OVCB THE TOT FOR VICTORY *ttk F'STAiaJSUS3S ins© FAT BAT WAR ROND DAT 'QUa%j3^WMB£t« Qr>r*iismhs ’> 9, i?i:s. Red Army Continues uy 'It ilflFfiisla Air Raidsy^ Continent Are ira After Two-Day Resume Rest Period While the diplomatic front stil sounds its discordant notes, actua fighting on the war fronts is goini weiyfor the Allies with the Russian; putting more power In their push anc with Rommel finding it extremelj hot in Africa Admiral William If. Standiey, am bassador to Moscow, smarted tongue; wagging yesterday wl/en he suggest ed that Russia was withholding fact! from her people, that they had noi told of the aid made available to tht Soviet by the United States. While it may seem queer that the Russian people have not been appraised ol United States aid, observers explain that there is a possible reason for withholding such facts. Red Army men who have used American equip ment and the many thousand^who have been reached supplies and with Red Cross know something about the aid program and have expressed their gratitude Led to believe they were entirely on their own resources, the Russian peo ple, it was explained, would work harder and do more, accept their sufferings more readily than they would have if they thought aid was coming from other quarters. Commenting on the aid program to Russia, Wendell Willkie said to day that he knew' of no Russian who was ignorant of American aid to the Soviet. A movement to create better understandings between the Russians and her Allies is being started, and it is believed that tan gible results will follow'. Regardless of confusion on the di plomatic front, the Russian Armies continue with the task at hand, and they are turning in a magnificent performance in destroying Hitler’s armies. The encirclement of Vyaz ma is progressing and Smolensk is not far away. Other drives are abo progressing on the eastern front with marked gains being reported by the Russians in the Sevsk area, or the western section of a triangle forming at Kursk and Orel. Late reports from the Russian front state that the Russians are clos Tn^ih bn boW that the Germans are apparently making ready to vacate the first cen ter. Following a two-dav recess, the Allies have renewed their air at- i tacks on the continent. The Ameri cans wct'«Mi»ussr over France indus trial centers, and last night the Brit ish, despite the loss of seven bomb ers, struck machine plants used in the manufacture of submarine en gines in Germany itself. Defeated in six attempts to drive back the British 8th Army, Rommel was said to be withdrawing to the northern end of the Mareth line to day in Tunisia. The Germans were said to have suffered heavy casual ties and to have lost 50 tanks. In northern Tunisia, the Germans are retreating after tangling with and losing heavily to the British First Army. American airmen figured prominently in the Mediterranean area this morning when they were attacked by 50 Nazi planes. Nine teen of the enemy were shot out of the air without loss to the Ameri cans. In the Pacific, Jap communication lines are growing weaker, and in Burma, American planes just re cently pounded important object ives north of Mandalay, to round out a fairly bright picture on the war fronts for the Allies. Supporting the actual warfare, French guerrillas are active against the German invaders and are block ing efforts of Lav ?! to force 400,000 Frenchmen into slave labor in Ger man industrial plants. They are beg ging the Allies to land and open a second front in France with the as surance that large groups would join them. Native Of County Dies In Virginia -• Loren Waldo, native of this coun ty, died of a heart attack following a short illness in a Portsmouth hos pital last Saturday. Funeral services were conducted at the late home in Churchland, Va., yesterday after noon, interment following in the cemetery there. Hie son of the late Joseph Waldo and wife, of this county, Mr. Waldo was bom in Hamilton about 62 years ago. After spending his early life in this county, he entered the employ of a lumber company and made his home in Portsmouth before locating in Churchland where he owned and operated a larg|||iairy farm. Mr. Waldo is well remembered in this county and was highly respected in his adopted community. He married in Virginia and is sur vived by six children, Loren, Robert, Billy, Harry and two daughters, Su san and Julian Ann. Three sisters. Miss Effie Waldo, Mrs. Hennie Bal lard and Mrs. Nona Grimes, also survive. Mr. and Mrs. Clayton House, Miss Effie Waldo and Mr. Asa Johnson were among those from Hamilton, who attended the services yesterday< afternoon. Married Men In County A re^ 'LitetyTtrBe Catttd ItCJTjmi L aTn^osl certain 10 be included in the list of draftees scheduled to leave this county for the Army in April, it was learned following a meeting of the draft board here last night. Dur ing the^ meantime, the boa-u is ex pected 'to advise State Selective Headquarters that the current month quota cannot be filled, the county draft authorities explaining that the blanket deferment of farsr.ee." for ■ .* l&nsr-t a 30-day period had upset the! draft schedule and that it would be! impossible to get other men ready for the calUJU is estimated that hard- i ly half the Original number of white ! draftees scheduled to leave this i county the latter part of this month will be available. Draft board officials, a bit weary over the rapid changes in regula- j tions, hesitate to offer any guesses as to #hat will happen next or when this or that group will be tapped for service. It is reliably understood that majority of the available sj^le I men with dependents will be thin- | ned put by the board in answering j £vr t« mg too eui iy in the month to touch “deferred” farmers, will strike the married men without children. It is estimated that there are between 100 and 750 white married men in the county without children. Possi bly 75 or more of that number had addition! to their families before last September 8th but not before they prepared their draft question board of any change in their status They will find it advisable to inform the draft board. Of the remainder about 350 or 400 are farmers, leav ing about 275 married men without children in the non-farm group to bear the brunt of the May draft calls. This group and a few deferred high school pupils are about the only barriers between the draft and mar ried men with children. However, it is possible that the farm deferment plan will not prove >;s effective as many now think it will be, and some single farmers will fall into the of the draftees to help relieve the pressure on the other groups. County Boy Missing In Action In North Africa SUCCEEDS After many attempts to enlist, William (Billy) Fowdcn Clark is at last in the service. The young: man offered his services back yonder before the draft law was passed. Defective eyesight kept him out of officer training schools. He was ruled out on a technicality when he tried to enter the National Guard. Hie young man then volunteered at Fort Bragg and succeeded in ret ting into the Army, but after five days of service hp was hon orably discharged on a techni cality H* canvassed the eecralt ing stations a second time, and ihJast ’’-SSfiSlijiilLm> Last Sunday he left for North western University, Chicago, to enter the United States Naval Reserve. f Combination Dance Hall And Apartment Is Destroyed By Fire • ■— Owners Report $4,000. Loss With Only $ 1,200. Insurance Starting from a flooded oil heater | and fed by a 30-gallon supply of kerosene, fire destroyed the combi nation store-dance hall-apartment belonging to and operated by Leon and Berddie Brown, colored, on West Ourganus Street here last evening ai. 8 o’clock. The floor had been oiled and other preparations had been completed for a big dance and party for a large group of colored draftees leaving for an Army induction ccn ter this morning. The fire in the heater had gone out and Brown was trying to re-light it when the surplus oil caught fire and blazed up. He threw a blanket over the fire, and instead of checking it, he caused the fire to spread to the 30 gallons in a small drum near by. Finding time only to grab the chil dren, the Browns ran from the build ing, leaving the front door open and with the flames following them out. Even before the alarm could be sounded, the fire was burning rap idly in all parts of the big two-story building. Volunteer firemen laid about 1,000 feet of hose and pour ed water on the fire until it burn ed itself out almost. The charred timbers caught again several hours later and when the sparks began fail ing on nearby buildings and homes, the department was called again. No general alarm was sounded, a few firemen taking the equipment out shortly after 2 o’clock. The building, valued at $2,0'>0 and a complete loss, was insured tor $1, 200. Furniture, valued at $500, mer chandise, $200 and two nickelodeons, valued at $500 each, were destroyed and carried no insurance. One or two of the draftee guests were bemoaning the loss of their supplies of wine and liquors they had hidden too near the building in an ticipation of a rip-roaring time later in the evening. ‘‘We barely managed to escape the burning building with the children, one of the owners said this morning. A Resigns Place On The State School Commi»»ion Elbert S. Peid, a member of the State School Commission for two years upon appointment by Gover nor J. M. Broughton, resigned a few days ago along with all the other members. The resignations were of fered as a preliminary step in set ding up a united control for State education. M. Melvin Whitfield Unheard From Since Middle of February -<9>--. Is First Roy from County in Land Forces Reported Missing in Action -» Marvin Melvin Whitfield, son of Mrs. Pearl Whitiield, of Gold Point, and the late Julius Whitfield, was reported missing in action in North [ Africa on February 14th. according | to a message received by his mother from ihe War Depai tme.'.t last-Fri day afternoon. Few details were SA.,, Wv, i than those telling he was missing in action and that any future develop ments would be communicated im mediately. As far as it could be learned here, young Whitfield is the first Martin County boy of the regular Army to be reported missing in action. Six other Martin County men are known to have mad the supreme sacrifice and three others are still listed as missing. Volunteering his services as a lad of seventeen, Whitfield reported for duty about three years ago or soon after Hitler trampled Poland and long before Harbor. He train ed at Fort Bragg and was moved ov erseas last spring It is believed that he was among the first to land in North Africa last November. Apparently he was reported miss ing about the time or soon after Marshal Rommel stormed Faid Pass and drove a twenty-mile wedge into the American lines in Central Tun isia. It is possible that he was taken prisoner or was lost from his regular unit and has not been able to report since February !4th. Whitfield was 20 years old in February. He was born in Gold Point and was living there when he enlisted in the service. Besides his mother there are five brothers, Jul ius Whitfield, of Norfolk; B. F. Whit field, of Williamston; Edward Earl. Vernon Dale and Bruce Whitfield, all of this county, and two sisters, Mrs. Kelly Davenport and Mrs. Wal ter R. Jones, both of Williamston. In his home and the homes of brothers and sisters, there is a mark ed sadness today, but loved ones and friends, too, continue to entertain hope for the lad’s return. Craft Recognition School At Oak City Receiving special instruction at a regular army school at Virginia Beach recently, Mayor Nat Johnson, of Oak City, will offer a series of courses in aircraft recognition for approximately 80 airplane spotters for the Oak City observation post beginning next Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock. The classes will be held at the school. A second class will be held next Monday night, the “pro fessor” announcing that a second school would be held there just as soon as the first one is completed. Announcing the course schedule, Mr. Johnson said, “This school is highly important to the Army in intercepting planes and for young training pilots. It is also highly im portant iis’iivc -civiliaiv • defe.ne • com mander in giving prompt air raid warnings. “The school deals chiefly with identification of the various types of planes, both enemy and friendly. They are as easily distinguished as are the types of motor vehicles. All aircraft spotters are a part of the ci vilian army and their work is very essential to the safety of each man, woman and child in this area.” On the farm production front, the Department of Agriculture, in a roll call now underway, is calling on all North Carolina rural women to pledge every family to produce as much of the home food supply as possible. A good part of farm peo '{£<& tS&C'Cially in "'ohe:c?fofi** areas, either raise only a small part of the one garden supply, or do not raise a sufficient variety of fresh vege tables to give a well-balanced diet. With canned foods limited, it is es sential to improve the diet ,,nd health of rural families through home gardens. Davis To Broadcast Elmer Davis, director of the Office of War Information, will begin a ser ies of weekly 15-minute broadcasts on Friday evening. March 12. The sen^^will he broadcast over NBC, biue networks each Friday [evening from 10:45 to 11:00 PM. Eastern War Time. They will be re-j broadcast each Saturday at 4:00 p m. over the network of the Mutual Broadcasting Company. Ceiling Prices on Pork After April 1 On April 1, 1043, ceiling prices will be fixed on all retail sales of fresh and processed pork. Bigger markups are allowed to independent stores doing less than $250,000 a year than are allowed to larger stores and chains. The maximum prices for five pork products are: sliced bacon (de rined, smoked) grade A, 48 and 46 cents per pound) skinned, smoked ham, center slices, 61 and 58 cents; skinned, smoked whole ham, 41 and 40 cents; center cut pork chops (fresh or frozen pork loins), 43 and 41 cents; and salt pork (dry salt bellies), fresh! cured or frozen 26 and 24 cents per pound. On and after April 1, a retailer may sell only--(l) Pork cuts given dollars and cents prices under OPA 336, and (2) pork products whose prices are fixed under general max imum price regulation, including— Pork sausage, canned pork, pork variety meats or offal (including —temple meat cutlets, brains, chit terlings, liver, plucks, kidneys, lips, tongue^snouts. ears, heaj^^beek antffroai^meat, stomacl^^weasancf meat and heads), and quick frozen cuts which are delivered to the re tailer in individual packages in which hi* sells them. Ceiling prices on pork must be posted in each store beginning April l, and, upon request, the retailer must give a customer a receipt showing the date, name and address of retailer, name and weight of each pork cut sold, and the price paid for it. Cookie Prices on the Rise North Carolina housewives will soon be paying more for crackers, biscuits and cakes. The increase will be mall in the case of cakes, but on crackers and cookies, where flour is a larger factor in production costs, the increase may eventually be great. Because rising soft wheat prices in the Fast have put a severe (Continued on page six) Last Call Is Made For Peanut Cards -—•— All Martin County farmers who have sold their peanuts and have not yet returned their marketing cards to the county agent’s office are urged to do so at once. Those farm ers who have not sold their peanuts, are asked to report to the agent’s of fice, surrender the marketing card they now have in exchange for an other. These cards must be in before March 31, it was explained. Martin County farmers having oil peanuts on hand for seed are warn ed that they must apply at the agent’s office for a sales permit if any are to be sold by them. Oil seed peanuts are to be sold at the old mar ket price—$3.60 per 100 pounds plus handling charges—and sales must be entered on the peanut marketing caro.by a member of the AAA com mittee. WARNING Speaking before county agents, committeemen and fertilizer dealers in a district meeting in the Martin County courthouse Monday afternoon, C. I. Ball, representing the Food Produc tion Administration, warned against the illegal sale by man ufacturers and dealers and the use of fertilizers by farmers and others. Briefly stated, a farmer can use no more fertilizer than he used 'last year unless he in creases his acreage planted to Group A.*tVv>ps», it waJ’"JR>i»tfcd ' out. Limitations will also apply to the use of soda, and the farm er who uses in excess of the amounts prescribed by rules and regulations is subject to heavy penalty. The rules and regulations were formulated to conserve every pound of fertilizer possible, and to effect an even distribution of available fertiliser materials. Of Farmers For JSW %»■ « ' ’ ■ * *—wasp 4 - '""«23pKl«& mi, Manpower Problems Bv Boards Speeding Costs Motorist His CmRation Book for Duration ■ --* Drastic action designed to con serve rapidly dwindling rubber stocks was taken by the Martin County Rationing Board sitting as a board 01 inquiry here last night when a motorist’s gasoline ration book was cancelled for the duration. Said to have been running about j sixty miles an hour, Sam Henry Sim mons, colored of RFD, Williamston, lost his book for the indefinite per-! lod- Susgendmgthc man’s pas again the meaningful warning against speed ing ‘‘Motorists must dj^j^w’ithin the 35-nrlie limit or sutler the conseH quenccs," a representative of the board warned. C. I). Bullock, of Williamston RFD 3, charged with speeding, lost his ration book for thirty days. | lied Cross A Success Chapter Only $265 Short Of Its Coal Fom Townships Already Over I «I>; Chairman V. J. Spiv ey Greatly Pleased Mm Working in the name of suffering humanity arid finding a liberal uub tu-, ednvan#flPWWlTe“1943 Hec^cRs? War Fund in the Martin County Chapter yesterday submitted pleas ing and encouraging reports. Four ,townships. Hear Crass Griffins. Wil liams and Jamesville, are already over the top, the districts going over in the order named but with James ville submitting possibly the best one of all. The workers there, led by Mrs. Ciias. Davenport and Mrs. Wal ter Brown and others, reported an amount nearly $200 in excess of the assigned quota. It was this report end those from Williams, Bear Grass and Griffins, too, that ph ased Chair man V. J. Spivey greatly as he sur veyed the field this morning and an nounced that the campaign had been a marked success to date and that the quota would be reached and possibly exceeded by tomorrow or Thursday. Assigned a quota of $2,550, Wii liamston has made splendid progress and is struggling toward tho finish line now, Chairman Spivey stating that the goal would be reached. The colored citizens are slow in reporting, but $75.33 has already been turned in and more than twice that amount will be placed in the hands of the chairman today. A review of the assigned quotas and amounts raised to date follows by districts and groups: Jamesville $ 300 $ 403.67 Williams 100 101.76 Griffins 250 296.72 Bear Grass 300 344.92 Williamston 2550 2,322.93 Colored Citizens 400 75.33 $3900 $3,635.33 Taking charge in Bear Grass, the good women of that community, aid ed by a few men, exceeded expecta (Continued on page six) -A t c Legislature Quits Raleigh Tomorrow ■ — •—->— t Steering around controversial mat t ters for the most part, the North o Carolina Legislature is scheduled to v quit Raleigh tomorrow, the session fc now drawing to a close being a rath- c er peaceful but eventful one. Very little new legislation directly a affecting this county was supported a in the Assembly during the term. A i: bill to increase the pay of jurors from f $2 to $3 a day was passed, and public c drunkenness outside the limits of the n several towns was frowned upon, the law-making body passing a hill to ! make the practice unlawful. H Collectively, Martin County wil recognize the work of the legisla ture. The major piece of legislation MMSYvfc the fof' law providing for a State-wide nine months school term. The extra month f is to be added to the 1943-44 term, i conditions and other factors permit- 4 ting. r Wine and beer sales between the a hours of 11 p. m. and 7 a. m. were c ruled out, and it was made discre- i tionary with the county authorities 1 to ban sales between 11 p. m. on Sat- f urdays until 7 a. m. on Mondays. f While enforcement of the pleas ure driving bar has been substituted for something they call the “honor system,” charge pending on or be fore March 4 will be subject to the penalty provisions. It is possible that i a few cases growing out of charges I preferred prior to that time will come to the attention of the rationing j board wirhin the next week or two : The ban on pleasure driving has not been lifted, but when it was an-j enforcement of the ban had been virtually eliminated, traf- j fic was said o have undergone a marked increase on the highwavs jj, this section. While tin- OP A may be j lax in requiring pleasure dnvers to j conserve gas and tires, it is apparent i that strict enforcement of the speed S regulations will be effected in the future. War Drive In Chapter ?Wwvww___ NORMAL Following unusually dry per iods in 1941 and a part of 1942, the rainfall in this section is back to about normal, heavy rains the latter part of last year j and early this year bringing the total up to about normal. The total for 1942 was about one half inch above the average : annual fall tut the past ten years, j Rains in January of this year ttfOTtVlt since 1939, but the fall last month was below the average, the wea ther station here recording only .99 of an inch. So far this month over one inch of rain has fallen here, a greater portion of it fall big last Saturday. County Young Man Commended For His Bravery Under Fire Luther Cleveland ^lndSiu 1* Promoted in United States Navy A Martin v'ffflfTty young man, Lu ther Cleveland Modlin, was recent ly commended by the Commander of the United States Atlantic Fleet for “exceptional courage* and forti tude when wounded in action against the enemy,” according to a release just received here from the Public Relations Office, Sixth Naval Dis trict, Charleston, South Carolina. “Despite the fact that he was ser iously wounded, Modlin went to his battle station and assisted in mak ing repairs,” the citation added. The message, announcing the cita tion, carried few details, and the place and conditions under which the recognition was earned could not be learned. The young man, the son of Mr. Sam Modlin, of RFD 1, Jamesville, and the late Mrs. Modlin, was home for a short stay several weeks ago. If he had been wounded, he did not mention it during his visit, and ap parently he received the injury and earned the citation since his return to service. The ship he was on and other particulars could not lx di vulged. Modlin. 25 years old tomorrow, en listed ip the Navy three years ago, tiu- 2fith of last month. He now holds the rank of electrician’s mate, sec ond class, United States Navy. He was advanced to that rank for his bravery and fortitude displayed re cently. Martin County men on land, sea and in the air have displayed cour age and fortitude and their bravery is accepted without question, but Electrician’s Mate Modlin is the first county young man to be so com mended. He has a brother, Tilghman Mod iin, who is now serving with the Marines. --♦— Statu* Of 38-45 Age wi_ Groujt'lJji In. The Air The same day that the Martin County Draft Board finished moving its 38-45 year old registrants into the 4-H classification, it was notified to reclassify them into 1-A H or 3-A H as the case may be. Just what the order means is not exactly clear, but it is rumored that the group must get busy in some essential industry or face a call to the Army on or after May 1. New Orders Likely To Complicate Farm And Draft Problems -<* Back If* Farm Movement Pos sible, Shift from One Farm To/Another Is Seen The drafting of manpower from the farm for war has been halted temporarily at least, observers be lieving that it will be some time in May before ^ farmer in this county | would be made subject to call to the . >••*•*. TJovvig the meantime, it 'Wfi^ j be up to the farm registrant to con I vince the War Board he is an essen tial f.mv. en' U-C ot .I f classification. New orders received Monday morning have disrupted activities in | the county draft board office and j created new problems for the Coun ! ty War Board, the draft and war ! board members in a special meeting I here last night admitting that they | hardly knew how and where the new rulings would fit into the farm labor and draft pictures. Draft calls for farmers have been delayed for thirty days, at least, and during that time the two boards are to study the problems. Just what the outcome will be is not quite certain, but it is apparent that the farm and draft problems will be far more compli cated with the possibility that the situation will become more perplex ing as the program progresses. It is indeed certain that all farm ers will not be placed in the lower classifications, but where the draft board has been passing on the eli gibility of the farm registrant the county War Board will enter the pic ture and say whether a farm regis trant is eligible for a lower classifi cation,or whether hes-houkl bc made subject to the draft. The tami reg tv quirements, and those requirements call for the production of so many farm units. If the registrant is not producing the required number of units in w ill be f.'h'VTst; WB.y days to alter his production schedule or make other plans. And that' where the farm problem can become com plicated. If a farmer cannot produce the required units on one farm and he can produce them on another one, he will be directed to move and meet the requirements or answer the draft call. Briefly stated, the farmer who claims deferment or a lower classification must produce or an swer the draft call. . , . ... All farm registrants recently class ified in the 1-A group will have their cases reviewed by the War Board. If the War Board finds that the reg istrant is not meeting the produc tion requirements, then the regis trant will be notified that he is sub ject to call unless lie makes utiiec oluns and arrangements to go into production on the required scale. If he meets those requirements, his classification in 2 C or 3-C will fol low If he does not or is unable to meet the requirements, the draft board will be so notified at the end of 30 days and classification in 1-A will fellow The War Board, composed of Messrs. Jesse F. Crisp, of Oak City, chairman; Tc m B. Brandon, secre tary; J C. Eubanks, H. F. McKnight, all of Williamston; John L. Hassell, Dak City, E V. Smith, RFD 1, Pal rnyra, and Willie L. Ausbon, Rober lOtiville, is holding its first meeting this afternoon. These gentlemen will lurse the farm manpower problem (Continued on page stx) Highlights On The Red Cross Drive Encouraging i.iui pleasing reports •narked the lied Cross War Fund (live throughout tlie Martin County "hapter as a whole, but the aetxvi 1 ies of Mrs. J. T. Harris and Mrs. Ar 'hur Peaks, canvassers in Bear Grass, probably are the most unus lal. In those homes where there was little ready cash on hand, the can vassers cheerfully arranged a visit to the chicken lot. When they com pleted their work they reported 99 oounds of poultry, the individual ■ontributions in those cases aver ting about $1.14 each when con verted into cash. Certainly, the hicken round-up was a bit trouble some, but what's a little trouble when it comes to financing a hu mane organization like the Red -• • . A Red Cross drive is seldom held in the chapter but what the liberal response to a similar call back in World War I is recalled. Hie lute Harry Slubbs spoke in the school house one night, and in short order, the farmers and other ciitzens of the community contributed in the neighborhood of $700.. Considering population and quota sizes, that record still stands.

Page Text

This is the computer-generated OCR text representation of this newspaper page. It may be empty, if no text could be automatically recognized. This data is also available in Plain Text and XML formats.

Return to page view