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OVER THE TOT
FOR VICTORY
UNITED STATES WAR
BONDS'STAMPS
"
VOLUME XI VI-NUMBER 35
Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Friday, April 30, 19 I f.
ESTABLISHED 1899
Threat Than Germany
J
Fiendish Design OL
Japanese Reviewed
By Dr. Crossfield
—*—
Speaks to Large Crowd in the
Grammar School Here
Tuesday Night
Taking a realistic rather than a
pessimistic view of the world-wide
upheaval, Dr, R. H. Crossfield,
president emeritus of Transylvania
College, noted lecturer-minister and
world student-traveler, offered a
gloomy pictu.e of the war in a learn
ed address to the Williamston Par
ent-Teacher Association Uhd the gen
eral public in the grammar school
auditorium here last Tuesday eve
ning.
“We’ll win this war, but we’ll have
to do more on the home front than
we have been doing. We'll have to
dig down next to the last nickel;
yes, next to the last copper before
it is over,” Dr. Crossfield decl, red,
adding that we'll have to send many,
many boys and girls, too, to the Pa
cific along with far more equip
ment that we have yet dreamed of 1
sending.
Centering his address around the
topic, “Why Japan Fights," Dr.
Crossfield reviewed briefly the his
tory of the country which, in his
opinion, offers a greater threat to
the world than does Germany. “Ja
pan is founded more on the mind.
The idea of a divine ruler, divine
land and divine law has been in
stilled into the minds of its approxi
mately 90 million people for years
and years. Back in 660 B. C., the
kingdom was established with an
emperor to be worshipped as the
son of heaven. The plan with few
exceptions has been continued down
to Hirohito, the 124th emperor. Al
though born through natural pro
cesses, he is recognized by the Japs
as the son of heaven, and as the sun
rises each morning, the millions turn
their faces toward the palace and
offer a prayer for the emperor,” the
speaker said.
Describing Hiorhito as a family
man and the father of six children,
Dr. Crossfield said he had seen and
recognized him as a man of strange
features. He is a great golfer and
horseman and is an authority on
deep sea biology.
“That’s your divine ruler as wor
shipped by the Japs. The father of !
modern Japan went to Germany .
about three quarters of a century
ago, and with the help of Bismarck
formulated a constitution. It was
accepted by the Japs as divine law.
“With a divine ruler ar.d a divine
law, the Japs reckoned that their
country must be superior, that it had
a superior destiny, and that it must
rule, not only in the Orient but also
in all the world. This divine land,”
the speaker continued, “has only a
bout 160,000 square miles and has
2,418 persons to the square mile of
productive soil, and that is the “di
vine” land of the Japs.
“About 1600, the emperor was de
throned and pushed into exile by the
War Party. For 350 years, the lead
ers of the War Party held Japan in
seclusion, and she slept in her own
bed. The Portuguese sailed to Ja
pan in 1640 and they were killed,
the Japs still insisting they be left
alone by the outside world. In her
isolationism, Japan, after a medieval
fashion, developed agriculture, edu
cation and music. There was some
improvement, but it did not take
(Continued on page six)
■---•
Class Day Program
Here Last Evening
The graduating class of the local
high school, forty-six in number,
brought their school careers to a fit
ting climax last evening in a patri
otic exercise held in the high school
auditorium
William Oscar Peele, salutatorian,
pronounced the invocation after
which Richard Margolis, valedic
torian of the cls-rJ^Sehvered a stir
ring address, reviewing the historic
development of our nation and its
fight for freedom. “America Marches
On" was the theme of the special
program.
“Stout Hearted Men" by Billy
Myers and “God Bless America" by
Mary O’Neal Pope were appropriate
numbers sung during the program.
Rev. John L. Goff presented the
medals as follows:
Kiwanis Debating Medal to Wil
liam Oscar Peele, Jr.; B. S. Courtney
Science Medal to Richard l^targolis.
Rev. W. R. Burrell presented the
special cups as follows:
W. C. Manning Valedictorian Cup
to Richard Margolis; Sarah Manning
Home Economics Cup to Jane John
son Golf; Goodmon Athletic Trophy
to Fred Hardison; Woman’s Club
Civic Cup to the Glee Club, received
by Kathry Me whom.
The graduating class, the largest
in the history of the school, formed
in a “V" after receiving their di
plomas, and ssr»g the V for Victory
Song to bring the school year to an
official dose.
Still Fight* Nads
THIS REARDEO WARRIOR, Cot. Chrtg
todoulos Gig’.ntes, Is In command
cl the “sacred squadron" attached
to the British BtL Army In Africa.
The squadron is made up of men
and officer* who escaped from
Greece and has helped to chase
Rommel's Afrika Korps from Egypt
to Tunisia. (International)
William C. Whitley
Passes At His Home
In Griffins Tuesday
—«—
Funeral Services Are Held on
Wednesday fo Respected
And Beloved Citizen
William C. Whitley, retired far
mer and highly respected citizen of
Griffins Township, died at his home
in the Farm Life community Tues
day afternoon at 2:00 o’c lock follow
ing a long period of declining
health. Suffering a stroke early last
fall, he had been in unusually poor
health since that time, the death of
his wife last December *3 aggravat
ing his condition. However, lie was
able to be up and about the house
until last Wednesday afternoon when
he fell in the porch and was forced
to his bed.
The son of the 'ate Thomas and j
Elizabeth Daniel Wtrtley, he was
born 77 years ago the 10th of last
February, and spent bis entire life
in the community of his birth. Fif
ty-six years ago he was married to
Miss Mary Hardison. While he en
joyed the friendship of others, her
passing last December left him brok
en and lonely, and his last months I
were spent by the radio and with his
papers. The war caused him anxie
ty and the forced idleness following
a life of useful activity worried him,
but in spite of all he carried his wor
ries unto himself His cheerfulness
and thoughtfulness of other: were
with him even in his last few hours.
His death marks the end of a use
ful life, lived peacefully with his
fellowman. No call to service went
unanswered, for he was ready and
willing to help anyone in need or in
distress. Few men have worked
harder and done more for their fel
lowman out of the goodness of their
hearts than Mr. Whitley did. Almost
countless days were spent willingly
and freely in the service of others.
He valued the basic ideals of life, and
his word was readily accepted as his
bond. Although humble and unpre
tentious was his walk through life,
few people enjoyed themselves more
than he did. He found peace and con
tentment in his daily work and in
(Continued on page six)
-c
To Name Assistant
County Farm Agent
The appointment by the commis
sioners of an assistant county farm
agent is expected here next Monday.
L. L. McLendon, formerly cl
Greensboro and now of Kenansville,
is expected to qualify for the posi
tion, it was learned from a reliable
source here this week. Mr. McLen
don served as a county farm agent
for twenty years in this State be
fore going with the Farm Security
Administration a few years ago.
More recently he has been associat
ed with the Triple A with headquar
ters down in Duplin County.
Upon his appointment he will suc
ceed John Ivey Eagles, the popular
and hard-working assistant agent
who resigned a short time ago to en
ter the Navy.
District Board Denies
Three Deferment Claims
Claims for draft deferment were
denied by the District Appeal Board
in three cases from this county re
cently, the local draft board was ad
vised this week. The cases up for ap
peal were those of Chas. Peel, Roy
McClees and James Elton Smith. De
cisions are ponding in several other
cases from this county, it Is under
stood.
i
*mri re'.*
fOTfcM ttifrTm*'
Allotted In County
By Rationing Board
Rations This Week About the
L»rge*t- Allotted In This
County Recently
Meeting this week, the Martin
County Rationing Board made lib
eral tire allotments tc Martin Coun
ty vehicle owners and operators,
the number running well over three
hundred.
The tile situation is not as blight
as the liberal rations would seem to
indicate, reports from a number of
sources stating that certificate hold
ers are finding the supply of Grade
II tires limited, and that there are
few Grade III tires to behad. Pos
sibly some provision will be made
to care for the demand, but those
plans have not been revealed of
ficially.
New li-iitk titvErs and tubes were
rationed to the following:
Manning and Gurkin, Williamston,
four tires and four tubes.
Roberson Slaughter House, Wil
liamston, six tires and four tubes.
Town of Williamston, two tubes.
Adkins and Bailey, Robersonville,
one tire and one tube.
Farmville-Woodward Lumber Co.,
Williamston, two tires and two tubes.
Recapped truck tires and new
tubes were allotted as follows:
Williamston Supply Co., two tires
and one tube.
J. S. Whitman, Robersonville, four
tires.
New car tires and tubes were al
lotted, as follows:
Farmville-Woodward Lumber Co,,
two tires.
T. O. Nicholson, RFD 3, Williams
ton, one tire.
W. J. Beach, Hamilton, one tube
and one tire.
Dr. V. A. Ward, Robersonville, one
tire and one tube.
K. Roy Cullipher, RFD 2, William
ston, one tube.
Gussie Harrison, RFD 2, Williams
ton, one tube.
J. D. Wynne, RFD 1, Roberson
ville, one tube.
G. A. Weatherington, Roberson
ville, one tube.
Pete Mendenhall, RFD 2, William
ston, two tubes.
C. B. Roebuck, Williamston, one
tire and one tube.
Jos. G. Corey, Williamston, one
tire and one tube.
Watsie Latham, Williamston, two
tires and one tube.
Mrs. J. A. Everett, RFD 1, Pal
myra, one tire and one tube.
R. A. Kaislip, Oak City, one tire
and two tubes
C. E. parbero, U. S. Armed Serv
ices, one tire and one tube.
Highway Patrol, two tires.
J. H. Roebuck, Williamston, one
tire and one tube.
B. S. Courtney Furniture Co., Wil
liamston, two tubes.
American Fork and Hoe Co. agent,
Williamston, one tire and one tube.
J. R. Winslow, Robersonville, one
tire.
S. B. Brown, RFD 1, Oak City, bvo
(Continued on page three)
Fifteen Faculty
Positions Vacant
Hardly rested from the struggle
of finding and keeping teachers dur
ing the term not at or nearing a
close, county school authorities are
already worrying over the prospec
tive shortage of teachers that is al
most certain to present itself in late
summer and early fall. A prelim
inary review of teacher contracts in
the six white school districts in the
county shows there are already
fifteen positions vacant in the sev
eral faculties. Teacher re-elections
were almost unanimous in most of
the schools, but this is a changing
world and the teachers offer no ex
ception.
During the 1942 43 term, there
were 45 changes in the faculty per
sonnel in the white schools. Possibly
the number of changes will not reach
that high figure during the coming
term, but school officials are of the
opinion that it will be even more
difficult to fill fewer positions than
it was to fill the forty-five made
vacant fay resignation during the
term now ending.
All the principals have been re
elected in the ten white schools, but
no detailed report on the teacher
elections could be had immediately.
f COMMISSIONERS
vJ
With little new or old busi
ness scheduled, the county com
missioners are anticipating an
uneventful day when they hold
their regular monthly meeting
here next Monday. The ap
pointment of an assistant county
nifffni is and fflfr til
thorities will possibly review
the total property listings for the
county. It is also possible that
they will take a first peep at the
budget estimates, one report
staing that the welfare depart
ment already has its facts and
figures ready for inspection.
It is understood the proposed
welfare department budget calls
for about the same appropria
tion as was used In 1942-43.
^tm. wft’rizo-tw&kVsa vf-vtvffifi*****®*
MAD* THROUGH THE PERISCOPE of the U.S. submarine Wahoo, this photo shows a torpedoed Jap ship it
' starta its final plunge to tire bottom somewhere in the Pacific. This enemy vessel was one of eight ships
torpedoed and sunk by the Wahoo during a recent, far-ranging patrol. The sub is under the command of
Lt Comm. Dudley W. Morton. This is an official U. S. Navy photo. (International Sovmdphoto)
War Will Get About
One-fourth Of High
School Seniors Here
—•—
Only Three of the Others Plan
To Go To The Furni
This Summer
The seriousness of the war is strik
ing ever closer home. This time it is
reaching into the secondary schools
and grabbing many of the youth
ful graduates. In the local schools,
according to a survey made this
week, about one out of every four
of the boys graduated last evening
will report for service within the
near future. And most of the others,
it is quite certain, will follow them
in the course of time.
Graduated at the age of 16 years
in most cases, a majority of the nine
teen youths are hardly old enough to
enter the service. Three plan to turn
to farm jobs, a few plan to enter oth
er employment, including defense
jobs, and a few are not certain of
their plans for the summer. It is ap
parent there’ll be very little loafing
in the group.
Asked about their plans, The En
terprise got the following answers j
to the question, 'What do you plan
to do this summer?”: •
Reg Griffin: “It looks like I am
army bound right soon too soon.”
Roy Hudson: “I am planning to
enlist in the Navy. I would soon be
subject to the draft.”
J. D. Woolard, Jr.: “Naval Reserve
College training if I can pass the j
physical.” (The young man, taking 1
the V-12 examination a few weeks
ago, has been advised that he was
accepted.)
Elton Wallace: “I am going to
take a special radio course, and then
get a job until I am old enough to
enlist in the Marine Corps.”
Warren Nicholson: “I planned to
farm, but I am subject to call by the
Army.”
Fred Hardison, Hewett Andrews
and Bill Peele, still under 17 years
of age, plan to help on the farm this
summer.
Richard Margolis: “Plan to attend
Georgia Military Academy eight
weeks this summer, and plan to en
ter William and Mary in fall.”
Daryl Clayton: “I a,n planning to
work around town this summer and
to leave for a military school next
fall.”
Billy Waters: “I am going to work
at Dixie Motors as stock man this
summer.”
John L. Goff, Jr.: “Will work at
post office this summer. Plan to en
ter A. C. College in fall.”
Jasper Eugene Browder: “I may
get an office job at the Farmville
Woodward Lumber Co. If I don’t, I
will work somewhere this summer
and go to school next fall.”
Conrad Getsinger: “Due to pres
ent condition of things, I am unde
cided as to what I shall do this sum
mer.”
Tim Jackson: "I would like to
join the Navy, but I am too young. I
have thought about getting a defense
job this summer.”
Jas. C. Manning, Jr.: “If the Army
doesn’t get me, I am going to get a
(Continued on page six)
To Hold Municipal
Election Tuesday
A town election is scheduled
here for next Tuesday, but the event
so far has attracted about as much
attention as a dog fight in an isolated
rural spot.
The present mayor .1 T, Hassell
and commissioners, L. P. Lindsley,
R. T. Griffin, G. H. Harrison, V. D.
Godwin and N. C. Green, are up for
re-election, the group gaining the
nominations without expressed op
position.
Voting will be in order between
the hours of 8 a. m. and sunset in
the mayor’s office next to the police
office. Tlie electorate is asked to
call by every now and then and help
keep the poll holders awake.
Number of Graduates)
Bow To War in County
NAMESAKE
Exceeding Its goal in the thir
teen billion dollar victory war
bond drive, Martin County Ls
virtually assured that a pursuit
ship bearing its name will be
included in the vast air arma
da now being turned out in this
country.
By exceeding the goal of $75,
000, the county will have a pur
suit ship named after it. Possi
bly it will be railed the “Spir
it of Martin County.” But the
purchase of more of the "E", “D”
and “F” bonds is in order. “We
would like to have a bomber
named after our country, but
that means we would have to ex
ceed our (junta bv $300,000, and
that is a right big order,” 1). V.
Clayton, chairman of the bond
campaign in this county, said to
day.
The bond drive is scheduled to
end tin May 10, and everyone
who hasn't participated so far
is urged to do so if the purchase
is limited to a $25 bond.
Jud^e Calvin Smith
Hears Twenty Cases
In the County Court
Tribunal In Session Greater
Pari of Day Handling
Varied Poekel
Judge J. C. Smith held the Martin
County Recorder’s Court in session
a greater part of last Monday clear
ing the docket of twenty cases. The
session ,one of the longest held in
many months, attracted a “big” court
crowd, Clerk I,. B. Wynne stating
that he had seen far smaller num
bers in attendance upon superior
court meetings Solicitor Paul D
Roberson prosecuted the docket, and
came out with an almost perfect
score. Mac hargwment was necessary
at the insistence of the trial lawyers
in one case, but a conviction was
scored, and as a whole, it was a bad
day for alleged law violators.
Proceedings:
Adjudged guilty after a trial last
ing the greater part of two hours,
Don G. Davis, charged with drunk
en driving, was fined $50, taxed with
the costs, had his driver’s license re
voked for a year and was ordered to
surrender his liquor ration book. He
appealed and bond was required in
the sum of $100.
in the case charging him with an
assault with a deadly weapon, Gil
bert Moore explained to the court
that he had paid the victim’s medi
cal bill and $5 a week to the prose
cuting wtiness, Lena Fagan. The
court suspended a 90-day road sen
(Continued on page six)
QUALIFIED
The first test far essential
farmers is now in the process of
completion, the County War
Board having met here yester
day afternoon to make a last re
view and study of about 100
cases of farmer-registrants. Act
ing on the advice of the War
Board altogether or to a very
great extent, at least, the draft
board will handle the final class
ifications at a call meeting next
Tuesday night.
No official report could be had
from the War Board meeting; in
fact, no final official action was
taken yesterday, but it was
learned that quite a few of the
farm registrants qualified for
the “C" classifications.
School Seniors Are
Reduced in County
By Twelve Percent
-a
List Drops from 162 Last
Year to Low Figure of
112 This Year
Possibly there are some who have
not gone all out for the war effort,
but it is fairly certain that the war is
going all out when it comes to alter
ing the civilian economy on the
home front. Some businesses have
closed, and other are struggling a
long the best they can. Homes have
been broken up. and now' the schools
are reflecting the effects of war with
market reductions in the number of
graduates.
Strange as it may seem, one or tw'o
schools are reporting larger gradu
ating class*-,, this year than t; .', i j
in 1942, but even in those cases, the!
numbers would have been consider
ably larger had it not been for war
and the effects of war. In other
schools sizable reductions have been
reported in the number of gradu
ates, Oak City and Jamesville pos
sibly absorbing the greatest losses.
A year ago, 162 youths cleared the
high schools in this county as com
pared with 142 this year. Some of
the young men entered the armed
services, others entered industrial
plants, and still others found it
necessary to take up the slack cre
ated at home and on the farm when
older brothers left for war.
Schools in five of the six county
white districts have held their grad
uation exercises and are closing the
term today. Oak City will end the
year next Tuesday morning. The
colored schools, interrupted while
the children picked cotton last fall,
will close on May 10th.
The names of the graduates in the
county are:
Jamesville: Nicholas Ange, Walter
Brown, Jr., Jimmie Burnette, Irvin
Gardner, Cecil Idlley, Mercedes
Ange, Stella Barber, Grace Brewer,
Juanita Calloway, Reba Coltrain,
Esther Marie Corey, Loyta Faye
Gardner, Cleo Griffin, Sarah Wright.
Farm Life: Thelma Griffin, Evelyn
Hardison, Hazel Hardison, Josephine
(Continued on page six)
Eating Places Must
File Price Schedule
Operators of restaurants, cafes,
boarding houses, soda fountains and
other places serving food to the gen
eral public must file a list of their
celling prices with the rationing
board by tomorrow
Cafes, drug stores and others serv
ing sandwiches and quick lunches
will list for each item prices prevail
ing during the period of April 4 to
10. Boarding houses are asked to list
their prices per meal or per week
or month for regular boarders.
Printed lists are preferred, but
those written in ink will be accepted,
it was explained.
Very few of the establishments in
this county have filed their price
lists, it was learned from the ration
ing board offices here this morning.
Retailer* Handling Meats
Fats And Fish To Register
All retailers and wholesalers han
dling meat, fish, fats and cheese are
to register between May 3 and 14,
Mrs. Irene Blount, rationing board
secretary, announced this week.
The dealers may write or call at
the board office for Form R-1601 and
submit the prepared form by mail.
The registration is to establish in
ventories, it was pointed out
Americans Reported
fn Sight of Bizerte
liicreasnl Vrtivity in Russia;
Lerman Drive Kvjieejei!
Against Leningrad
The scrap in Tunisia, marked by
fierce fighting or, both sides, is now
expected to find the Germans con
testing the Allied move until the
last. With the box^al ready made, the
• A! Sics are now trying to haii the lid
°n RommiTs coffin. Extending their
lines yesterday to Mateur, important
juncture in the lines of march to Bi
zerte, the Americans are still push
ing forward today. In other sectors,
the Germans have increased their
resistance and succeeded in check
ing and pushing back the British
First Army in the center position.
The Germans also were reported
^'UnhTaHacking heavily below Pont
Du Fahs, but French troops never
theless consolidated new gains in
that sector and captured two more
hills—Djebel Delhalfa and Djebel
Krimir, both about nine miles north
west of Djebeblna, a French iym
munique said
Continued contact was reported
between the French and the left
Hank of the British Eighth Army at
tacking from Djebel Garci at the
western end of the east coast front.
Other French forces on the north
coast front captured Djebel El Serna,
inflicting severe casualties and tak
ing a number of prisoners, the
French communique said.
German resistance was reported
stiffening sharply all along the Tu
nisian line and in further demonstra
tion of their determination to fight
to the end for a bridgehead in Afri
ca, the Nazis were running large
numbers of small supply vessels ov
er the straits from Sicily.
Despite a stiffening opposition,
American and French forces, accord
ing to a report early this afternoon,
had plunged forward to get within
sight of Bizei te, one of the main ob
jectives in the African campiagn.
New local gains by the British
Eighth Army in the south were re
ported in late dispatches. The Brit
ish Fust Army is now locked with
the Germans in a terrible struggle
for a mountain position overlooking
Tunis.
Increased activity is reported in
the Caucasus where a mighty air
scrap has been in progress during
the past two days. Several hundred
German planes were rocked back,
the Russians knocking out 116 and
losing 43 of their own. A meaning
ful push on Novorossiisk is well un
derway according to German reports
but the Russians have had little to
say about it so far. In the north, the
Germans are expected to launch a
spring offensive against Leningrad
soon. West of Rostov and on the
Donets River, the Germans failed in
repeated progress to make any prog
ress, bitter fighting continues
there.
Operations are apparently being
extended in the Pacific area, but lit
tle activity of a startling nature has
been reported in that part of the
world during the past day or two.
Hitler and Mussolini are becoming
jittery over invasion threats. Germ
any is rounding up Dutch soldiers by
the hundreds of thousands and plac
ing them in war prisons to prevent
them from joining any invasion
force. Italy is talking about follow
ing Japan’s cruel policy of execut
ing enemy airmen taken in her terri
tory. The heathen Japs, in addition
to torturing and killing American
airmen out of the Doolittle raid, are
reported to have wiped out men, wo
men and children in those areas in
which the Americans landed.
Increased action by the Allies is
believed in the making. Mass flights
of fighter planes and bombers are
moving across both oceans. A new
record was established this week
when a Liberator went across in six
(Continued on page six)
Change Is Made In
Mail Sc hedule Here
A change m mail delivery sched
ules for the offices between Rocky
Mount and Plymouth was made this
week to supplant the one rendered
uncertain by belated train operations
on the main rail lines. Up until last
wee, the carrier Imndling the run
from Rocky Mount waited for trains
from the south before starting his
trip. Often times the train was from
one to five hours late, and about half
the time no connection was made at
all. Under the new schedule, the
mail bus will leave Rocky Mount
upon the arrival of the train from
the north shortly after the noon
hour, and will reach here about 3:15
o’clock in the afternoon when the
train maintains its schedule. While
the mail from one train will be miss
ed, mail from the north will move in
several hours ah era ot the oid sched
ule, the mail from the south reach
ing here the following morning.
The mail schedules now in effect
here are as follows:
Incoming mails: 6:00 a. m., 8:30
a. m., 12:00. noon. 3:30 p. m., 4:00
p. m. and 6:20 p. m. The mall will
be in the lockboxes within iiiteen
minutes to one hour after its arrival.
Outgoing, mails: 8:30 a. m., and
11:30 a. m., 2:45 p. m., 3:30 p. m.,
8:00 p. m. and 7 p, ta _