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THE ENTERPRISE
VOLUME XLVI—-NUMBER 102
Williamaton, Martin County, North Carolina, Friday, December 24. 1943.
ESTABLISHED 1899
Tempo Of Land And
Air Fighting Is Being
Greatly Increased
I^arge-Scale Offensive Rolling
Forward in Russia; Bomb
ers Still Pound Cnemy
Ihe tempo of land and air right
ing is being stepped up on nearlj
every one of the major battle fronts
in Europe and in the Pacific, the Al
lies scoring great gains during the
past few days in Russia and the
south central Pacific, not to mention
the gains of the Allied Fifth Army in
Italy and the mounting fury of
bombing raids over the continent.
The Russians have unleashed their
winter offensive on a large scale, late
reports stating that the Russian Bal
tic Army is closing in on the import
ant German stronghold at Vitebsk. It
was stated that the Russians were
driving toward the stronghold from
two sides, that one force was within
fifteen miles of the immediate goal.
Hundreds of more towns and cities
has been liberated in that area. On
the southern end of the 800-mile bat
tle front, the Russians are pushing
the enemy back, but in the center the
enemy is counterattacking at three
points. The success of the counterat
tacks are proving costly to tne Ger
mans and are not meeting with much
success. That the situation for the
enemy is grave in Russia is indicat
ed in late Swedish reports which
maintain that the Germans are work
ing night and day in an effort to es
tablish a defense line running
through Latvia and Poland.
In Italy, the American Fifth Army
reports new advances, gaining new
and important positions on the road
to Rome. The enemy is offering a
stubborn resistance in an effort to
check the advance. Germans are
holding to their gun emplacements
until they are driven out with cold
steel and they are laying down a cur
tain of artillery and mortar fire.
General Geo. Marshall has just
returned from conferences with Gen
eral MacArthur in the Pacific, and
it is believed that plans for wiping
out the Japs are already in progress.
Just recently, the Allies expanded
their activities in the Pacific, taking
positions on New Britain. These po
sitions are being enlarged and the
drive is spreading.
Air warfare is still in the limelight,
the extent of the raids being meas
ured to some extent by the heavy
iosses suffered by the Allies this
week. In one 24-hour period, 90 Al
lied planes were lost, but Frankfut,
Bremen and other objectives were
heavily pounded. Tuesday, the RAF
was over Nazi objectives along the
Channel coast, and the strong oppo
sition there indicates that the mis
sion was indeed important. It is be
lieved that the Germans plan to
place their new secret rocket weapon
into use there have beeri delayed by
bombing at the source of manufac
ture and at the emplacements. In
addition to the continuous raids over
Germany, Allied airmen have pound
ed objectives in Greece and Bul
garia, not to mention the heaviest
raids of the war in the Pacific.
A dastardly threat to retaliate as
a result of the Kharkov trials was an
nounced today by the Germans. They
claim they will kill captured Allied
fliers for every German prisoner
tried and killed. During the mean
time, the trial of the German bar
barians in Russia is revealing startl
ing and inhuman motives perpetuat
ed by the German government and
its scoundrel heads. China is now
preparing to place Jap prisoners on
(Continued on page four)
Enjoys Letters Of
County Servicemen
—•—
In a short note to The Enterprise
this week, Pharmacist Mate Second
Class C. Tilinon Modiin stated that
he enjoyed reading letters from
county servicemen in the paper.
His letter follows:
“I have read several letters in The
Enterprise that the boys in service
have sent to you, and I enjoy them
very much. That is about tne only
way I can keep in contact with my
‘buddies,’ so keep up the good work
and continue publishing our letters.
It is the little things luce that we ap
preciate very much, and 1‘arn’sure
I speak for all the good old Tar Heels
from Martin County in the service.
“I especially enjoyed the letter
that PhM 1-c Vernol F. Jackson sent
in a few weeks ago. I want to say
‘hello’ to him in this letter.
“Before I conclude I want to con
gratulate your staff for the fine or
should I say the excellent job they
are doing in this war time world to
keep the paper coming to us serv
icemen. My paper gets to me a'little
late, but nevertheless it always gets
here and that is all that is import
ant. It is still ‘news’ to me and I read
every word of it with great interest.
“A faithfu' reader of a great lit
tle paper.”
The young man’s address cannot
be revealed but it is in care of the
Fleet Post Office at. an eastern port.
The Enterprise welcomes letters
from the servicemen, and invites
them to write for publication as of
ten as they find it possible to do so.
The paper lias been favored with let
tere.bjjr servicemen’s relatives and
more are wanted tor publication.
[ CHRISTMAS CHEER
Christmas cheer will be car
ried into a number of homes in
this community the latter pari
of the week, it was announced
here this week by the special
committee named to handle the
task.
Possibly then, are fewer per
sons depending on the goodness
of their fellowmen in the coun
ty this year than in many, ma-iy
years. There are a few families,
the committee explained, that
are deserving and every effort
is being made to brighten Christ
mas day for them with a small
remembrance. Possibly there are
some worthy ones who will be
overlooked by the committee.
Kind neighbors are asked to act
in those cases.
The distribution of the Cheer
Fund this year is being support
ed by a cash donation from Lon
don. Mindful of his fellowmen
back home even though he faces
a fighting man’s test, Fred Tay
lor recently sent $10 to promote
the spirit of the Christmas sea
son among the less fortunate.
Farm Security Fair
In the County Last
Week Is Successful
Total of Sixty-three Prizes
Awarded To Exhibitor
In Courthouse
In spite of snow and cold weath
er, the Farm Security Administra
tion fair was well attended here las1
week. The white borrowers held
their meeting Wednesday, and the
snow fell all day, but there were 16
families present. On Friday the col
ored borrowers held their meeting
with seven families present. On
Thursday the fair was open to the
public, and even with the weather
down to about 12 above zero, there
were many visitors to see the exhib
its.
Prizes were offered for 22 differ
ent exhibits to the whites, and the
same number to the colored, hovvev
er with the judges giving tied plac
ings, a total of 63 prizes were award
ed.
Prizes were offered for the follow
ing displays. Best farm record book,
most diversified income, high per
centage cash payment on farm, best
display of home saved seeds, best six
ears of seed corn, best display of
sweet potatoes, best display of seed
peanuts, greatest varietv of food and
feed grown on the farm in 1943, best
dozen eggs, best quart of lard, best
quart of molasses, best home cured
ham, best home cooked rolls, biscuits
and corn meal muffins. Best home
made butter, greatest variety of can
ned goods, best jar of corn, best jar
of tomatoes, best jar of soup mix
ture, best jar of snap beans, best jar
of butter beans, best jar of beets, and
the best jar of canned meat.
Judges for the white exhibits were
Miss Mildred Pigg, Miss Ruth B. 1,
T B. Brandon and H. F McKnight.
For the colored exhibits were the
two colored extension workers, Oliv
er Carter and Cleo Tyner.
Winners of prizes were, Whites:
Marvin Jones and wife, Saddie Mae,
Elmer Modlin and wife, Queenie, R.
(Continued on page four)
Servicemen Write
To The Enterprise
Although he has been in the serv
ice only a few days, Johnnie Cher
ry, local boy writing to The Enter-'
prise, explains that he has already
developed into a master housekeep
er, that he’ll make his wife a good
one when he gets home “I am OK,
getting plenty to eat and plenty to
do. I am doing my own washing, roll
ing my own clothes, cutting my own
hair. I can’t smoke but two times a
day. Why, this is a poor man’s para
dise, and nothing to spend money for.
Tell all my friends hello for me, and
tell them to join the Navy,” the
young "boot” seaman concluded.
Writing from “Somewhere in the
Pacific,” Pvt. John G. Rodgers, coun
ty young man, said:
‘ I wish to express my sincere
th-ar.k,: and congratulations to The
Enterprise. Since entering my sub
scription, I have been receiving the
paper regularly, and I don’t think
there’s a better morale builder for
3 soldier thsii a steady flow of news
from home, and believe me The En
terprise brings it.”
Concluding, Pvt. Rodgers said, “I
am doing OK, and my health is fine.
Looking forward to final victory, I
remain ...”
Unpaid Taxes Reduced
To Low Figure In County
-<*>
“All but about $66,000 of the 1943
tax levy has been collected to date,”
Martin County Tax Collector M. L.
Peel said this week. Collections so
far this year are about $30,000 ahead
of those for a year ago. Of the un
paid amount, one property owner
owes about $25,000 and there are
several others who owe fairly siz
able amounts The collector be
lieves the amount will be reduced to
- $3-5,0(10,or less by February 2 when
the penalty schedule goes into effect.
The people of these United States have observed 167 Christ*
inases since the Declaration of Independence. And before that, there
Mere about 175 years of pioneering, during which, amid all sorts
of odds, the families within this land's shores celebrated the mer
ry holiday.
This wartime Christmas finds ns with much to be solemn
about—much to fight for, and much to pray for.
But there have been Christmases before, when things seem
ed even darker for ns.
So with the true Ameriean spirit of fortitude, inner gaiety and
deeply rooted faith, we’re going to celebrate this December 25th
in the good old fashioned Christmas spirit.
Holly in our windows; festively trimmed trees; remembrances
for everyone—(‘specially the children—Christmas carols — and
above all, Christmas services in Church, where we'll bow and ex
tend the season's greetings to friends and neighbors.
That’s Christmas, American style. That’s the way our fight
ing men around the world like to think of it. That’s the way they
loo will spend next Christmas—at home—if each of iis does ev
erything in his power to speed Victory!
Until that good, hour, and to use those immortal words of Tiny
Tim, “God bless us everyone,” wherever we are—in Italy's moun
tains or valleys, in the jungles of the Pacific, in Africa, England,
in the air, on land or sea, and here at home.
The Enterprise Force
i
t
\
Judge Smith Hears
Ten Speeding Cases
In Court This Week
Small Crowd Is Present For
Short Session Monday
Morning
Had it not been for about a dozen
cases charging violation of the speed
law, there would have been little or
no business up for consideration in
the regular session of the county re
corder’s court this week.
Calling the first case at 9:30 Mon
day morning, Judge J C, Smit, com
pleted tile work by 11 o’clock and
adjourned the court until the first
Monday in January. A general holi
day will be observed by the court,
county offices and business, as a
whole, next Monday. A very small
crowd witnessed the proceedings in
the court this week
Fourteen cases, charging the de
fendant with exceeding the 35-mile
speed limit, were on the docket, but
four of the defendants, Jack B.
Smith, Hoke Barnett, Norris Adams
Hurst and Fred Webster Moretz,
failed to answer when called in open
court. Moretz was said to have ap
peared after the session was closed,
and it is possible that a judgment
will be entered in his case at the
next session. Warrants are being is
sued in the three other cases.
Proceedings:
Pleading guilty in the cases charg
ing them with speeding, the follow
ing defendants were each fined $10
and taxed with the court costs:
Samuel Roscoe Gaylord, Geo. E.
Byrd, Alton Brooks Evans, Arthur
Grant Slade, Leon Harrison Register,
and Alfred M. Hicks.
Judgment was suspended upon the
payment of the costs in the case
charging Andrew G. Smith with
speeding.
B. E. Wilkes and Ben Frank Green,
charged with speeding, were each
fined $15 and taxed with the costs.
(Continued on page four)
Propose Plan To Place Town
On Air Mail Pick-Up Route
According to an anouncement
released this week by Hawthorne
Airways, Inc., Orangeburg, S. C.,
plans are being advanoj^^o^
Wiiliamston and many other towns
and cities in North and South Caro
lina an improved air mail service.
The proposed plan would link the
local office with the nation’s main
aii mail lines. At the present time,
air mail for offices oft the main lines
is longer reaching its destination in
some cases than by “straight” mail
ing.
A few days ago, Hawthorne Air
ways, Inc., applied to the Civil Aero
nautics Board for permission or a
license to operate six important air
mail pick-up routes. The six routes
will serve 167 cities and towns over
a to’al distance of 1,76a miles in
North Carolina, South Carolina and
virginia.
According to information reaching
here this week, one of the proposed
routes would connect this section
with Rocky Mount, Norfolk and
Richmond. No landing field is con
sidered necessary at many of the
points to be served, a report from
explaining that mail
is picked up while in flight by a
plane equipped with a hook which
engages a rope stretched between
two poles. A similar service is now
being offered in West Virginia,
Pennsylvania and several other
states.
The company has been carrying
on an extensive research work in
determining optimum routes for
three years Application for the
routes would have been made two
years ago, it was evplained, but for
the Civil Aeronautics Board’s ex
pressed indication that it would not
consider applications for air mail
routes until the war situation be
came less grave
The.e js-some doubt if the service,
if made available at ail, will be en
joyed by postal patrons in this sec
tion any time soon.
GREETINGS
In these days when events
and conditions try men’s souls
and when sorrow is so general,
it is encouraging indeed to see
business men and others pause
and extend their greetings of the
season.
Coming from those who so
earnestly and sincerely wish to
express the best returns of the
season, the greetings appearing
in this paper today are offered
as a tonic to build stronger men s
souls and prove, in their humble
way, that the Christ Spirit still
holds over stress and things ma
terial.
Read these little messages for
their heart-warming value and
as a direct expression iron the
sponsors.
Holiday Marriages
In Martin County
Quite a few couples have been
married in the county so far this
month, the number being greater to
date than the total for all of Decem
ber, a year ago. Eight licenses were
issued up until Tuesday of this week
to white and thirteen to.eolored cou
ples in this county by Register of
Deeds J. Sam Getsinger.
Licenses were issued as follows
to white couples:
Charlie Bullock, of RED 1, Rober
sonville and Marie Page, RFD 2, Wi!
liamston.
Albert Williams, of Plymouth, and
Pearl Barber, of Jamesville,
William Elwood Cherry, of RFD
3, Washington,, and Mary Elimbegt-i
-1<—i r~ir~i«-1~» ri_n_r_n_
(Continued on page four) 1
r irst class mail has been moving
without great interruption.
CHPJSTMAS—1943 j
%----J
While extensive preparations
have been in tht makin, (or the
ChfUai«» season, tittis* prepara
tions arc in markad contrast with
those made in past years in this
seci.on, Pasring fancies ano friiis
do not command a front position,
the whole papulation seemingly
busying itself by digging deep
er for the real meaning of Christ
mas. There has been a marked
trend, possibly out of necessity,
from the purchase of many types
of merchandise to those of last
ing value. Wooden toys, replac
ing the tin and steel types, are
costly, causing most shoppers to
turn to the clothing shops for
Christmas gifts.
Decorations arc indeed limit
ed, just an occasional inside tree
reflecting the Christmas season
into the cold nights.
Christmas will be observed
here after the traditional fash
ion, but not unmindful or with
out thought of those who toil and
fight in foreign lands.
Williamston Native
Passes At Home Of
Son In Smithfield
Funeral Wednesday After
noon for Mrs. F.ninin Hoyt
In Episeopal Church
Mts. Emma Eugenia Hoyt, member
of a family prominent in the civic
and religious life of this section for
generations, died at the home of her
son, Frederick W. Hoyt, in Smith
field Monday evening at 9:30 o’clock
following a long period of declining
health.
Taken ill last summer, Mrs. Hoyt
underwent an operation in a Dur
ham hospital. After about eight
weeks in the hospital she returned
to Williamston and made her home
with her daughter, Mrs. Wm. R.
Glover, leaving about Thanksgiving
to visit her son and his family in
Smithfield. She was thought to be
getting along as well as usual up
until just a few days ago when her
condition became critical.
The daughter of the late Walter
and Fannie Nichols Hassell, Mrs.
Hoyt was born in Williamston on
September 23, 1882. Completing the
courses of instruction in the local
schools, she attended a special school
in Rocky Mount for two years. On
November 21, 1905, she was married
to Frederick W. Hoyt, of Washing
ton and made her home there for
about two years. Mi-. Hoyt then en
tered the hardware business here
and she had made her home here
since that time with the exception
of a few months spent with her son
and family in Smithfield.
Mrs. Hoyt was a life-long member
of the Church of the Advent here,
and was active in its support and
faithful to its teachings down through
the year's. She was a member of the
Hassell family that figured so prom
inently in all phases of community
life, especially in the religious field,
in this county and section for many
years. She was active in the social
life of the town and was held in high
regard. Her sincere friendship and
(Continued on page four)
Climbs High And
Fast In Service
—*.—
The promotion of Wheeier Martin,
Jr., local hoy, to Lt. Colonel in thr
Army Air Corps a few days ago is
just another step in a unique record
of advancement for the young pilot.
Entering the service as a cadet
hack m March, 1939, the young man
was commissioned a second lieuten
ant in November of that year. Hr
promotion to first lieutenant follow
ed in Marcli, 1942. Just two months
later he was made a captain, and in
October of that year he was made a
captain. Now he is a lieutenant col
onel, the highest rank attained in the
Army by a Martin County man since
Coionel John C. Lamb was mortally
wounded at Drewry’s Biuff in Vir
ginia in May, 1864. Jeremiah Slade
was made a general by Thomas Jef
ferson some time between 1801 and
1809, but he served only as an In
dian Land Agent.
In the Navy, Dr W H. Harrell
holds top rank among Martin Coun
ty rtieri us a captain.
Lt- Colonel Martin is with the
Army Air Forces heavy bombard
ment group, and is now stationed at
Walker Army Air Field, Victoria,
Kansas.
-—a,.. -—
Farad Pont Mail Said
To Be Caught In Rush
According to unofficial reports
reaching here, thirty solid box car
loads of parcel post and other third
class postal matter were on the side
tracks in Rocky Mount early this
week waiting to be handled. Carload
shipments were made ta that point
for distribution throughout this sec
tion of the country, it was said.
Postal employees were handling
a carload about every three hours,
but before they could unload and
dispatch the mail from one car, one
PE.tHfi.jporegfep.yirjBxJ gjy...
Total of $J,449.052,76
Is Spent For Liquor
Since Stores Opened
Sales for July. Xus*list ansi
September $791 Greater
Than Year Ago
Even though liquor sales in the
four county stores during the months
of July, August and September of
this year were $791.05 greater than
they were for the corresponding
months in 1942, there was a down
ward trend in the volume of sales,
according to a comparison of gross
revenue for the third quarter this
year with the sales recorded for the
preceding six months. During last
January, February and March, sales
went over the $100,000 for the sec
ond time. In the months of April,
May and June, the sales totaled $87,
01120, and then in the third quar
ter they dropped to $81,148.30.
Rationing is reflected to some ex
tent in the decrease in sales volume,
but it is fairly certain that a short
age of the liquid was the main cause
for the downward trend. However,
it was duly expected that the short
age would cause a greater decrease
in sales, but by drinking any old
| brands which were supplemented by
wine and rum, gin and most any
thing under a bottle cap, the depend
, able guzzlers supported the sales to
the extent that revenue for the third
quarter set an all-time record for
that period.
While increased liquor prices, no
doubt, account for most of the in
. crease, it is fairly apparent that more
• liquor was consumed in this county
during last July, August and Sep
tember than there was consumed in
the same three months a year ago.
The inroads liquor is making in
the county’s trade is better under
stood when it is pointed out that
sales during the third quarter of this
year are almost four times as large
as they were for the corresponding
period in 1935 when the stores were
first opened.
To date, the legal stores have sold
nearly one and one-half million dol
lars worth of liquors, the net profit
for the same period — July, 1935,
through September 30, this year —
standing at $302,321.43.
A comparison of sales, by stores,
for the third quarter in 1942 and in
1943 follows:
Williamston
Robersonville
Oak City
Jamesville
1942
$41,517.30
24,160.35
7,072.85
7,606.75
1943
$41,326.85
22,931.25
8,570.00
8,320.20
$80,357.25 $81,148.30
Profits for the same periods are
reviewed as follows:
1942 1943
Williamston $12,359.57 $12,137.36
Robersonville 6,963.37 6,590.83
Oak City 1,889.74 2,298.68
Jamesville 1,965.21 2,275.06
$23,177.89 $23,301.93
The soggy pie profits were divided
as follows: Town of Williamston, $!,
709.75; Town of Robersonville,
$915.24: Town of <>ak (''.tv >312.70;
Town of Jamesville, $311.50; Martin
County, $13,000.79; State of North
Carolina, $5,867.53. In addition to
those divisions, $1,805.66 was set
aside for law enforcement As for the
last item, this county, it is believed,
is not spending all its marked funds
for law enforcement, and yet it is
readily admitted that the county has
one of the most effective enforce
ment systems in the State.
Out of the gross income of $81,
148.30, the county spent $52,629.59
for liquor, $2,925.05 for direct store
expenses, including $2,562,775 for
salarie*;. jmd wages. $306 for rent,
$8.95 tor supplies, $37 35 fc • heat,
lights and water, $i2.20 for miscel
(Continued on page four)
Large Turnover In
Service Personnel
—«—
There is an enormous turnover in
the personnel in the armed services,
according to a report just recently
teleased by the U. S. Employment
Service of the War Manpower Com
mission. It i:> estimated that men aie
being released from the armed forces
jit the rate of 7,000 a week, that one
million men have already been dis
charged from active service.
No official figures are to be had,
but it is believed that between 75
and 100 Martin County men have
been discharged from the service
since the beginning of the war a lit
tle over two years ago.
Most of the Martin County men
discharged to date are “fitting” right
back in normal life, but the rehabili
tation work is already proving a
problem in some areas, according to
the report. At any rate, problems
“connected with proper training and
finding suitable jobs for the men”
are being studied.
At a recent conference held in
Raleigh, “Preparation for handling
discharged service men, now while
the numbers are relatively small,
was stressed, in order that an order
ly demobilization may be achieved,
contrary to the method used in World
War I Then service men were dis
charged as rapidly as possible, with
no thought of readiness of the na
tion, state and community to absorb
thent-ixtsi thetc -eettfiomie life, iiany
were jobless for months, sometimes
years."