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THE ENTERPRISE
FOR VICTORY
UMTEB STATES Ml
BONOS-STAMPS
VOLUME \LV?NUMBER 89 IViUiamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, November 10, 1942. ESTABLISHED 1899
Turning Point Is
Believed Reached
In War On Hitler
V ??
Allies Make Sweeping Drives
In Africa While Russia
Holds Against Enemv
1
With the Americans sweeping into
North Africa, the British tracking
down Rommel's forces near the
Egyptian border and with the Rus
sians holding firm over a 1,000-mile
front, surely a turning point has been
reached in the war. However, the
struggle is not over and those who
think the war is over will most as
suredly have another thought before
Hitler destroys himself and the Al
lied armies march triumphantly into
Berlin.
Last week no one even had an idea
when the struggle would end, but
now many believe the end will pos
sibly come in 1943.
The activities of last week-end are
so far reaching in their scope that
their real meaning is not yet quite
clear. Some say the successful inva
sion of North Africa by the Ameri
cans constitutes a second front while
others say the move is only a pre
liminary to the opening of a second
front. Secretary of the Navy Knox
said this morning that the North
African campaign was shaping up
as a second front.
Believed to have sailed from Ire
land, and direct from the United
States thousands of Americans ga
thered at Gibraltar in one of the
greatest troop movements in his
tory. Hie forces were reported at
Gabraltar last week and big news
was seen in the making at that time.
But not until last Saturday night did
the Americans, accompanied by the
massive British fleet, pour into
Northern Africa on two coasts.
Events have been transpiring fast
since that time. Marked successes,
accompanied by only light casualties
have been scored, and it will take a
week, probably weeks ,to catch up
with all the developments in detail.
The move is designated to free the
Mediterranean area and lop off
about 12,000 miles in Allied shipping
distances. In addition to that the
move is expected to trap the retreat
ing Germans now in Libya, a report
early this afternoon stating that the
Americans had moved more than 125
miles in that direction and east of
Algiers.
Warned of the Allied plans, the
small countries of Spain and Portu
gal are said to have been favorable
to the move. Hitler is still talking
through old Petain's mouth at Vichy,
and opposition has been and is still
being reported from that quarter.
Algiers, the big city in French Mor
occo, has been taken and Iran and
Casablanca are about to yield, ac
cording to last reports.
Admiral Jean Francois Darlan, the
man who has collaborated so close
ly with the Germans, has been cap
tured in Algiers and was said this
afternoon to be talking with Amer
ican generals with the possibility
that he will swing to the Allies. Old
Petain, (pack in Vichy, has taken
charge of the Vichy forces and has
ordered his men to resist. Ninety per
cent of the French people are cele
brating as a result of the invasion,
but the time for a revolt there is not
quite ripe. The United States, Cana
da and Mexica have broken relations
with Vichy but no declaration of war
have followed.
Over in Guadalcanal,- American
forces outnumber the Japs around
Henderson Airfield, and the enemy
is being driven back.
In New Guinea ,the Japs are about
to lose their last strong foothold with
the British and American forces
forming a pincer movement against
them.
(Continued on pace fix)
Q^n't Fool Doctors,
County Draftee Says
???
Declaring he was trying to see
how smart the Army doctors are ra
ther than to escape the Army, An
drew Cleveland Roberson, William
ston colored draftee, is convinced
that you can't fool them doctors. Or
at least Roberson admits he couldn't
tool them.
"I told the man my eyes were
bad," Roberson said. "That's too
bad," the doctor told Roberson.
"Well, here's a little glass," the doc
tor explained, adding that if the
draftee's eyes were bad he could not
tell any difference when the glass
was fitted to the eye. "I tried to hold
my eye open, but pretty soon the
tears started rolling out," Roberson
said, adding that the doctor checked
the paper with an "O. Keh." "I tried
even harder to keep the other eye
open, but pretty soon the tears start
ed rolling down my cheek and he
gave me an OO. Keh for that eye."
Declaring, after the old 'possum
fashion, that he could not hear very
well, Roberson said the doctor placed
a finger on his ear and started talk
ing to him. "I didn't say a word. The
doctor after taking his fnger away
asked if I heard him, but I told him
'New, Sir'." According to Roberson,
the doctor applied some little gadget
to his ear, and when it started buzz
ing so unexpectedly, "I jumped clear
out of the chair."
"You can't beat them doctors," the
draftee declared.
Nazi Prisoners Captured by Allies in Egypt
A batch of German priionera, captured by the Allied forcee In their new Egyptian offensive, shown being
marched to the rear lines under the escort of Scottish guards. The pile of rocks in the left foreground is a
"trig mark" denoting an intersection point of lines on the Allied maps. Note the Scottish "Tams" on the
prisoners' escorts. Thia is a radiophoto. (Centredl\tai)
Further Delay In Plans For
Receiving Oil Peanuts Here
Plans (or receiving and storing oil
peanuts in this county have again
been delayed, reports from the gov
ernment warehouses today stating
that it could not be learned just
when definite instructions would be
issued for handling that portion of
the crop Representatives at the lo
cal receiving stations said they were
ready to receive the crop just as soon
as instructions were issued "We are
expecting final instructions every
day, but so far they have not been
received," one representative said
this morning.
It is understood that the price dif
ferential is being discussed by the
department with the possibility that
a slight increase in the oil peanut
price will follow. However, no in
crease has been promised as far as
it could be learned here.
Farmers are asked by the receiv
ing stations not to deliver their oil
stock until arrangements are com
pleted for receiving them. "We are
ready and have been ready, but we
can't do a thing until we get defi
nite instructions from the govern
ment agency," a warehouseman ex
plained.
During the meantime, quite a few
farmers are having much to say
about the price differential. Some
are declaring openly they'll not de
liver a single bag to the govern
However, a majority or well over 80
per cent are making plans to deliv
er the oil peanuts in accordance with
tentative contracts agreed to last
spring. Some farmers are delivering
oil peanuts to the open market, and
since there is no provision for such
sales, the growers are finding it nec
essary to reclaim them for delivery
to the government warehouses.
ROUND-UP
Arrests, after dropping week
before last to what might be con
sidered a normal figure, jumped
up last week-end when local
and county officers arrested and
Jailed sixteen persons. Other ar
rests were made, but bond was
arranged before the Jail doors
were banged shut on them.
Twelve of the sixteen were
booked for alleged public
drunkenness, one for driving
drunk, two for assaults with
deadly weapons and one was
Jailed for failing to comply with
a Judgment of the court; namely,
the payment of a fine. Four of
the sixteen were white persons.
Few Farmers Call
For Winter Seeds
Receiving 500 bags of Austrian
winter peas and vetch for seed, the
office of the county agent has de
livered very few bags to farmers in
this county, according to T. B. Slade,
assistant to the agent.
It is understood that quite a few
farmers in the county have not met
their soil building requirements and
are almost certain to have their soil
conservation payments reduced. The
government has extended the time
for seeding winter legumes and oth
er grains until November 15th, and
those farmers who need a few more
soil-building units will find it to
their advantage to call for some of
the pea seed or vetch for immediate
planting. No cash is needed to buy
the seed, the assistant to the agent
explaining that they may be obtain
ed under a grant-of-aid and at a
very reasonable price.
In view of the afct that most assur
edly there'll be no plentiful supply
of nitrate of soda next season, many
farmers are looking ahead and seed
ing every possible acre to small
grains of one kind or another.
Farmers desiring a quantity of the
winter peas and vetch are directed to
contact the agent's office immediate
ly
IDLE TIRES
Approximately 1M "Idle" Urea
have been turned over to the lo
cal Railway Expreaa agency here
for delivery to the government.
Agent V. D. Godwin said this
morning. It la apparent that the
delivery la lagging, and that a
rush will follow Just before the
deadline la reached en the ttnd
of this month.
So far, very few tlree of any
value have been turned la, one
report atatlag that hardly more
than five per cent of the number
will be of any service to any
body other than far Jut.
Increased Activity
Reported on Ixjcal
Peanut Mart Today
Goober* Are Moving at Hate
itf About 10,000 Bur*
Daily at Present Time
Hardly a week old, the current
peanut marketing season today re
ported activities approaching an all
time record, conservative estimates
placing the daily turn-over at ap
proximately 10,000 bags. Receiving
stations, while not blocked altogeth
er, were crowded this morning when
as many as fourteen farmers' and
transport trucks lined up at a single
station. Farmers are working long
hours harvesting the crop, and rec
ord pickings are being reported The
quality of the crop is proving bet
ter day by dpy and most of the grow
ers are saving a large portion of the
hay after it was feared that much
of the crop had been ruined by
heavy rains falling in October.
Yields are exceeding expectations,
scores of farmers stating that they
are harvesting in excess of 20 bags
to the acre.
The price trend is holding firm at
7 1-4 cents with a few sales being re
ported at $7.35 per hundred pounds.
Arrangements for receiving oil
peanuts have not yet been complet
ed and today it could not be learned
when the government warehouses
would be opened The price differ
ential and the method of dividing the
crop are causing much confusion,
and a few farmers are said to be
talking about revolting. However, a
majority of them are complaining
none at all, and in one case the far
mer stated he was ready to surren
der every proportional pound and
more to the government if it would
help prosecute the war. Incidental
ly, the man has three sons in the
service and another is about to be
called "We reared nine children,
and all of them have left us, but we
tried to raise as many food and feed
crops as possible and we are ready
(Continued on page lix)
?
Special Armistice
Day Prayer Service
The Church Wide Day will be ob
served by a special service at the
Episcopal Church on Wednesday af
ternoon at 5:00 o'clock. TTiii day of
prayer has been observed annually
on Armistice Day for many years.
With world conditions as they are
today we should all take time from
our busy Uvea to pray for our boys
in the service of our country and for
world peace. To those who cannot at
tend the service prayer leaflets may
be found on a table in the rear of the
nave of the church. "Die church will
be open all day with the hopes that
they will be used by many.
Marriages Set New
Record in October
For Year To Date
Twt'lily-ieveii LieriiM> IhhikmI
In Thin ( ounty Dur
ing That Period
The issuance of marriage licenses
in this county reached a new high
figure for the eurrent year last
j month when Register J. Sam Get
singer prepared the a 11-important
credentials for twenty-seven cou
ples as follows:
Simon J Perry and Bcttie Hazel
I Calloway, both of Jamesville.
Hurry Keith Everett, of Roberson
ville, and Sue White Brady, of Oak
City.
| Elbert Alphonsa Heath and Rosa
Grace Lilley, both of Williamston.
Hugh Morgan Gray, of Pitt Coun
ty, and Isabelle Bullock, of Rober
sonville.
Alfred U. Leggett, Jr., of Rober
sonville, and Myrtle Odell Mat
thews, of Parmele.
Samuel Abraham Ayers and Myr
tle Clark Page, both of Williamston.
Arthur Bullock and Naomi Scott,
both of Oak City.
Hugh Richard Crouch, of Wash
ington, I). C., and Mrs. Lillian An
drews, of RFD 1, Robersonville.
Jesse B. Matthews and Lydia E.
Rollinsuboth of Robersonville.
John "Edward Larkin, of Camp
Battle, New Bern, and Lowreader
Modlin, of Williamston.
Falc Elmo Bunn, Jr., of Zebulon.^
and Olena Belle Swain, of William
ston.
Colored
Charlie Ormond and Mary Per
kins, both of Williamston
Columbus James Rodgers and
Minnie Margaret Dempsey, both of
Williamston.
Theodore Roosevelt Jenkins and
Minnie Rhodes, both of Roberson
ville.
Raymond Wynne, of Jamesville,
and Mattie Boston, of Dardens.
Harry Gorham and Kate Biggs,
both of Williamston.
Frank Bell, of Oak City, and Sar
ah Williams, of Palmyra.
Floyd Mills and Mary Moore, both
of RFD 3, Williamston.
Charlie Clark and Alease Slade,
both of Williamston.
Jesse James Outterbridge and Ad
die Lawrence, both of RFD 3, Wil
liamston.
(Continued on page six)
To Register This
Week For Special
Kerosene Quotas
Registrations tor kerosene and
fuel oil allotments for use In cook
ing and lighting in homes and in
stitutions and for farm tractors
and other farm engines will be
held in all the white and colored
schools of the county on Thursday,
Friday and Saturday of thia week,
according to an announcement
made this morning by C. C. Mar
tin, chairman of the county ra
tioning board, and J. C. Manning,
superintendent of county schools.
Registrations will be handled
from three to six p. m. on lliurs
day and Friday and from 9 a. m.
to 1 p. m. Saturday. Those persons
using oil for cooking and lighting
their homes or in institutions or in
farm tractors or other machines
are urged to register during the
specified hours on the mentioned
diays.
Consumers using oil for heating
their homes either with a central
heating plant or Individual oil
stoves are not to register at the
schools. They are to unite or call
for special application forms and
prepare them themselves.
Kerosene and fuel oil dealers are
registering today and tomorrow at
the rationing board office In the
agricultural building, but up until
noon today very few dealers or
distributors had registered
War As It Relates
To Home Front Is
Reviewed for Week
Kxpunsion of War Front ('.alio
For Increase in Supply
Of Materials
As the military and economic
forces of the United Nations begin
to equal and in some respects to
surpass those of the Axis, the war
for freedom becomes more than ev
er a problem of supply, a fight to
speed the war goods we produce in
to the hands of our naval and air
fleets and land armies. We and our
allies are beginning to master the
many difficult problems connected
with supply lines of immense length
by adjusting our present shipping
facilities to the demands of distant
fighting fronts, and by steadily in
creasing the number of new cargo
ships. But to deliver the maximum
amount of war materials and fight
ing men to battle fronts within the
minimum of time means that every
inch of cargo space must be exam
ined for its greatest war usefulness.
Our good neighbors to the south
are invaluable sources <5f raw ma
terials. Tin comes from Bolivia, nib
ber from Brazil, copper from Chile,
rope fibes and a host of other need
ed prducts from various parts of
Latin Ameica. Because of Axis sub-1
marine activity and the needs of oth j
er fronts we now have far fewer ves-1
sels for the Latin American trade
than we had a year ago Therefore,
although 14 Central and South Am
erican republics supply the bulk of
our coffee and have large surpluses
on hand, we must limit the trans
portation of coffee in favor of those
other products vital to the war. Of
course, wemust see to it that?WiT
have an ample supply of coffee for
our men in the armed services. But
we civilians can make out on a ra
tion of a pound of coffee every five
weeks, and that's just what?after
November 28th?we're going to have
to do. This ration wiM go further and
taste better if we observe a few sim
ple rules?use fresh coffee, keep it
in a tightly covered container in
some cool place?use accurate meas
urements?don't boil, but bring just
short of the boiling point?and serve
immediately.
Raw Materials Front Bolstered
The raw materials front of the
United Nations?a front that, like
the fighting front, stretches about
the world?is strengthened by coop
erative planning to secure maximum
output of strategic materials, regu
late the flow of supplies, and ex
change information of mutual value.
Where sources of needed products
are insufficient or undeveloped, it
is necessary to send experts, along
with mining machinery . or other
equipment, to increase the output.
(Continued on page six)
Believe Sam Jones
Was Lost In River
Reports from a preliminary inves
tigation made by Jamesville Town
ship Constable Clarence Wallace
seem to indicate that the body re
covered from the Roanoke- River at
Jamesville on the 28th of last month
was that of Sam Jones, colored em
ployee of the Foreman-Slades Lum
ber Company. The investigation just
started reveals that Jones had been
assigned to the watchman's post on
the company's properties on Roan
oke River about two miles above
Jamesville during the few weeks
when high water overflowed the
stream. About ten days before the
body was found, Jones was seen in
Jamesville. The following pay day
passed and the man did not call for
his check. His cap was found near
the river, and no trace of the man
has been established since he was
last seen in Jamesville buying pro
visions.
The belief that the man was kill
ed and robbed has been advanced
following reports that he carried
about $200 in cash on his person.
Jones came to this county from j
Elizabeth City, and officers are try j
ing to trace him back to his resi
dence there.
Large Number Men
Report To Army
The second largest contingent of
Martin County colored men moved
out of the county the early part of
this week for final physical exami
nation at an Army induction center
Most of them are expected to return
today and tomorrow for their sev
en-day furloughs.
Four of the group, estimated at
some less than one hundred men,
failed to report on time, and at a
late hour two were still unaccount
ed for. One reported late, and was
given a priority rating in the next
call, A second one who had been
working in Elizabeth City came
rolling in with a group of draftees
from Pasquotank. His papers were
altered quickly and he was instruct
ed to meet the Martin County boys
at the induction jpnter.
The names of the two men who
did not report at all are being turn
ed over to the Federal Bureau of
Investigation.
Liquor Sales Set New
High Record In County
DRAFT CALLS |
/
The Army will just about thin
out the available man-power
among the single men in this
county next month, an unoffi
cial report stating that the draft
calls for December are among
the largest ever received in the
county. In the neighborhood of
100 colored men are being call
ed. while the number of white
men wanted ranges between 50
and 100. Exact figures could not
be obtained, the draft board ex
plaining that it was not at liber
ty to release the size and dates
of the call.
The November call for white
men will be answered mainly
by those young men who were
deferred a few months ago. They
will leave before Thanksgiving,
but will catch a turkey dinner at
home while on furlough. It is
understood that both Decem
ber calls are to be answered be
fore Christmas.
Big Percentage Of
Draftees From the
County Is Rejected
Twenly-fiv?? Young Colored
Men Arrrpled by Army
Jiml Kcri'iilly
Culling fifty-five Martin County
colored men recently for service, the
Army induction center accepted 25
and rejected 23, six of the remain
ing seven being transferred to oth
er boards at the last minute. The
seventh one, David Henry Close,
failed to report last month, but he
has reported to the induction cen
ter since that time.
While the percentage of rejectees
is indeed large, the ratio to the num
ber accepted is not as large as was
expected according to previous rec
ords.
Of the twenty three men rejected,
twenty were thrown out on account
of physical disabilities. The other
three were rejected on account of
low literacy standards The educa
tion qualifications of the group ap
parently were the highest of any
colored group to report to the in
duction center since the first con
tingent moved out of the county
more than a year ago.
The names of the men accepted
are, Thomas Ryan, Ernest Andrews,
Joseph James Land, Archie Moore,
Wesley Anderson Ormond, Walter
Lee Cooper, Ben Frank Wilson, Ev
ernard Edward Williams, Richard
Austin Broadnax; Robert Browni
Henry Moore, Durwood Teel, Robert
Lee Winbush, Harvey Lewis Modi
ca, Roland Ebron, Judson Mack
Whitfield, Horace Hodge, Marvin
Vernon Taylor, Columbus Harrell,
Andrew Cleveland Roberson, Nemi
Moore, Aulander Brooks, Richard
(Continued on page six)
Few County Trucks
Have Certificates
It was estimated by a reliable au
thority today that less than one half
the trucks, busses and taxi cabs in
this county are equipped with the
required certificates of war neces
sity, meaning that many of the ve
hicles will be forced off the road on
or soon after next Sunday. After go
ing to much trouble to assist the
truck owners with the registration of
trucks, the office of the County
USDA War Transportation Board is
now receiving many calls for help.
A county-wide registration was held
week before last and less than 150
ruck operators reported to the reg
istration centers during the three
day period. Quite a few individuals
prepared their own registrations, and
it is understood that quite a few cer
tificates have been received in the
county.
It isn't likely that the government
will send investigators to this coun
ty to check up on the registration,
but it is certain that the rationing
board has been instructed to issue
no gas or tire rations unless the truck
operator presents his certificate of
war necessity.
TRUCKERS
Advised that many truck op
erators had not applied for their
Certificates of War Necessity,
the Office of Defense Trans
portation has opened branch of
fices in North Carolina to help
handle the last-minute rush.
Martin County truck owners
who have not yet applied for the
certificates are advised to apply
direct to the Office of Defense
Transportation In Raleiph and
not to Detroit.
Any truck operator who did
not receive an application form
is directed to contact either the
county or state office and apply
for the certificate at I
Total of $1,041,841
Spent For Liquor
Since Stores Open
l-ust Quurler Sales Are The
Largest on Record for
Any Other Period
Legal liquor sales in this county
for the quarter ending last Septem
ber 30 broke all records, the total
exceeding by approximately $15,000
the previous high record recorded
in the fourth quarter of last year.
The official audit just released places
the third quarter sales at $80,357.25,
the unusually large business push
ing the total of all legal sales since
the stores were opened in July, 1935,
to $1,041,841.15 The previous high
sales record, $85,754 75, was report
ed in the fourth quarter of last year.
Compared with the third quarter
figures for last year, the sales for
the months of July, August and Sep
tember. 1942. were almost double in
sue.
No other field of business has ex
perienced such a wild growth as the
liquor traffic did in those three
months, and -according to unofficial
reports liquor store patronage is in
creasing Additions have been made
to the store personnel, and a bottle
a-day rationing program was order
ed by the State ABC Board, the or
der being one uf tlie few tangible?
aets to be accredited to the State
Board from this distance.
Tobacco marketing sent the sales
volume up, and it has been main
tamed by those groups having com
paratively small incomes. For in
stance, many sales are traceable to
those families who were not so long
ago on relief but who are now tak
ing in anywhere from $25 to $100 a
week. As far as it can be learned,
the latter group is spending a
"shocking" amount of money for li
quor and very little for bonds and
investing little for a rainy day.
To get a better idea of the amount
spent for liquor, one can compare
the total with the county tax levy.
The money spent for liquor in the
three months would almost pay one
half of the 1941 tax bill.
Sales last quarter in the Williams
ton and Jamesville stores were more
thun double those of a year ago as
the figures below'will show. Rober
sonville almost doubled its sales, and
Oak City, while doing a big business,
fell below the average gain for the
county
Sales for the third quarters in 1941
and 1942 are compared as follows, by
stores:
1941 1942
Williamston $20,329 00 $41,517.30
Robersonville 12,354 85 24,160.35
Oak City 4,194 60 7,072.85
Jamesville 3,732 45 7,606.75
$40,601.90 $80,357.25
Profits piled up in the quarter,
too, but from the $23,177 89 net fig
ure the State of North Carolina
takes $6,892.12 in sales taxes. Deduct
$1.648 58 for law enforcement and
$14,837 19 out of $80,357 25 spent for
liquor is left to be divided among the
various governmental agencies for
the hard-pressed and starving tax
payers.
A comparative review of the prof
its, by stores, for the 1941 and 1942
third quarters follows:
(Continued on page six)
1
G. R. Raw Is Passes
In Roanoke Rapids
???
Gordon Russell Rawls, a native of
this county and a prominent Roan
oke Rapids business man, died at
his home there last Sunday after
noon at 1 o'clock following a long
illness. In failing health for almost
a year, Mr. Rawls had spent about
six months of that time in the hos
pital.
The son of Mr and Mrs. C. C.
Rawls, of Hassell, Mr Rawls was
born in the county town 37 years
ago and spent most of his life there
About twelve years ago he moved
to Roanoke Rapids and successfully
engaged in the furniture business
and was prominent in civic affairs
as a Rotarian and a member of 'he
Roanoke Rapids Building and Loan
committee. He married Miss Miss
ouri Etheridge, formerly of this
county, and she with four children.
Roy Martin, Gene^Mald, Joanna
and Gloria Rawls, ^Viyes. He alao
leaves his parents ami three broth
ers, Johnnie M. Rawls, of Williams
ton; W. H. Rawls, of Raleigh, and C
C. Rawls, Jr., a member of the Unit
ed States Marine Corps with head
quarters at Parris Island, S. C., and
three sisters, Mrs. L. D. Rook, of
Richmond; Mrs. Otto Reynolds, of
Baltimore, and Miss Pattie Earle
Rawls, of the home.
Mr. Rawls was highly regarded as
a business man and citixan in his
adopted community.
Funeral services were
at the home yesterday
4:30 o'clock and
in the Roanoke Rapids <