North Carolina Newspapers

9AT BAT 5 WAB BOND DAT THE ENTERPRISE OVER THE TOP FOR VICTORY «ttb UNITED STATES WAR BONOS-STAMFS • —* mnem-un mum VOLUME XLVI—NUMBER 24 WiUinmaton. Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, March 23, 1943, ESTABLISHED 1899 County _3Ctttsng Man Writes Of Trip To African War Zone Irvin Griffin Impress*^ Bv TPr ieWl Si lie s*» of* Fiem’n In iVorth Africa (Even though ho held a college degree which, ,o doubt would have supported a claim for a commission, Irvin Griffin, young son of Farmer and Mrs, S. Claude Griffin, chose to accept the events as offered by time and tide When his numbo>i<rr.s call ed, he took his place in the ranks without complaint. Surely, he was not over-anxious to leave home and friends, but today finds him with other millions braving dangers and hardships in the war zones, his let ters being devoid of complaint. In the following letter, addressed to The Enterprise, Cpl. Tech. Griffin de scribes his trip to Africa.—Ed.; “• • About five days before we landed we were told where we were going. Most of us had an idea that we were coming to Africa when we boarded the ship but we didn’t know exactly where w»e would strike When we were told where we were going to land, and when, a lot of rumors W'cre ended. Some of the ru mors were that we were going to strike at Dakar and others had us go ing as far as India. Incidentally, the day we landed happened to be my birthday so it will be one that I will remember for a long time. About a day after we were told where we were going to land, each of us was given a short descriptive pamphlet of Africa. This pamphlet described the larger cities of North Africa, their industries, the customs of the people and the products of the farms. I will give a brief description of the above in a later letter. “As we approached the Straits of Gibraltar we began to feel a little nearer real action. Our trip until this time had been a quiet and unexcit ing one but we were sure we would be spotted by enemy planes and sub marines as soon as we entered the Mediterranean. We passed through the Straits at night. Some of the boys said they could make out the rock but I was unable to see it. However, I did see the lights of a town in Span ish Morocco. This was the first town that I had seen with lights on since leaving the States. The morning af ter we passed through the Strasts was a be W < w’v.'C. 3^jtMI on deck in our shirt sleeves yet we could see snow caps on the moun „. taimio J8s»ih. The..xakp‘ain...at»4he. ship said the mountains were be tween 60 and 70 miles away. The water war »s smooth as r> small lake and everyone was enjoying a Med iterranean cruise at the expense of Uncle Sam. Fortunately, the remain der of our trip was pretty quiet. We saw a few enemy bombers but they were always alone. I had expected to see the sky full of them but I guess we must have had too much protec tion for them. “A few days before we were to land each of us was given a small American flag to sew on our sleeve. When we were told where to sew them one of the sergeants said that the flag would cover the stripes of the non-coms. One of the officers asked him which he had rather be wearing, the stripes in our flag or the stripes of a non-com. There was no more questions about where the flag would be sewed. We realized what the flag was for after we land ed. Although there was some resist ance from the French, one could al most feel that they were forced to do this to cover the French politicians of Vichy. After the Armistice was signed the Flench gave us wine, champagne and fruit, and as we pass (Continued on page six) Another Gas Ration Denied for Duration • Paul Daniel, Martin County color ed man, lost his gasoline ration book for the duration as a result of action taken by the Martin County Ration ing Board sitting a" a board of in quiry in the county agricultural building Monday night. Rations far Paul’s brother, Cleophus, were de nied for thirty days. Cleophus lost his book for a month when he ad mitted that he was caught using his brother’s book The drastic action was taken against Paul when it was admitted that he had applied for a second book when he had not lost the first one as claimed. According to one member of the board of inquiry many irregulari ties in the gas rationing program could be eliminated if the filling station operators would only coop erate. The irregularities traced to the Daniels were brought out when a station operator examined the ra tion book and noticed that it was made out for one type of car and was being used for another. D. O. Bowen, charged with violat ing the ban on pleasure driving, got under the wire only because the ban had been lifted after the alleged vi olation was reported. The alleged offense was charged against future claims for tire rations. The case charging Perlie Thomas with violating the 35-mile speed reg ulation was referred to the board in Chowan County where the ration was issued. Bonus for Fanners Who Sold} Oil-Peanuts To Government • According to able information ;ount> this week, received in the Martin farmers -cvr, sdrdirmLdrsrj asz&aik' cash bonus on the sales of “oil" pea nuts delivered to the government from the 1942 crop. Instead of re ceiving three and one-half cents per pound, it is possible that the price will climb to about six and one-half cents. An official announcement i„ expected in due time, telling of the disposition of the 1942 crop purchas ed by the FeSitui Growers’"O.hS'PFT!!^* live, it was learned. The bonus will be delayed until shortly after planting time, the re port received here stating tl/at no sales would be made until the 1943 crop is planted. Bids will .be asked for from all the cleaners, and deliv eries will be made to the highest bidders. It could not be learned how If.any peanuts are held by the coop erative _ unofficial rqgyjjj^jating that the quantity stored m this -c'btwtr v.»i(Tf)4nitKv;j*Mir«,trmn- ■ pared with the number or bags stor ed during the “lean price” years. Possibly 18.000 bags of the goobers were stored in ihis county v ilh the government from the 1942 crop, meaning that possibly an additional $50,000 will be released to peanut growers in this county. I! is possible, however, that some of those estimated 18,000 Vrags will be diverted into oil, and in that case little or no cash, bonus is to be ex pected. Apparently the demand by the edihj*.' trade is so great that most of the peanuts now in storage will not be used for oil. It was pointed out that peanuts carry a greater value when used as a food than they do when crushed into oil. DRIVERS A crop of new motor vehicle drivers in North Carolina is in the offing Bnt the law making It legal to license 15-year-olds may prove disappointing, because it does not permit the youths to op erate a vehicle weighing in ex cess of 3,000 pounds. Only the smaller types of autos and trucks weigh less than 3,000 pounds, and the way the law is inter preted it simply forbids *he youths from driving the larger type cars or a 3,500-pound pick up truck with more than a 500 pound load. Getting wise to the law, local youths moved in on Safety Ex aminer McLeod in the towm hall building here yesterday. One reported in a large car and when he got ready to take the driv ing test, he learned he could not qualify with it and went home and got another. Licensed to operate a vehicle weighing 3,000 pounds or less, the 15-year-old youth is subject to lose that license if he oper ates a vehicle weighing in ex cess of that amount. A mess, to be sure, but it is one of them leg islative acts. B#o*A4k>Rs@£vatiGR Workshop Here Last Week Was A Success Flans Outlined for Extending Conservation Program In Every County Home The two-day food conservation workshop held in the Home Econom ics Department of the local high school last week-end was quite suc cessful. The first day was for ail trained Home Economics workers, white and colored, in the county. The second day was for community and sector leaders. Both days were de voted to demonstrations by Miss Maybel Lacey, of the Vocational Home Economics Department, in canning, drying and brining of veg etables and fruits, and to perfecting an organization in which the pro gram might be carried to every one in the county. Mr. Hugh Horton, L. Bruce Wynne, James Manning, rep resenting OCD, Miss Mary Taylor, of the Welfare Department, and Miss Mary Taylor, of the Health De partment, attended in the afternoon to assist with suggestions on how the program might best be carried to all the families in the county. Miss Lora E. Sleeper was appointed as chair man of the County Nutrition Com mittee. The county was divided ac cording to townships, and there will be leaders from each township who will assist the trained leaders in car rying out the program. It was agreed that the month of May be given to carrying out the program and seeing that every woman in the county re ceive instruction either in a private demonstration or in a group meet (Continued on page six) “B” BOOKS # V___ Their “A” gas card rations re duced, Martin County motorists made a run on the rationing board here yesterday, clamoring for "B” books. It was estimated that between fifty and 100 ap plications were filed during the biggest rush of the season at the rationing board office. No action was taken on the ap plications, a report stating that the applicants will be asked to report to the board in person and support their claims for “B” books. While the “A” card holders were making new applications for “B” books, an estimated 200 other persons went to the office to renew their applications for the “B” books. “It isn't bow much gas they can do without, but how much gas they can ret. they are inter ested in,” an observer comment ed as the rush reminded him of a New Fork subway push. General Disorders Reported by Police Here bast-Weekend — Ten Drunks Jailed Saturday Night; Draftees Take Over Town Nestled down between vast indus trial renters to the north and south and with armed camps to the west and east, this little community threw off its quiet and peaceful mantle last Saturday night and went all out for a schedule followed by the pioneers in the ’49 gold rush. Serving as a cross roads for all the outfits as they traveled through from the shipyards in Norfolk and Wilmington, fvom the various bases and from the Army camps and induction centers, the town was literally thrown wide open for the haphazard entertainment of a people “gone wild,” to quote an ole timer. Draftees, traveling north from an induction center, took, over for a while, and the orderly flow of traf fic was blocked by crap games stag ed in public places. Groups crowded into the beer camps, the individuals cursing and shouting between gulps. ure window and <t was wine, beer, hard liquor and song, mostly with out the women. P“ i'eh’V^unks were'jailed'; TR?* j5S5.ce' ; hauling them down in groups of three and four. were advised to get off the slreet^^ind go home. The strong arm of the law was challeng ed and fists flew thick and fast when one drunk boisterously disagreed with the cops. A call came from a public station, urging the police to take a drunk in to custody. Despite a hurried answer to the call, the police found that the particular drunk had moved out, but another one hud moved in to take his place. Two officers, handling four drunks, were moving toward the jail when one of the peace breakers broke and ran. He was later arrested and jail ed. About the time the draftees were moving up and down the streets and when the drunks started staggering around, a report came from East Main Street declaring a colored baby had been kidnapped. The mother had placed the teen-month-old tot on the floor and in the course of a gen eral good time, the parent lost track of the tot and let out one yell after another. The baby, tiring of all the tom-foolery going on in a mad world, had crawled into a small box and was found sleeping soundly a short time later. Motorists, beating the government order lifting the ban on pleasure driving, had their traffic jams. And every one had a good time after a wild and woolly fashion. Local Boy Writes From Miami Beach -*___ A member of the 452 Technical School Squadron, Flight No. 1, A. A. F. T. T. C., No. 4, Mami Beach, Bob Levin, local boy who was called from his studies in Chapel Hill a few weeks ago, writes of the training pro gram there, as follows: “Just a note from vacation land where I am spending about a month in the sun and in a beautiful hotel. There is just one catch to it. In re turn for government kindness we must drill five hours daily or some three hours with two for lectures. Our basic training down here is ex actly like the infantry except for one point, we must learn in four weeks what they learn, in thirteen weeks. You can see the job. All this plus exercise and guard duty. “I really like it down here. I am gaining weight and turning very brown. (We have to shave every day.) Also, our hotel rooms must be spotless or we go to bed at 8 o’clock. As it is, I am sound asleep by nine every night and up at 5. By 7:30 we are on the field and start a long dt*y. “From here we will be shipped to some college to get about four months of pre-flight training. Then a furlough. That means I’ll be home some time in August. Some wait?” TOWN • FARM IN WARTIME (A weekiy news digest from the rural press section of the OWI news bureau) Frozen The sale of butte1', margarine ’arc and other edible fats have been froz en for the current week, and will be rationed under the point system be ginning next Monday. Easterners fiei ifi Gallons of Gas a Month Autoists in 17 eastern states now will get only 6 gallons of gasoline a month, although they may use it for any Kind of nonoccupatkmal driving. The new order does rto/apply to oth er areas. A-hooks wil/ still be good for 3 gallons'in the 17 eastern states but they must last for four months. Shortage r/f gas and oil supplies, and greatly increased demands for fuel .for farm machinery, caused the OP A order, which became effective March 22nd. More Meat For Shortage Areas OPA has empowered regional ad ministrators to report to the food ra tioning division of OPA whenever an area has an acute meat shortage which endangers mor ale, or the war effort. OPA will au thorize slaughterers to increase their civilian deliveries of controlled meats in such areas. Action was tak en m 12 North Carolina counties this week. Plenty of Canning Supplies Plenty of metal closures and rub ber jar rings will be available for American housewives who will be doing an increased amount of can ning this year. The War Production Board has removed all quota restric tions on the manufacture of certain types of metal lids used to seal the jars. Prohibition of the use of zinc is continued. More Turkeys This Year Turkey growers plan to raisi about 37 million turkeys this year according to February 1 returns fron over 5,000 farmers throughout thi U. S. This would be the largest croj of turkeys ever produced in thi: country—12 per cent larger than thi 1912 crop. Some difference betweei February indications and actual per formance is to be expected, depend ing on the supply and price of hatch ing eggs, poultry prices, availability and cost of high protein feeds, anc the willingness of growers to accep TBRHiau i^ETpouTts' Modifications of Shoe Ration Ordei Three modifications of shoe ratioi C/rtfel'"*! i filiVe *bdrVf*$utlinrif.e OPA. They are (1) an additional ra tion for “safety” shoes, used foi health protection in special work may he acquired from the loca board by any person who has spen his ration stamp 17, even though < member of his family has an unspen stamp. (2) Sandals which can bi sold ration-free are re-defined ti include all sandals with an opei back and a heel height of i 1-1 inches or less, regardless of the ma terial used in the upper. (3) Certair shoes with soles made principally o rope, wood, or other non-strategic materials may be sold ration-free regardless of the material used ir the upper. Extra Food for Temporary Workers An employer who temporarily hires workmen for periods of less than 30 days may obtain rationed foods for them by applying to his local War Price and Ration Board This is of special importance to far mers who hire labor during the planting and harvesting season, tc employers of construction workers on temporary jobs, lumber camp opera tors, and other seasonal employers. Ceilings on Corn Permanent maximum prices on corn — America’s top-ranking farm crop in point of size and value—have been fixed by OPA. The ceilings ap ply from the time the corn leaves the farmer’s hand until it is sold by re tail dealers. Recognizing seasonal price variations and carrying charges the new OPA order sets peak prices for all varieties and types of corn sold by farmers, truckers, local ele vator and terminal market opera tors and retail dealers. Typical peak under the new maximum price regu lation No. 346 (corn) is $1.02 per 56-pound bushel of No. 2 yellow corn at Chicago—key point in the coun try’s grain exchange and marketing (Continued on page six) County Young Man Cels Commission In California Stationed at Camp Callan, Cali fornia, Euris Vanderford, Martin County young man, was recently promoted to the rank cf sergeant in the U. S. Army. The sergeant in a recent letter stated (hat he was get ting along all right, that he was working unusually hard. He is an instructor in gunnery and figures in a hard training schedule. -4, Called To Fayetteville By Death Of Her Father -t Miss Mary W. Taylor, Martin County Welfare Department super intendent, was called to Fayetteville yesterday afternoon by the sudden death of her father. Funeral arrangements had not been announced this morning, but the last rites will be held tomorrow or Thursday in Albany, Ga. Married MenLined Up For Next Draft Call When Board Handles Martin County 's Wh ite Draft Quota for March Will Be Met According to reliable information received today, Martin ■ County's white draft quota for March will bo met. A general order from Se lective Service headquarters pro hibits the publication of the names of the men called to report for in duction “soon,” and few details of the cal! at e to be had. It was generally believed that a 30-day blanket deferment for all farm registrants would make it im-. possihle for the draft board in this county to meet the current white quota, early estimates pointing to a shortage of approximately fifty per cent in the call requirements. As far as ;( could be learned no farm reg istrants are included in the call, but it is understood that several or at least six farm registrants have vol unteered their services and with this unexpected power, the board is fill ing the tirder. The task was a diffi cult one. however, one report stating that the draft (JPficiaLs scoured the registration list/from one end to the other picking out eligible registrants without stepping on the groups hold ! ing claims to occupational defer j mints. I /No information could be gained from the draft authorities, but ac fording to instructions received by I individual registrants, the next group of white draftees are to leave , the county next Monday. Orders, in j strutting them to report, were re | eeived last week-end. The April call, described as one of the largest ever received in ffatiS county for white draftees, is to be filled about the middle of the month, it was learned from registrants ; whose deferments are expiring | shortly, Allied Divisions Are Driving Forward To Trap Rommel Army -«-— Paralleled Advances in Oppo site Directions t.onlinne In Russia Today It may take weeks or even long er, but the drive to trap Rommel’s Africa Corps in Tunisia is gaining momentum as the British Eighth Army batters away at the Mareth iine to the south and American forces continue their push toward the Mediterranean further north. Aided by an effective air support, the British are said to have pierc ed the Mareth line and gained a strong foothold. The Americans, **«**»*{-• «•**)?■;hrarwh within thirty miles of their object ive as the crow flies or about fifty •tci'es hj4.lfce-.tvindirvf la rd route»-The j American forces had encouritered I little opposition tn their drive up un til yesterday when they approached heavily entrenched German artillery in advantageous mountain positions. Rommel has not yet mounted a real counterattack against the Aid* r icans moving to cut him off from northern Tunisia and force him into a “last stand” at the Mareth fortifi cations. Either his armored forces were pinned down by the British assault from the south or he was awaiting a better strategical moment to strike back. In any event, Lieut. Gen. George S. Patton, Jr .’s American heavily armor.-d columns are ready for ac tion and according to tasi reports his march toward the sea had not been slowed down. Late reports state that a prong of Montgomery’s army had made a 100 mile swing around the southern end of the Mareth line and was within 30 miles of the seaport town of Ga bes, that the Americans had taken Maknassy. Current reports corning from Tunisia today, while devoid of details, are encouraging. However, a cautious note is being sounded, and some fierce lighting is to be expect ed. Hitler has reminded his Tunisian army of the stand to the last man at Stalingrad, and a virtual order has been given Rommel to make a sim ilar stand. It is estimated that trie Germans have 250,000 men in the little coastal strip in Tunisia and it is quite likely they cannot be clear ed out without loss to the Allies. Yes terday, the Germans lost 26 planes to 7 for the Allies, and it can be said (Continued on page six) Oratorical Contest In Legion Hut Here —_«— Youths, representing about twen ty northeastern North Carolina counties, will compete in an Ameri can Legion-sponsored oratorical con test here next Monday night at 8:00 o’clock. The local post, recognizing the honor in entertaining the dis trict contest, is making extensive arrangements, it was learned. Prior to the orations, the hosts wilLjfierve a rock fish supper, and a general invitation is being extend ed all Legionnaires to attend the sup per. The meeting is expected to be one of the largest held by the county post in many months, and all Legionnaires are urged To be'present and welcome the visitors. Leland Hardison, of Robersonville, will represent this county in the dis trict contest, the winner of which will go into the State finals. Robersonville, the only school in the county to enter the contest, had several contestants, Hardison win ning a clear decision in the tryouts week before last. WARNING No more War Ration Books Nos. 1 and 2 will be issued to replace those lost, stolen or mu tilated, the county rationing board office announced this week at the direction of the Of fice of Price Administration. In some instances, rackets have centered around “lost” books. What are the unfortunate ones going to do? A bit like they do when cold cash is lost among thieves. In short, the unfortun ate one will likely have to eat crow. Mrs. J. R. Mobley Dies At Home Here Monday Afternoon Funeral -S«*r vires lining Held This Aflernocm for igtvl Resident Mrs. Eliza Bolton Mobley died at I the home of her daughter, Mis. Her bert II. Cowen, here yesterday after noon at 1:10 o’clock following a two weeks illness. Enjoying fairly good health despite her advanced age, Mrs. Mobley was taken ill about three weeks ago with pneumonia, and that with resulting heart trou ble and other complications caused her death. The daughter of the late James Bolton and wife, Lavenia McDaniel Bolton, Mrs. Mobley was born in Northampton County 78 years ago last September 2. She met J. Robert Mobley while he was studying under the late Professor Picot in Woodland. Following their marriage in 1882, they moved to Martin County and lived on the old Greenville Road, near Williamston, while Mr Mobley was connected with a lumber com pany as surveyor. Later Mr. Mobley bought a part of the old Watts farm, near Skewarkey, and they lived there until 1904 when he was appointed postmaster and moved to Wiiliams ton. Since that time she had made her home with her daughter. Mrs. Mobley was the last member of her family, her forebears having been prominent in the early devel opment of Northampton County Her father was a cavalry officer in the Confederacy. She was a member of the local Baptist Church for almost half a century. Possessed of a retir ing manner, she enjoyed the quiet ness of her home and seldom partici pated in outside activities. She leaves besides her daughter with whom she made her home, three grandchildren, H. II. Cowen, (Continued on page six) V WANT RECRUITS An urgent call for volunteers In the WAACS and Waves is be ing directed to young women in this county, according to Assist ant Postmaster F. E. Wynne in Williamston. Mr. Wynne has been asked to distribute as many as fifteen application blanks to young women interested in join ing the Woman’s Army Auxil iary Corps, and the Waves are urging interested young women to write the U. S. Navy Recruit ing Station, Post Office Build ing, Raleigh, N. V,. tor iniorma-~ tion on enlisting in that branch of the service. The WAAC application blanks with information folders are available at the Williamston post office, Mr. Wynne stating that a WAAC recruiting party would visit the county soon nd discuss the openings for young women in the service. -« Seventy Men Given Deferment for One Reason Or Another - —_*.— Indications Vrc That Farmers Vt ill Make Strong Effort For Big Proportion I Working (or more than four hours I here last night, the Martin County Draft Board brought its classification work up to date, leaving the draft blowing strong in the direction of | married meii with children. Just j when the draft will start grabbing registrants in that group cannot be I determined at this time. There are | several factors to be considered, but even the—picture isn’t very ! bright. The board at its Iasi night's meet ing deferred 70 men for one reason or another. Some were excused un til about May 1 or until the school term is completed. Most of the num ber were deferred on account of occupations they hold, the action be ing taken in accordance with the mandates of the Selective Service. Its supply of single men virtually exhausted, the draft board just a short time ago called out all married men without children for physical examination. Just prior to that time, all single men with dependents were called for physical examination. Out of the two groups, about 100 claims for deferment were filed. Seventy were granted deferments and twen ty-eight were placed in the 1-A class ification. All the rest of the men in the two groups—that is, the groups including single men with depend ents and married men without chil dren were placed in 1-A excepting those few who automatically re classified themselves by offering cer tain information that supported a claim for deferment. Most of those in this class were fathers who had failed to report new dependents since mgsm tmfrnm ed by the county medical examining board when physical defects were ..sell-evident. . _ __ . /fu me remaining registrants in ttie two groups were automatically placed in 1 A except those who sup ported deferment claims. It is pas sible for quite a few of those who did not enter claims for deferment in time for consideration by the board last night to do so before they are called some time about the middle of May And it is possible that some of those who had claims in for consid eration last night to present further information and ask that their cases be reopened. Or it is possible for them to appeal to the district appeal board. Below is a list of the claims for de ferment that was reviewed by the board last night. It should he remem bered that all others in the two groups up for reclassification are in 1-A and they have been notified to that effect. They are reminded, how ever, that they must perfect their claims for deferment and file them with the board before they are no tified to report for induction. The classifications follow: Andrew Claiborne Summerlin, Williamston, 1-A Franklin Burrace Ange, James ville, 1-A Herman Burros Daniels, RFD 1, (Cui tinned on page six) Accept Twenty-Two Negroes For Service —*— Out of the fairly large number of colored men reported for induction from this county, the armed services kept only twenty-two, unofficial re ports indicating that the percentage retained was larger than it was in the previous month. By special or der from Selective Service Head quarters, the names of rejectees are not to be disclosed. The names of the colored men re porting to an induction center and who were accepted are: Lester Saunders, John A. Bennett, James Gray, Lewis Augustus Brown, Willie Sherrod, Sylvester Cherry, Joseph Scott, Clevon Moore, Gordon Frank Williams, Nathaniel McCoy Hardison, Solomon Hodges, David Wallace, Jr., Wm. Mayo Land, Gra dy James, Ernest Turner, Jr., Wal ton Daniel Biggs, Cheldon Octavious Lanier, Iziah Shepherd, Leslie Thom as Land, Clarence Biggs Rogers, Charles Lester Lee, Walter Alex Jones. The last named four were ac cepted bv the Navy, the others by iitr'Anity:-*'* " — * - - At least two of the group of men instructed to report for examination, James Spencer Pippins and William Jones, failed to report. It is understood that more than half of the number rejected were be lmy cental or literacy standards that most of the remaining ones were physically unfit for service and one had a criminal record.