North Carolina Newspapers

OVER THE TOP FOR VICTORY UNITED STATES WAR BONDS-STARK THE ENTERPRISE PAT DAT WAB BOND DAT VOLUME XLVII—NUMBER 27 Williamston, Marlin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, April l, 1944. [ mmm—un mum ESTABLISHED 1899 Americans Reported Over Manila In The Philippine Islands —— Navy Continues Silent About j ■ri ■jm,iwiiw> Afam"mr " * Palau Last Week In two special announcements to day, the Navy disclosed that fourteen more Jap ships had been sunk in the neighborhood of the Philippine Is lands, boosting the total enemy ships accounted for by American under seas craft to almost 700 since Pearl Harbor. The other announcement told about air attacks on islands in the same area. A broadcast from Manila heard this morning, stated that the all-clear signal had been sounded. It could mean that Manila had been subjected to an air raid, or it could have followed a practice raid. There are indications, how ever, that MacArthur is one his way back to Manila. Although silence is still maintain ed by the Navy Department, the re cent attack made on Palau, about 500 miles east of the Philippines, by a task force is believed to have been i a very successful and far-reaching one, according to preliminary re ports coming from unofficial sources. One report stated that Jap ships pull ed away from the island before the American task force could reach it, the action apparently giving the at tackers free range. The raid was ad mitted today when the Japs advanc ed unrecognized claims following what they described as a running battle with our forces. The Japs would have the world believe that two American cruisers, a carrier and a battleship were sunk, but the en emy claim has little standing. While the attacks hold the spot light in the recent news coming out of the Pacific, progress is being made in other areas in that theater. Gen eral MacArthur announced today that the campaign in the Admiralties was just about closed, that 3,000 Japs had been killed, others captured and still others had escaped in the late stages of the round-up there. Other atolls have been taken in the Marshalls without much opposition. A picture of the plight which the enemy in the Caroline Islands may soon face has been sketched by the War Department review of Pacific strategy which disclosed that more ! than 100,000 Jap troops have been j ensnared in a gigantic trap reach -re^ °1 «3utnQ M3N iuo.ij 3ut shalls. This has been accomplished by a strangulating sea - air blockade, coupled with the seizure of strategic points and air bombardment of other installations which has so paralyzed enemy communications that Jap forces are perishing by hundreds from diseases and starvation. The review said the net has been so tightly drawn that nine out of every ten ships attempting to bring in supplies have been sunk; while more than CO percent of the Jap barges trying to run the Allied blockade have been destroyed. It disclosed that since last Octo ber 2.685 Japs have been found dead from wounds, disease and starvation alone on the Huon Peninsula of New Guinea. The performance now is being repeated in the Caroline area where U. S. sea and air power already is engaged in reducing the strong en emy bases at Kusaie, Ponape, Truk, Palau and possibly other points in preparation for amphibious invas ions. The situation in India is still not very encouraging, but authorities state that the Jap threats there are being turned back. In the Mediterranean area, sharp patrol action was reported early to day in Italy. American planes, based •in ..Italy, were over tire Hungarian capital of Budapest again last mgm for the second time, and directed heavy blows against enemy move ments. The raids were planned in an effort to block the shipment of oil and grain and other supplies out of that territory into Germany. One report states that the Germans are rushing more troops toward Ru mania apparently to make a stand against the Russians who today are advancing over a seventy-mile front fifteen or more miles inside that country. Town Authorities Hold Short Meeting Meeting in a short session last night, the local town commission ers limited their attention to a “bull session in the main, handling cur rent bills and carrying over ail bus iness until a later meeting. The committee named to make a study of a recreational center pro posed for the colored population said that it did not have a report ready, but would try to devote some time to it before the next meeting. Several persons applied for the chief of police position made vacant by the death of W. b. Daniel n.onth before last, but members of the board intimating that things were moving along all right in the department, took no action. The applications, one coming from as far away as Wash ington. D. C., were not Dlaced before the meeting. Reports Point To Large Gain ■In PersonM-Pi o pertv~^^a laes A sizable increase—possibly a mil lion dollars—was predicted tnis week in ine assessed property valuations The prediction was based on reports coming from six of the ten townships where the increase now stands at §629,198 The six townships include two of the largest and two of the smallest in the county, and if the unit gain, holds for the other four, the million dollar gain will mater ialize. The pulp mill is in one of the four, and possiby a substantial gain will be reported there. The following gains were report ed: Williams, $33,395: Griffins, $76. 368; Bear Grass, $45,672: Williams ton, $236,145; Robcrsonviile, $223, 511; Poplar Point, $14,107. Valuation figures for Jamesville, Cross Roads, Hamilton and Goose Nest have not ■been tabulated at this time. Supervisor Carsiarphen said that . nearly all the gaii. was traceable to hardly more than $10,000 of the total to date represents gah.s in real property values. Automobiles carried part, of the increase in most of the townships, but as a whole nearly all personal property items carried a higher valuation, it was explained. Mr. Carstarphen, while admitting that the sizable increase in proper ty values, would make possible a rc , duction in the tax rate, he would not comment on the possibility of a re duction or the size of the reduction. "Budgets and other items must first be taken into consideration,’’ he ex plained No report on corporation listings has been received, and their values are not considered. More Martin County Men Called By Army ROUND-UP ^_/ While few persons were round ed-up and actually jailed, local officers had a busy period last week-end in the wake of the re lease of liquor ration coupons. Two persons, one white and one colored, were arrested and jail ed Saturday. Several fights were reported, but the attackers han dled their work and ran before officers could overtake them. A small liquor still was rounded up within the town limits and a few minor disturbances were re ported here and there during the week-end. To Advertise Real Estate For Taxes Early Next Month "-* Assistant Home Agent Named By Commissioners In Session Monday Continuing in session a greater part of yesterday, the Martin Coun ty Commissioners cleared their cal endar, but according to the minutes of the meeting very little business outside that of a routine nature was handled. The commissioners ordered all real estate upon which 1943 taxes had not been paid be advertised the early part of May for sale on the first Monday in June. No detailed report could be had, but the list of unpaid accounts is certain to be the small est in many years. Ninety-one per cent of the 1943 levy of $200,327.82 has already been collected, and much of the unpaid balance of $18,136.34 will have been paid before adver tising time, it is certain. The commissioners appointed Miss Mumford of Kenly to assist Miss Mil dred Pigg, home agent for the coun ty. The newr appointee, her salary to be supplemented by a county appro priation of $50 monthly, is to enter upon her new duties on or about the first of June. Tax relief orders were issued to William Boston, Sr., of Jamesville Township and to M. O. Crisp of Goose Nest. Listed in error, the taxes charged against Boston were, 90 cents for 1943, 98 cents for 1942 and $1.01 for 1941. Crisp was relieved of Ppo'il taxes' in tiie"surn ox ISiTalor each of the years 1942 and 1943 be cause he v/as in the service. The statement of the treasurer’s accounts was examined, the report showing that the county now holds $60,614.82 in its general fund, $39, 914.78 in the school fund, $78,872.98 in the sinking fund reserve, $114,622.74 in cash in banks and about $100,000 in government bonds. Advised that the timber had been cut and removed, the commission ers lowered the valuation on 50 acres of land belonging to Mrs. W B. ((Bfcwea in Bear Grass Township. All members of the board were present. WASTE PAPER A second collection will be made by school children here Wednesday and Thursday of this week. The drive is to be center ed on the north side of town to morrow, and on Thursday the children will make a house-to house canvass in New Town. Householders are asked to bun dle their waste paper and old magazines and have them ready for the children. During the meantime, deliver ies will be accepted at the gram mar school building, it uns an nounced. Several tons of scrap paper have already been collected and sold to the paper mills for prices ranging from $15 to $22 per ton. Army Calls Its First White Men from the County’s Draft Pool *—»— Six of llu* Group Are Married Men; Fathers Leave Five Children at Home ——* Fifteen Martin County white men, the first to be called by the Army from the white manpower pool in this county, left early this morning for final induction at a service cen ter. Six of the men are married, four of them leaving five children be hind. Six of the fifteen men answering the call are in their late teens, the ages of the others ranging from twenty to thirty-five years. At least four of the group are believed to have lost their farm classifications when production units did not meas ure up to the old requirements. Names of the men reporting for service: Ernest Cornelius Jones, Williams ton. Russell Leonidas Griffin, UFD 2, Williamston. Bruce Wilson Coltrain, RFD 1, Williamston. Melville Vernon Wynne, William ston. William Jay Council, RFD 3, Wil liamston. Rufus Vernon Bunting, Williams ton. James Wesley Lee, RFD 1, Oak City. John M. Leggett, RFD 1, Rober sonvillc. Joseph Major Ward, Roberson ville and Chapel Hill. Irvin Eugene Farmer, Robeison ville and Stokes. John Dawson Leggett, RFD 2, Wil liamston. Gordon Errol Johnson, Roberson ville. Dallas Charles Jones, Jr., RFD 1, Jamesville. Harry Charles Jones, Jr,, RFD 1, Jamesville. Robert Daniel Perry, RFD 1, Wil liamston. All but two of the group took their pre-induction examinations on Feb ruary 22. Those two, examined prior to that time, were placed in 1-A for limited service and were only call ed this week. There were one or two men in the February examination who were placed in 1-A limited serv ice, but they were not instructed to report since the induction cull was 4&,V Ptvly.. two men of tvw. , ■ . It is understood that the pool will be depleted the latter part of next week when those men who passed the pre-induction examinations on March 10 are called for induction. Accord ing to notices received by the “vic tims” Monday afternoon, the army men leave on Thursday of next week and the navy men leave the follow ing day. A large number of colored regis trants is expected to leave soon for (Continued on page six) CadiliaJTPlows Into Car Parked On Fill No one was hurt but considerable damage resulted about 11 o’clock last Thursday night when a big Cad illas driven by John Roy Jones and owned by R. E. Harris, both of Green ville, plowed into a parked car on the Roanoke River fill, about one mile east of the river. The parked car, a 1937 Chevrolet owned by Hillary Hubert Hoggard, was stopped on the fill when a tire went flat and the owner had return ed to Williamston to get help. The Cadillac, a 1942 model and traveling I east, plowed into the rear of the 1 Chevrolet and knocked it about 33 I feet and then went over the side of the fill Investigating the accident, Patrol man W. E. Saunders estimated the damage to the Cadillac at $300 and | that to the Chevrolet at $150. r BLOOD PLASMA ) .. -anaif+r*ifc *— Navy call for five million pints •of blood this year, the DAK or ganization throughout the nation is soliciting funds to advance the blood bank for servicemen. —i v- <—•?f, ^iiiidifJiTO heading the drive in Windsor and Williamston, explained that those areas where no nobile un its are operated for the collec tion of blood, ace being asked to contribute funds to support the movement and to even buy blood if necessary. The solicitations are being advanced without remun eration to the canvassers, either for their time or expenses. TOWN - FARM IN WARTIME ♦ (A weekly news digest from the rural press section of the OW1 news bureau) More Sugar for Home Canning To gel canning sugar in addition to the five pounds per person avail able with Sugar stamp 40, applica lion should be made to the local ra tion board on form OP A R-323, which will be furnished upon re quest by the office of the local board, OPA announces. The entire transac tion may be handled by mail, one opplication serving for all who live at the same address. In order to make it unnecessary to send ration books through the mail, the spare stamp 37 from War Ration Book Four is attached to the application form for each person applying. Families that preserve and can food at, home for sale to others may apply to their lo cal boards for a maximum of 250 pounds for this purpose. Sugar beet and sugar cane growers may get 25 pounds of ration-free sugar for each member of their families as part of the sugar produced from their 1944 crops by applying to distributors who processed their crops. Rubber Situation Still Stringent Although the nation is now pro ducing synthetic rubber faster than raw rubber was consumed in this country any time prior to 1941, mil itary and civilian demands still ex ceed the supply, the Office of Rub ber Director discloses. Low speed limits must be enforced and all tires recapped if essential driving is to be maintained during the critical months ahead, the rubber director warns. He reminds motorists that tin' life of a tire at 35 miles per hour is 50 per cent longer than at 50 miles per hour and three times long er than at (it) miles per hour. Consumer Goods Survey A check-up on how well Govern ment measures have helped to alle viate shortages of civilian goods will be provided by a consumer goods survey now being made by the Of fice of Civilian Requirements of the War Production Board. Merchandise to be surveyed includes miscellan eous household articles such as bob bie pins, safety pins and cleansing tissue; clothing for men, women and children; household linens; and yard goods for apparel. Why Make Declarations? The income tax declarations re quired by April 15, this year, of some la million persons are a funda mental requirement in the “pay-as you-go" system, the Bureau of In ternal Revenue explains. Only by means of these declarations is it pos sible for the bureau to learn how much tax is due from those whose (Continued on page six) (HI Truck Stolen Here And Driven To Raleigh Saturday ■-<3»~ “Borrowing” a big oil truck from the Harrison Oil Company here early J^jt^^^gtordav evening, someone drove the machine to Raleigh and deserted it on the streets there. A supply of motor oil on the truck and personal articles left in the truck by the driver, Bruce Chesson, were not disturbed. The thieves, yet un known, took several gallons of kero sene out of the big tank and placed it in the truck fuel tank to complete the run to Raleigh. The truck, left at the Central Fill ing Station to be serviced last Sat urday, was not damaged and was returned here by Daniel Lilley and son. NEW HOURS r Beginning next Monday, the Martin County War Price and Rationing Board office will be open to the public each week day from 9 a. rn. to 12 noon, and from 1 to 3 p. m. Heretofore, the office has been closed to the public each Monday, Tuesday and Saturday afternoon. The public is urged to note the change in the office hours and arrange their visits to conform with those hours. It was point ed out that certain reports have to be filed and that correspond ence work requires much time, that while it is necessary to lim it the hours the office is open to the public, the new schedule should prove more satisfactory than the one now in effect, Her bert L. Roebuck, assistant chair man, stated. [Two Planes Crash In "Practice “Dog Fight’4 Plane Crashes Near Oak City On Friday —-<*>. Second Sliij» in Forced Land ing Ten Miles Away: No One Badly Hurl Two young Army pilots, Lt. R. W Higgins and Lt. G. D. McDowell, barely escaped with their lives about 2:10 o'clock last Friday after noon when their P-47 Pursuit planes crashed in mid-air a short distance north of Oak City. Higgins, his plane torn apart, parachuted to earth and McDowell rode his ship to safety in a forced landing after gliding ten miles. Stationed at Seymour-Johnson Field, Goldsboro, the two pilots were engaged in a practice "dog fight" ap proximately 20,000 feet in the air ov er the Oak City area when Higgins made a turn and the other plane plowed into him, cutting the tail of his ship in two just back of the pi lot's seat. The rear part of the plane drifted earthward and was not greatly damaged in the fall. With all the controls gone, the other part of the Higgins plane went into a spin, the pilot stating that he unfastened his safety belt and made ready to bail out. Just as he slid the canopy back, the suction pulled him out at about 13,000 feet. The main part of the plane crashed into a hog pen in the backyard of a tenant house on the Turner farm, about a mile away from the spot where the oth er part of the ship fell The engine [ and nose of the plane burrowed in- j 1o the ground almost ten feet, ex ploded and burned. Higgins, Ins foot tangled in the j parachute rope, was in a bad plight as he fell earthward head first. It was his first jump, but he executed the maneuvers expertly, free him self and made a fairly good landing about two miles from the spot where the main part of the plane crashed. His right shoulder and right leg I Were bruised, but he wasn't sure whether he received the injuries while leaving the plane or in land ing. Treated in a doctor’s office in Oak City, he was soon able to be out, but late that evening he com plained with a stiff shoulder and a stiff leg. The tips of his ship propeller bent back, Lt. McDowell, just about 13 years of age, stated that the fast "bus” started vibrating and shaking to pieces. He cut off the power and started gliding, looking for a land ing place. Crossing the Roanoke and its lowlands, the youth brought his ship down in a perfect belly landing on the Cobb farm about ten miles north of Windsor just off the Lewis ton Windsor Road. He was not hurt and no groat damage was done to his ship. The young man, during the few hours he was without word from his “buddy” was greatly upset, but much relieved when he learned Hig gins had parachuted to safety. Ilig gins is from Farmington, Mass., and McDowell is from Manninglon, West Virginia. The accident was the first of its kind ever reported over this county. Several planes have crash-landed and others have made forced land ings, but it is fairly certain that the crash last Friday afternoon was the first to take place in the air over this county. The crash of the Higgins plane at tracted sight-seers by the hundreds in the Oak City section, and several patrolmen were dispatched to the scene to assist in handling the traf fic. I batii Lvav tin' Pacific, aided young Higgins in locating a doctor and reporting the accident. I! lid Manufacturing Breaks Into Town Illicit business— liquor manufac turing in this case—broke into town a short time ago, the daring feat eliminating transportation risks but, at tlie same time subjecting the own er to operation risks. How long he operated is not definitely known, but A1 beii Askew, colored rnan, had an almost ideal set-up for manu facturing monkey rum. Equipped with an old oil drum or carbide barrel, a short section of copper tubing and a 50-gallon bar rel, Askew operated the plant in his home. He had the beer barrel bur ied under a trap door in a barn or smokehouse near his dwelling. When the beer was ready, he would move the still into the house where he used a coal-burning stove to furnish the heat and turn the smoke out the chimney. Once the run was complet ed, he would move the equipment back to the barn. Getting a lead on the illicit busi ness, Officers John Roebuck, Chas. Moore and ABC Officer Joe Roebuck raided the premises on White Street near the cemetery and found the equipment. It was not in operation | at the time. Askew was placed under ! bond for his appearance in the ooun 1 ty court next Monday. rnmff / i r.i'i Don 1, Johnson, former coun ty solicitor and son of Mr. and Mrs. Don Johnson of this county, was recently promoted to the rank of lieutenant (jg.l. He is stationed somewhere in North Africa. Ensign John Eagles, for mer assistant farm agent, saw lit. Johnson a short time ago in Africa. Vi ni. Lewis Manning Passes In Hospital Early Sunday Night -. ■* Funeral Services Are Being Conducted I'liis Afternoon For War I Veteran William Lewis Manning, World War I veteran, died suddenly in a Washington hospital at (5.40 o’clock last Sunday evening, a very short while after he was entered in the institution. A victim of diabetes and in failing health for a number of years, he was believed to have died of a heart attack. In retirement for a number of years, he was thought to be getting along as well as usual up until about two weeks ago when his condition grew noticeably worse. However, be was able to be up most of the time. Last Saturday be spent most of the day in bed, but got up that evening and went to the doctor for a dose of insulin. Retiring upon his return home, he dropped off into a coma, and Sunday morning members of the family visited bis room and thought he was sleeping. He did not get up for a meal, and a short time later mem bers of the family, finding it impos sible to wake him, called the doctor and had him removed to the hospi tal. The son of the late William Simon and Louise Roberson Manning, he was born in Williams Township on July 11, 1888. He moved to William stun when a youth with his parents and had made his home here since that time, except for the period he spent in the Army. On May 31, 1917, he volunteered and entered a Na tional Guard unit at Goldsboro. He served overseas from March 29, 1918 until July 12, 1919, getting his hon orable discharge seven days later. He was married to Miss Lennie Jones of this county January 22, 1920 and she with four children, Gordon Manning, a student in Lynchburg College, Lynchburg, Va., Jerry C. Manning, U. S. Navy somewhere in the Pacific; Mrs. Thos. Earl Martin, of JamesviljeandMiss Polly Man ning of the home, survives. He also leaves two sisters, Mrs. R. H. Brown i:f William' b .. and Mrs. W. N. Ains ley of Columbia, N. C., a half-sister, Mrs. J. C. Crawford, and a half brother, Wheeler Manning, both of Williamston. Funeral services are being con ducted at the Biggs Funeral Home on West Main Street this afternoon at 4 o’clock by Rev. John L. Goff. Interment will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery here. Prior to his entrance into the war ;back, in 1917, he was associated with the late J. C. Crawford in the opefa tion of the sheriff’s office in this county. NO INSTRUCTIONS v___ The Martin County Draft Hoard has not yet received offi cial instructions calling for the scrapping of the 16-war units system for farmers, it was learn ed today. In accordance with the latest instructions received, and until additional ones reach here the board will call virtually all registrants between the ages of 18 and 25, inclusive, for pre-in duction examinations. It is quite possible that even though the registrants in the designated age group are called for pre-induction exams, their cases will be reviewed, possibly under the new instructions, be fore final order? for actual in duction are issued. Over Hundred Tires AHaVUw! County Bv Rut inning Hnnrd -—nr Nrarh .~>OQ \ nnliration* For MMMMPaawHaaMMMWi I ires 4 , moling In rhis County at Present A total of 103 tires was rationed by the Mart'n County board last Fri day night, the issuance being tb" largest reported in recent months. Despite the liberal allotments, there are an estimated 500 applications for tires pending before the board. It is reported that some of the appli cants in the big group are unable to understand how vehicle owners with preferred ratings can get tires and gas. too, and use them for fishing, shopping, general travel not con nected with their work, and in some cases for the alleged transportation of illicit liquors Reports state that the tire situa tion has been eased to some extent, but the allotment for April is hard ly as large as the one made in March. However, an extra allotment last month made the large issuance last Friday night possible. This month. 100 Grade I tires, 101 Grade Ill’s, 45 truck tires, 144 car tire tubes and 24 truck tire tubes have been allotted for rationing. Grade T tires and tubes were re leased to the following: J. R. P. Griffin, Williamston, one tire. Robert S. Gurganus, RFD 3, Wil liamston, one tire and one tube. John Daniel Roberson, RFD 2, Robersonvilie, one tire. Charlie Forbes, Robersonville, one tit and uni' tube. James A. Roberson, RFD 1, Rob ersonville, one tire and one tube. Noah Boston, Jamesville, one tire and one tube. II. L. Roberson, Robersonville, three tires and two tubes. R. V. Bunting, Williamston, one tire and one tube. A. P. Hassell, Jr , Williamston, one tire. A. P. Hassell, Jr., Williamston, one tire. Vaden B. Hairr, Jamesville, two tires and two tubes. L C. Brown, Jamesville, one tire and one tube. J W. Rogers, RFD 2, Williamston, one tire and one tube. J. H. Gray, Robersonville, one tire and one tube. C, S. Vanlandingham, Williamston, two tires and two tubes. C. C. Fleming, Jamesville, one tire and one tube. Reuben A. Edmondson, Hamilton, one tire. L. A. Croom, Robersonville, four tires and two tubes. Clelle Moore, Robersonville, two tires and one tube. M. E. Roberson, Robersonville, one tire and one tube. Mrs. H. J. Haislip, Oak City, one tire and one tube. Dr. Robert C. Hicks, Williamston, two tires. David N llix, Williamston, one tire and one tube. Mrs. A K Downs, Hassell, one tire and one tube. Kneezer llurrisor., RFD 2, Wil liamston, two tires Palmer Taylor, Robersonville, one tni' and two tubes. John Mobley, RFD 3, Williamston, one tire and one tube. D Andrew Griffin, RFD 1, Wil liamston, one tire and one tube. R R Thompson, Palmyra, one tire. Richard Bryant, Bethel, one tire and one tube. G. W. Keel, Robersonville, one tire and one tube. J. J. Whitley, Robersonville, one tire. Ben James, RFD 3, Williamston, one tire. Vit ginia-Carolinu Chemical Co., Williamston, one tire and one tube. Johnnie Bland. Hamilton, one tire. i’T"lT’^f?Worffhr^ooei sum die, One lire and one tube. Coy Griffin, RFD 1, Williamston, one tire and one tube. J. K. Andrews, Williamston, one tire and one tube. Harry H. Roberson, RFD 1, Rober sonville, one tire and one tube. J. E. Hedrick, Jamesville, one tire. Better Chevrolet Co., Roberson ville, one tire and one tube. P. M. Matthews, Williamston, one tire and one tube. (Continued on page six) Community Store Robbed Yesterday Prizing the lock off with something like an automobile tire tool, robbers entered Walter Johnson’s small community store on West Church Street sometime between three and four o’clock yesterday morning and hauled away about $300 worth of merchandise. The thieves centered their attention on tobaccos, clearing out a fairly large stock of cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco and socks. Possibly a few other articles were stolen, but they were not missed im mediately. A member of the family, sleeping in the home a few feet from the store was said to have heard a noise between 3 and 4 o’clock that morn ing, but thought the racket was caus ed by the wind. A neighbor heard a car crank up between k-r home and the store about the same fime.