion High Russian government offi cials today appealed to all the peo ple to remain firm until death. Rus sia. as the.ohe ally handling most of the fighting against Germany, is now facing its greatest threat of the war, and unless aid is given, the na tion will reach a crisis within a short time. ~ ~ About the only successes claimed by Moscow in late dispatches are around Voronezh, and in that sector the defenders are struggling to hold the comparatively small gains made during the past few days. Over m Egypt, the British admit that the Germans are offering a strong fight, that the German lines have been bent but not broken as yet The British are carrying the fight to the Germans along a 40-mile front, and are upsetting German sup ply columns. ?Quiet for days, tin* Pacific area contributed a spot of news to the war picture late yesterday. The Japs are pushing forward in New Guinea, General MacArthur stating that pos sibly as many as 2,000 of the invad ers had established a new base on the big island to create a greater threat to Port Moresby, the most ad vanced Allied base in the South Seas. The Allies attacked the ad vance, sinking three Jap transports and inflicting heavy casualties. The new drive, the first sizable action reported in that area since the Coral Sea battle four months ago, may mark the beginning of a new and intensive campaign. Today, for the first time in many, many days no ship sinkings were reported in the Atlantic. (Continued on page six) 1 I lurty-iiine Tires Allotted in County By Ration Board ???^? \|>|>li?'iiliotiM for I riily-iiine Oilier Tiri'n I'ile |J|i Since The LiimI Meeting ? In then regular session here yes terday, thr three members of the Martin County Rationing Board, Messrs C. C. Martin, chairman, J. A Everett and Herbert L. Roebuck, issued certificates for the purchase of 30 car, truck and trailer tires and carried over for later consideration applications for 29 tires. The appli cations, carried over from last meet ing, will boost the total now pending before the board to possibly more than 100. It was a hectic day in the board's office, the members hardly finding time to handle the tire rationing work on account of the large number calling for truck gas rations Appli cants for surplus sugar for cunning were invited to return another day. Only one new tire and one tube were issued for a car by the board, the certificate of purchase going to Dr. V A Ward, of Robersonville. Recapped Car Tires Recapped tires were allotted as fol lows: Ernest Best, Bethel RFD 1, two tires and tubes for farm work. Matthew Cotton, Oak City, two tires for farm. S A. Ward. Hassell, one tire and tube for fire warden work. If. J. Haislip, Oak City, two tires and two tubes for farm work. Claude Elmer Jenkins, RFD 3, Williamston, two tires for farm. New Truck Tires New truck tires were issued to the following: Farmville-Woodward Lumber Co., Williamston, four tires and tubes for hauling lumber Williamston Storage Co.. four tires and tubes for hauling farm supplies. Recapped Track Tires Recapped tires for truck and trail ers were issued to the following: John C. Pierce, RFD 3, Williams ton, three truck and one trailer tires for farm. E N. Harrell. Oak City farmar merchant, two tires. E<IfewpodJfetrc^WiUlw tires for milk delivariaa. Pete Mendenhall, Williamston, two tiras for farm. (Continued on peg* *1*)