_ m BAT WAS BOND DAT i-ttR mum THE ENTERPRISE OVM THE TOP FOR VICTORY UNITED STATES WAR BONBS-STAMPS VOLUME x*AT—NUMBER 79 Williamslon, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, October 5, 1943. ESTABLISHED 1899 Forty-Eight Tires * -*«• *• * **'51*5» v* » V* « 1_> Allotted In County — » * By Ration Board Than Half of Number Normally Allotted -- The seriousness of the rubber shortage is reflected in the weekly allotment of tires made by the Mar tin County War Price and Rationing Board last Friday night. The issu ance, totalling 48 tires, is consider ably less than half the number normally allotted each week during recent months. The reduced allot ment is reflected in all types of tires. It is generally expectd that the new tire allotments will gradually dwin dle because fewer vehicle owners operators are now eligible for that type of tire. On the other hand, the available supply of Grade III is hard ly adequate to care for certificates of purchase now outstanding. Grade I tires and tubes for cars and pick-up trucks were issued to the following: Marvin Leggett, RFD 1, James ville, one tire and one tube. William T. Roberson, RFD 1, Wil liamston, one tire and one tube. F. W. Holliday, Jamesville, two tires and one tube. J. E. Copeland and Sons, RFD 1, Palmyra, three tires and one tube. Joe Ward, Hassell, one tire and one tube. W. T. Ausbon, Robersonville, two tires and two tubes. Woodrow W. Tyson, Oak City, one tire and one tube. B. B. Taylor, Hamilton, one tire and cne tube. N. C. Highway Patrol, Williams ton, two tires and two tubes. J. E. Copeland, RFD 1, Palmyra, two tires. J. Dawson Lilley, RFD 1, William ston, one tire and one tube. W. K. Parker, Williamston, one tire. Dr. V. E. Brown, Williamston, one tire and one tube. Eula W. Coburn, Jamesville, one tire and one tube. Johnnie David Williams, RFD 1, Williamston, two tires and two tubes. New truck tires and certificates for recapping truck tires were issued to the following: Elbert W. Griffin, RFD 1, William ston, two recaps. E. H. Manning, RFD 1, Williams ton, two recaps. J .O. Manning, Williamston, two tires and two tubes. Lucian J. Hardison, RFD 1, Wil liamston, one tire. William Parker. RFD 3, William ston,one tire. W. J. Beach, Hamilton, one tire i and one tube. John Auston, Jamesville, two tires ! and one tube. Grads III tires were rationed to the fo'lowing: Eula W. Coburn, Jamesville, one tire. F. S. Scott, RFD 1, Oak City, two tires. H G. Harrison, RFD 2, William ston. one tire and one tube. Wiley B. Rogerson, Robersonville. (Continued on page six) ■--» Observation Post Schedule Reduced The ground observation system, maintained by thousands upon thous ands of volunteers, has been all but eliminated, according to an official message received here this morning by Chief Observer W. H. Carstar phen from Lt. Col. Dunham, com mander Norfolk Fighter Wing. The action, ordered by the War Depart ment, was not supported by any con crete explanation. One report de clared that the action would free thousands of volunteers for work in other fields described as more im portant and urgent. Others read into the action a reduced possibility of enemy attack, while still others ex pressed the belief that mechanical equipment had been expanded to the extent that the service was not vi tally necessary in the defense set up. However the message explained that the system should be maintain ed, and that it was me the War Department to manned each Wednesday afternoon, from 1 to 5 o'clock. The first notice of the greatly curtailed observation schedule was received here this morning when William Gurganus re ported a flight over town at 2:33 o’clock. The message was received by the filter center, and the voice at the other end of the line advised him to turn out the light, close the door and leave the post. Before daybreak, Chief Observer Carstarphen was asked to verify the instructions sev eral times. The message brought great relief to Chief Observer Carstarphen and the crew of observers here who have wrestled with the round -thp-rIock task since July of last year. Whether the accomplishment was worth the cost, Chief Observer Carstarphen and his faithful observers never ex pressed doubt. They were asked to do a job by the Army, and they did it First reports from the several posts in the county stated that the order was well received. Moke Plans ForSJ0, OOQ Wat,, Relief Fund Drive In County Meetinr. in the Brr.neh Ranking and Trust Company building here this aftejmooi^lpH',or‘; are ir™™; ,g ,}:!"■ Relief Fund Drive in this section of the county. Leaders in District No. 2 with headquarters in Robeison ville are expected to complete these plans soon and rr ike ready to par ticipate in the drive for approxi mately $10,000. President Roosevelt will open the nation-wide War Fund drive tonight at 10:30 o’clock on a coast-to-coast radio broadcast. The people of this county are earnestly urged to hear the appeal by the President, and get a slant on what is happening as a result of war. Martin County's quota is recog nized as one of the largest if not the largest ever assigned in support of any cause. It is just about double the Red Cross quota assigned last year. With the quota comes a dis tinct challenge to every man, wo man and child in Martin County, and their support is earnestly solicited i > for t' derway in this county some time af Green has accepted the county chair manship, and he has already made splendid progress in carrying the ap peal to leaders who will direct the drive in this and the Robersonville districts where it is planned to use the Red Cross campaign canvassers in carrying the appealing messages to every home in the county. Details of the drive will be an nounced shortly, but during the meantime, everyone is urged to pre pare to take part in the campaign. The money raised during the drive will go to Amriean servicemen, to the prisoners of war, to starving hu manity in Greece, Russia, China, Po land and others. There have been many worthy calls and the people of this county have never failed to answer. If ever there was a time for our people to come to the aid of suf fering humanity it is now. •00 Despite pressing duties, ~Mr.' PICKING, t-HAMITS -—----«' j Leon Matthews and three oth er farmers in the Parmele sec tion opened the 1943 peanut : threshing season yesterday when they placed their pickers in op eration. While the yield is hardly com ing up to expectations, the goob ers were said to be dry and of fairly good quality. As far as it could be learned ( the threshing season is more ad vanced this year than at any 1 other period in many years. 1 However, it will be several 1 weeks before the work ap- ! proaches a climax. Many farm- 1 ers have not completed digging ' their crops, and a majority have just recently finished the task. Youth Arrested For Alleged Violation of The White Slave Act ■.— o John Turk Sentenced ,to Pris on for Eighteen Months In Federal Court Arrested here last Saturday by State Highway patrolmen and fed eral authorities for alleged violation of the While Slave Act, John Tuck, young white man of 231 49th Street Newport News, was sentenced to a reformatory at Chiilfccothe, Ohio, for a term of eighteen months by Judge I. M. Meekins in federal court in Washington yesterday. The sentence was lifted, the court ordering the de fendant to pay $5 a month for lht> next eighteen months arid ui ren under probation during that period. The young man was alleged to have brought Lucille Taylor, 17 years old, of 217 Fiftieth Street, Newport News, and Texas, and Joanne Hester, 17, of 217 Fiftieth Street, Newport News, and Germantown, Pennsyl vania, to Williamston last Friday night from Virginia It was alleged that he and one of the girls register ed at a local hotel as man and wife. When charged in court yesterday with violating Section 393,404 of the White Slave Traffic Act, Act of Ti tle 18 (Criminal Code) Revised Sta tutes of the United States, Tuck pleaded guilty. It could not be offi ciary learned, but FBI agents, work in? onthe case in cooperation.with, Patrolmen”W. E Saunders and wTIS. Hunt, gained confessions from one of the girls, Dut it could not be learn ed if her sworn statements were used in the trial. Tuck’s arrest followed an accident on the Jamesville Road at Sweet Wa ter Creek last Saturday morning. He was slightly injured, but was able to be out following first aid treat ment in the local hospital. Given a preliminary hearing before U. S. Commissioner John Respass in Washington, Tuck was placed under bond in the sum of $1,000. Tlie dis trict attorney-arranged for an bri ber ol dial riL~U 1 vv j i rjl .-.'M.O. <-■' at it was said that it was bis first appear ance as a defendant in the courts. Fc cing similar charges, Godard was arrested by federal authorities (Continued on page six) REGULAR SCHEDULE __— After operating on a “short” schedule since the opening of the term on September 1, all county schools, white and colored, will go on a regular operating sched ule next Monday. All schools in the county except Williamston and Farm Life observed the short-day schedule. Reports from several prinei i pals state that the abbreviated schedule had proved very suc cessful, that had it not been 1 adopted classes possibly would have been suspended out of ne cessity for indefinite periods. | Commissioners Hold Uneventful Meeting jin County Yesterday -« Department Reports and Tax Relief Orders Constitute Most of Business The regular session of the Martin County Commissioners here yester day was an uneventful one, the au thorities spending a greater part of the morning hearing reports and granting tax relief orders. The meet ing, adjourned before lunch, was one of the shortest held by the commis sioners in recent months. Jurors for the two weeks term of superior court convening in November were drawn and current bills were duly inspect ed. Relief orders for poll taxes, based for the most part on service records, were issued to the following: Chas. T. Bowers, Paul D. Roberson, R. Ed win Peele, Luther Harris, S. L. God aid, John I. Eagles and Grady James for the year 1943. Jim Carraway was relieved of the payment of $3.97 taxes when it was found the proper ty had been doubly listed. John W. Hardy, serviceman, was relieved of $2 poll tax for 1942, and Stephen Gardner was relieved of $2 poll tax payment for the same year. J. Watts Rhodes was relieved of the payment of $1.80 taxes doubly listed in Wil liamston Township. A release was also given E. G. Whitehurst for $7.25 l taxes doubly listed, and the Roan oke Chevrolet Company was reliev ed of the payment of $3.03 on prop erty listed in error in Jamesvilie Township. The $23,87 tax bill on the Mack Rogers estate property was •Hrncelled when it was holdings bad been listed twice. The departmental reports varied little from previous ones, holding to about the same old rut and reveal ing little or nothing of general pub lic interest. However, Tax Collector Luther Peel stated that tax payments are progressing rapidly, that $75,950.99 of the $200,083.86 levy for 1943 had already been collected. It is believ ed that the payments are greater at this time of the fiscal year than in any other period in years and years. The collector's report also showed that only $8,024.44 of the 1942 levy remained uncollected. The $207, 228.91 levy for 1941 has been reduc ed to $4,125.28. O', the $1,572 47 rep rTscnied in' land safes foi 1940, ail | but $1,432 41 has been collected, and the insolvent list for that year has been reduced from $5,945.31 to $2, 013.80. — Lt. Jas. D. Walters Awarded Air Medal —*— First Lieutenant James D. '"alters, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Waiters, of Jamesville, was recently award- j the Oak Leaf Cluster to the tor! service “■&> » member cf the United States Army Air Force in the Pacific war theater. The young man was one of five Am erican pursuit pilots who have met the Japanese in many battles and who were awarded the cluster to the air medal in place of second awards of the medal. Lieut. Gen. C. Kenney, command er of Allied air forces in the South west Pacific, made the awards “for meritorious achievement while par ticipating in 25 operational flight missions during which hostile con tact was probable and expected.” The citations said: “These operations included escort ing bombers and transport aircraft, interception and attack missions, and patrol and reconnaissance flights. “In the course of these opera tions, strafing and bombing attacks were made from dangerously low altitudes, destroying and damaging enemy installations and equipment. Throughout these flights outstanding courage, ability and devotion to du ty were demonstrated.” bJTOWN - FARM, IN WARTIME m A w&tjtly aews digest from the rural press section of the OWI news bure»«P Agriculture Preparing for 1944 Easing of the rationing rastrict’ons on fa;m machinery, increased pro duction of new farm machinery, and a campaign among farmers to "Keep Your War Equipment Fit and Fight ing" are indications of plans now be ing laid by the War Food Adminis tration to meet increased production goals for 1944. Suggestions for ex panded wartime production have been sent for consideration to state Agricultural War Boatds and other farm representatives. State boards have been asked to set 1944 goals. The national program calls for a record-breaking 380 million acres in crops. Problems relating to labor. I machinery, supplies, conservation practices, and prices will be consid ered at 48 state meetings of state groups with representatives of WFA during October. Potato Prices Specific ceilings for white potatoes of the late 1943 crop have been set by months for October, 1943, through June, 1944. These prices continue the general price level set for the spring crop of potatoes at the country ship per and intermediate seller levels with allowances for graduated monthly increases to take care of storage charges. Because of the large crop this year, it is expected that po tatoes generally will sell substantial ly below the retail ceilings. Easier to Get Pressure Canners Pressure canners may be bought for individual home use under lib eralized regulations now followed by the local agricultural War Boards. A person who needs a pressure canncr (Continued on page six) -«——— Tobacco Average At Highest Peak -.<*, General sales averages on the Williamston Tobacco Market reach ed a new high peak of the season yesterday when prices soared to a point slightly in excess of 47 cents. Several daily averages ranging around 46 cents had been reported previously, but yesterday the trend was upward. Individual piles sold up to $55 per hundred, quite a few bringing a price ranging from 49 to 55 cents a pound. Very few piles went over fifty cents during early sales this morning, and some farm ers expressed the opinion that 4H cents appeared to be tops for most of the better grades except those classed as wrappers. If there was any decrease in the price for the bet ter tobacco, prices for trie inferior types more than offset it Today, there were very few piles going for less than 42 and 45 cents. And if a farmer had any complaint about the price for the better grades, he would SCO f.hv: p. .'' . m .<■ : i l\trT gi\i.OCs and declare his satisfaction. Total sales on the local market to date an slighffy bveh (tie Vix afi.i one-half million-pound mark, and it is estimated that more than 100,000 pounds are on the floors today. Reports indicate that just about 90 per cent of the crop in this area has been marketed. - - - . ■ ■ ■ Number Of Fathers Leaving For Army Their last hopes fading for a stay of induction, quite a few fathers are scheduled to leave this couniy for an army induction center tomorrow, according to reports coming from a few fathers this week. No official list of names could be hud, but ac cording to individual reports pieced together here approximately twenty fathers will be included in the group leaving the county tomorrow about 11 o’clock. A few fathers have been accepted from this county, but their entrance was more or less voluntary while in a few cases the fathers had deserted their families, the action having re duced their deferment status. Such vims- w-vV-lew., hut the Story fnm 7J.TV ' >775 i/ppctfTfT* \ Vi/ ' tt picture. RAINFALI 1 After holding to unusually low levels, rainfall in this sec tion is gradually increasing, ac cording to information coming from the station on Roanoke River here. Through September of this year a total of 36.14 inches of rain had been record ed as compared with 25.91 inches in the first nine months of 1942. The rainfall for 1943 to date is about five inches greater than the total ior all of 1941 and is just about two inches under the total fall for 1942. In 1939, the rainfall here was 55.48 inches. It dropped to 37.89 inches in 1946 and hit a new low in the history of the weather station in 1941 when only 31.76 inches of rain were recorded. The trend is now pointing upward again. i Co tin tv. Wa r-Rond DrPvetJust Short Of One Million Dolla rs Tiic Iuii-tfi vVar Loan drive was an nounced jus; short of one million d' ’’ar< in this cc»utityj£>f|ay explain that “we have reached and gone on beyond the $918,000 quota." Anxious for the county to reach the one million dollar goal, the chairman points out that the sale of E, F and G bonds is still underway, that they will be available for cred it in the third war loan drive through Saturday of next week. No marked change in bond sales figures has been reported since last Thursday when a total of $977,036.50 was accounted for, an amount just $30,965.50 short of the million-dol lar goal. Several townships have made purchases since that report was submitted, but the chairman ex plained that the total figures had not been distributed and a complete re view of the sales up to this time could not be had immediately. It was officially learned, however, that Fobersonville added to its sales last Saturday and tiapated «t'uiv..d that Goose Nest had added approximate ly $1,387.50, and Cross Roads was credited with ab ut $1,400 since the last report was submitted. Approx imately $6,000 or more was reported in Williamston. A few other scatter ing sales were made, but they could not be handled in time for a com plete review of the county totals. It is conservatively estimated, howev er, that the total is not more than $18,000 or $20,000 short of one mil lion dollars for the county, as a whole. According to incomplete reports, only three districts, Jamesville, Wil liams and Williamston have not reached their full quotas. Cross Roads has gone over and it is be lieved Hassell rounded out its quota with a little to spare. Several Persons Hurt In Series of Accidents Five Persons Injured But INone Seriously Over The Week-end -9 Properly Damage Approxi mates $1,000 iu Five Car Truek Wreeks Five persons were hurt, none ser iously, in a series of automobile truck accidents in this county over the week-end period. The smash-up and crashes followed a period of few or no mishaps on the streets and highways of the county. Three of the accidents were re ported on local streets, Joe Godard, Jr., formerly of Jamesville but now of 231 49th Street, Newport News, plowed up and ripped down several sections of the Sweet Water Creek fill fence, and a child was run down near Robersonville. Damage to prop erty approximated $1,000, not includ ing hospital costs, doctors' fees and work time losses. Last Friday night, a pick-up truck driven by Jack Hardison and a 1930 model car driven by Roland B Leg gett, Jr., crashed on the main street in front of the George Reynolds Ho tel. Leggett hud several fingers brok en and James Moore, a passenger, received a several-stitch gash on his head when he plowed through the windshield. I^eggett explained he was driving on the left side of the street passing a car when Hardison turned into the main thoroughfare off Smithwic'^Ji||^; %Hardison had,i hardly more tTufncTeared the intei i section before the vehicles crashed .head-on Damage to the truck was estimated at $4U and tnat to the car at $25. About two hours later, the cars of a Mrs. Council and C. S. Graham, colored Methodist minister, crashed at the Main and Haughton Street in tersection. Very little damage was done, and the preacher, working for a peaceful settlement, accepted the costs of the repairs estimated at about $10. Saturday morning, Joe Godard, Jr. of Jamesville, passed over the Sweet Water Creek bridge apparently at a fast speed and failed to negotiate the curve just beyond. The car, a 1 " Baly ( !onlimies Bui Lull Reported on the Russian Front Tin' United States Seventh Army, lost to the public eye for the past few weeks, is said to have shown up on Italy s Adriatic coast, causing some observers to guess that an'invasion of the Balkans is in the offing. Few details of the ‘‘discovery’’ were re vealed and if the Army has gone there, the full meaning of the move is yet to be revealed. Unfavorable seasons are not very inviting to an invasion of the Balkans just now. However, other developments in the Mediterranean area could possibly be timed to a Balkan thrust. Airfields :n Greece were bombed last night by Billy Mitchells and other types of American craft for lh<- first time, a.id the British went into action in the Dodecanese. Landing on the island of Coo. 23 miles long and the second largest in the group, Britishers soon encountered strong opposition when the Germans, striking in force by sea and air, wrested several strate gic points from them. While it was rated as a minor gam for the Ger mans, the loss rates us a measurable one for the Allies. A lull lias apparently settled on a greater part of Russian's eastern front, late reports stating that rain and mud have bogged down land ac tivities for the most part, but air ac tivity is being stepped up in several areas. German resistance is said to have been increased, but activity is limited to local engagements. In Italy, the Allies are continuing their march northward. A fierce en emy delaying action is being encoun tered, but it is now thought that the Germans will offer to make no de termined stand until the Po Valley is reached. The Allies this morning are within 85 miles of Rome, a city whose fate hangs in a precarious balance. Organized resistance has been shat tered on the island of Corsica, and the remaining Germans there are doomed. The air war continues over Ger many, recent raids having been di rected on a large scale against the manufacturing city of Frankfurt. The Americans were over there yes terday and did much damage. They lost fifteen bombers. The RAB’ was over there last night and added to the devastation, losing ten ships. The enemy lost about 75 fighters in the two engagements. The Americans and Australians are* still making it hot for the Japs in the Solomons area, late reports stating that the yellow scoundrels are mak ing desperate attempts to vacate some of the vulnerable spots In Chi na, a new Jap drive has flared up. Using 130,000 men with increased air support, tiie Japs have started a movement to encircle tiff Chinese in i' * v pi. v. ■ Am ■* ican militarists declare that the Japs have increased their air power as much is 200 per coot m some areas over China. Two stories comes out of the war today. One tells how an American (Continued on page six) Fire Wrecks House On Elm Street Here Believed by some to have been of incendiary origin, fire gutted and wrecked the two-story home of Walter Mizelle, colored, corner < hurt’ii and bun Streets, here' Sun day a 1 h1 ifu*i "T ’Tu" uiiutii'. -VTTi- ' ued at about $1,800, the home was just about a total loss and what lit tle furniture that was not burned was badly wrecked in its removal. The family left earlier in the day for church services on West War ren Street, and no one was in the nome at the time. A roomer went the re about 12:30 and while dressing she heard two small boys call the Mizelles. When she answered the call, the boys ran. The rocmer left tin1 house a short time later, and the b.rtk vjr-,.. was left unlocked as was f. ’Soniti'*" ’ hoi it ve the hoys returned to thg house and built a fire in an upstairs loom. When discovered, the fire was breaking through the roof and by the time the alarm was sounded the entire second floor and the roof ov er the “L" was burning. Firemen, using two lines of hose, soon brought the fire under control, but not un til the house had been gutted. Insurance in the sum of $1,500 was carried on the building, but the furniture, valued at $500, was not insured. Investigating the fire, Chief G. P. Hall learned that some one had tried to fire the home last Friday night, that sticks saturated with kerosene were found burning under the kitchen. The fire was found and ex tinguished before it damaged the house. About two weeks ago some one en tered the James Brown home, next door to the Mizelles on Church Street, and built r fire with paper and a pair of pants on the Brown or gan. It was discovered before much damage was done.