Newspapers / The Enterprise (Williamston, N.C.) / Aug. 1, 1944, edition 1 / Page 1
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NEARLY 1000 MARTIN COUNTY SERVICE MEN NOW READING THE ENTEPRISE IN ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD EACH WEEK. VOLUME XLVII—NUMBER 60 THE ENTERPRISE NEARLY 1000 MARTIN COUNTY SERVICE MEN NOW READING THE ENTEPRISE IN ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD EACH WEEK. Williamston. Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, August 7. 7*7/7. ESTABLISHED 1899 Allies Chalking Up Swccpinglrietoric^ On Farflung Fronts —«— Americans Advance 18 Miles Yesterday; Russians in Warsaw Suburbs Sweeping victories were reported on the far-flung battle fronts vester day as a tornado of fire and steel rolled steadily forward with Berlin and Tokyo as its ultimate goal. The Americans have broken out of the Cherbourg Peninsula and are run ning wild, so to speak, against the enemy. Just what ihe’r next object ive will be now that the second phase of the invasion plan has been com pleted is not known. It is believed that the Americans will move to seal off Brest while the British, record ing substantial gains of their own yesterday, will set out for Paris. Over on the 1,200-mile Eastern Front, the Russians are rolling for ward .their advances being made secondary to a plan to destroy com pletely as they go along all German might. One powerful Red Army is fighting in the suburbs of Warsaw today, and it is estimated that a mil lion men are supporting the move to wipe out the enemy in that immed iate territory. Advances, freeing more than 2.400 towns and villages within the past 36 hours, have been made by the Red Armies, and the Germans are reeling and rocking from blows all the way from Narva in the north right on down to the Carpathian Mountains. The import ant Baltic seaport of Riga is one of the near objectives. Kaunas in Lithuania is about to fall or has al ready fallen into Russian hands. One report states that a vast Red Army is moving in the vicinity of Suwalki in East Prussia. The Germans have been cleaned out of the last chunk of pre-war Russian, and the Red Armies are rapidly packing for the Berlin trip. Turkey, according to rumors and recent developments, is about ready to break the last ties with Germany Some see in the possible move, not one in which she is sticking her neck out, but one in which she is reach ing out to grab something. No doubt, her entrance into the war on the side of the Allies will help deliver the final blow against Hitler. In Italy, the Fifth and Eighth Armies are still hacking away at the enemy in the Florence area, and while no extensive gains have been made there in recent days, the drive is progressing. Over in the Pacific, the New Guinea campaign is announced just about completed.' McArthur s men effected a new landing sixty miles northeast of Sorong last Sunday, the move cutting off an estimated 15.000 Japs and placing the Americans within 600 miles of the Philippines. The amphibious action was without opposition. The drive on Tinian is also just about complete, and the Guam move is progressing. Reports intimated today that a large portion of the British fleet could be expect ed in the Pacific soon. (Continued on page six) Mrs. House Passes In Robersonville Mrs. Lester House, mother of Mrs. Ernest Etheridge of WiUiamston, died suddenly at her home near Rob ersonville last Saturday afternoon at 5 o’clock. Death was caused by a heart ailaek. Mrs. House, 61 years of age, was the daughter of Mrs. FannieWarren and tne late rfoweu '.m bers of well-known families in this county. She was a devoted member of the Primitive Baptist Church at Flat Swamp and active in its serv ivce for a long number of years. Funeral services, attended by an enormous throng, were held at the borne yesterday afternoon, and in- j terment was in the Robersonville Cemetery. Elder W. E. Grimes con ducted the last rites. Besides her daughter here, she is survived by her husand and mother, a daughter, Mrs. Henry Johnson of Hamilton; and five sons, Jasper of Plymouth, Clayton of Hamilton, Berry and Howell House of Robersonville, and Staff Sergeant Garner House of the Army, now in France Prowlers Break Into Ration Board Office Breaking a small glass pane in a side door, prowlers entered the Martin County War Price and Ra tioning Board office here some time during last Saturday night. Gasoline and other types of ration coupons were safe in a locked vault, and as far as it could be determined nothing was missed from the office. Officers, called in to investigate the case, admitted they could establish no motive for the break-in. The prowlers did not disturb any of the papers or records, leading officers to believe that the intruders broke into the building for privacy. One report declared that prowlers had been chased from church property late Saturday night. Review Of Bond Sa les In The County During Recent UTWiT Although the county fell short of its “E" bond quota by $21,833.50, it forged ahead with the purchase of negotiable bonds to pile up a total of $263,201.50 in excess of the over-all quota, according to the latest in formation available. While the Fifth War Loan Drive has its dark spots, the over all pic ture is very encouraging, and then* are several high spots. In the “E” bond department, Jamesville, Williams, Griffins, Bear Grass, Poplar Point, Hamilton and Goose Nest went over the top, the figures in James ville and especially those in Hamilton being most impressive. Griffins, Bear Grass, Poplar Point and Hamilton also rang the hell with their pur chase of negotiable bonds while Williamston and Robersonville added sizable sums to swell the over all total to $1,118,201.50. The following figures, while subject to minor changes, show, by townships, the *'E” bond quotas and sales, negotiable bond quotas and sales and the over-all or combined quotas and sales: “E” Bonds Negotiable Bonds Grand Totals Quota $ 8,350 3,900 15,600 10.000 Jamesville Williams Griffins Bear Grass Williamston 120,300 ^ross Roads 10,000 Robersonville 85,800 Poplar Point 4,000 Hamilton 17.850 Goose Nest 9,650 Sales 8 12,585.75 4,400.00 16.331.75 10.822.75 111,190.00 3,860.75 63,023.50 4,933.25 26,965.25 9,703.50 Quota $ 16,650 7,800 31,200 20.000 240,700 20,000 171.200 8,000 34,650 19,350 Sales 9.689.00 5.126.00 51,775.50 77.405.00 429,727.50 17.689.00 207,090.00 11.026.00 37,368.00 7.689.00 Quota $ 25,000 11,700 46,800 30.000 361.000 30.000 257.000 12.000 52,500 Sales 22.274.75 9,526.00 68.707.25 88.227.75 540.917.50 21.549.75 270.113.50 15.959.25 63.533.25 17,392.50 $285,450 $263,616.50 $569,550 $854,585.00 $855,000 $1,118,201.50 County's Schools Will Open On August 31st KILLED Verna hand, believed to be the first Martin County colored man killed while on active duty in the service of his country, was a victim of a munitions explo sion at Port Chicago, California, on July 17th. Ixxal Boy Recalls Island Landing In Pacific Last Year Howard Cone Now Stationed With Hospital Unit in the Fiji Islands Writing under date of July 2 to his mother, Mrs. P. B. Cone, here, Howard Cone recalls the landing on New Georgia Island in the Pacific a year ago. His letter, just recently received, follows, in part: ••Today is Sunday . T±,_ Alh-Q.f..the month will come on Tuesday ana the 18th General has planned a gala day. It will be a sorta County Fair idea. One of the most interesting features is going to be a frog race. Each department in the hospital will have an entry and the winner will receive $100.00 in War Bonds. All | types of athletics and games will be played as well as the usual exhibits seen in most fairs. Tom Kearns and myself are to play a couple of doc tors in tennis. “The comparison between this 4th of July and the one last year is quite remarkable^ Our battalion along with two Marine raider bat talions board(“d destroyers to strike the northern New Georgia coast at 2:30 A. M. on the 5th of July. For tunately we met no opposition un til we had walked 21 miles inland through the wont jungle I've ever seen. Our battalion had a lone mis (Continued on page six) WOUNDED v_ Sgt. Frank Saunders Weaver, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Weav er, of WiHiamston, was “knock ed out” by a shell explosion in France some time during the early part of July, according to a letter received from the young man by his mother yesterday. Apparently the young man was not badly hurt, the letter stating that he had had hospital treat ment in France. It could not be definitely learned, but it is be [ lieved that the young man has returned to his company for continued action. Consolidation Plan For School at Gold Point Is Postponed Nearly 3,000 Children Did INol AUeiui School in llu* Coiiuly Casl Term All Martin County schools -ten white and twenty-three colored will open the 1944-45 term on Thurs day, August 31, in accordance with an operating schedule adopted by the hoard of education in a special meeting held here yesterday. The opening, described as tin" earliest, in years, was fixed after figures had been studied and the board members found that the attendance is better in late summer than at any other time during the year. Provision was made for operating the schools <m short schedules daily during the early part of the term. A proposal to consolidate the two teacher Gold Point School with the one at Robersonville was discussed at length, the board deciding to maintain the small unit for the pres ent, at least. It was agreed, how ever, that consolidation would be necessary if and when attendance figures drop below 45 pupils daily, a spokesman for the board pointing out that that many pupils are re quired by State standards if two teachers are to be employed. The school there has been maintaining the standard by a narrow margin for several years. Gold Point is anxious to keep the school and its citizens are making every effort to meet the requirements, but the op position to the consolidation plan is not bitter, according to an unofficial report. A committee, composed of Board Chairman J. I). Woolard, Member George C. Griffin and Supt. Jas. C. Manning, was named to investigate the possibility of buying a building «et>eb< rage in ,famesyi<l(*,..T>v committee is to make its inv< -liga tion on Friday of this week and re port to the full board. All members of the board, J. D, Woolard, chairman, Geo. C. Griffin, Leslie Hardison, II. C. Norman and John W. Eubanks, were present for (Continued or - • V ; Three More County Teachers Resigning Three more teachers in the schools of this county are resigning, it tv as announced by the office of me sup erintendent this week. The date for tendering resignations is now past, and comparatively few or no more resignations are expected it was explained. Appointments are pending in sev eral cases, but the principal positions at Farm Life and Hear Grass are without prospects at this time. Among the late resignations an nounced by the office of the super intendent included one each in the Jamesville, Williamston and Rober sonville schools. Miss Virginia Rey nolds, eighth grade teacher in the Williamston schools, is resigning to accept a position in the schools at Wilmington. Miss Rachel Perkins, Robersonville sixth grade teacher, is going to Flora McDonald Coll -ge, Red Springs, where she will be crit ic teacher. Miss Louise Dail is leav ing Jamesville to accept a position | in the Washington schools. An agriculture teacher was ap I pointed for Robersonville last Sat i urday and he resigned the following ' day, leaving the position vacant. W(HM)I.I) David Kix Harrell, Jr., was wounded a short time ago in the battle for Saipan, his wife, the former !\liss Betsy Anderson, was notified here last week. Returns After Nine Months In Pacific Troubled with an infection ef the t ye wtiile on an island in the Pacific, Dillon C. Wynne, CM 3-C, was re turned to this country on a hospi tal ship last Thursday, his mother, Mrs. Fannie Wynne, 505 Warren Street. Williamston, was notified by telegram last Friday. Eidisting in the Seabees in De cember. 1042, the young man has seen service at Tarawa and other islands in the South Central Pacific. Prior to his return to Shoemaker, Calif., last week he received treat ment for four months in a hospital at Pearl Harbor. The young man is now patiently waiting for a transfer to an East Coast hospital and hopes to be able to make a visit with his people here before long. A brother. Staff Sgt. James A. Wynne, is now in France after spend ing two and one-half years in Ire land and England. MARTIN COUNTY In WOK LI) WAK I (Reviewed from old Enterprise files twenty-seven years ago) April ii, 1917. According to a dispatch from Washington dated April 4, the Unit ed States Senate formally declares the United States in a state of war against the Imperial German Gov ernment. The Senate passed the resolution by a vote of H2 to 6. April 13, 1917. Quite a number of names have been secured here this week for the purpose of organizing a company of home guards, each pledging support to President Wilson in defense of the country. Flags are flying all over town and the spirit of patriotism which was seemingly sleeping, has been awakened in the hearts of our peo ple, who are standing by tho coun try m her fight for the preservation of democracy. Wiiliamston was once the scene of battle when the invading army of 1 h<» North came through here and gunboats shelled the town. April 20, 1917. On Thursday night, April 12th, the doctors of Martin County met here .J. ; -s' Med Defense Committee. Dr. John C. Rod man, of Washington, N. C., is one of the members of the State Commit tee for National Preparedness, and was present to organize the Auxil iary. Fourteen physicians were pres ent. Dr. J. II. Saunders was elected president, and Dr. J. S. Rhodes, sec ret a»y.‘ 1 he society was most hos pitably entertained by Dr. and^Vlrs. J. 11. Saunders at their home on Church Street. NKW MIMIIIK V._ >1.-. Jesse F. Crisp, of Oak City, Ja.sl week formally accepted an appointment as member of the Martin County War I'rice and Rationing' Hoard, succeeding J. A. Everett, resigned. Mr. Ever ett, serving as a member since 1942, explained pressing duties made it impossible to continue in the service. He attended his last meeting in March. Mr. Crisp has been active in home front activities in support of the war for some time. lie is a member of the county war for some time. He is a member uf the county war board and chairman of the County AAA Committee and served as a member of the local gas panels, most of the duties carrying no remuneration whatever, hut at the same time requiring much attention. Even though the work has not been pleasant at alt times, Mr. Crisp has always an swered the call to duty and handled the tasks as fairly and faithfully as any one could pos ' sibly handle them. | Captain Jim Rhodes ’WritreOHirtnpaign fn Italian Theater Spout Greater Part of Four Mouths Living in Fox Holes Reviewing briefly a phase of the Italian campaign, Capt. Jim Rhodes, Jr., in a recent letter, said, in part: ", . . Quite a lot of water has gone under the bridge since I last wrote to you. “After the Sicilian campaign our outfit made the landing at Salerno, and for about five days it was plenty rough. For two days we were trapped with the Jerries surround ing us on all sides. Luckily, rein forcements arrived in time and got us out of the predicament From Sa lerno we went northeast through the Appenities, chasing the enemy about as fast as we could march. This con tinued up until the middle of Novem ber when we ran up against the Gus tav line. We stopped just north of Venafro, which is about twenty miles eiist of Cassino, and battled it out there until January when we were sent up to the beachhead. “In February—18-20—the Jerries made their all-out attack to push us back into the sea, and came mighty close to doing it, but we made it so rough for them that they stopped and were content to simply hold us. “On the eve of the first main ef fort to take Cassino we were alert ed to make a big push at the beach head at the same time. When the Cassino push failed the first time our outfit was called off. So, for four long months we lived in foxholes and listened to the artillery going both ways overhead. Most ot it was going out, thank heavens. We refer to artillery us either out-going mail or incoming mail, depending on which way it travels. “Our artillery is superb and by far the best of any I've seen. I don’t know how it would compare with that of the Russians, but I’m almost certain that it. is equally as good, if not better. “Just before the big push for Rome began, all artillery pieces on the beachhead fired every night for one-half an hour, one round per minute. This continued for seven days and it was really terrific. When it was apparent that the Gustav line wtis broken in the south, our offen sive began. It was pretty rough going for about four days, but then when the two fronts were consolidated, Jerry started pulling out until they reached the present line. “Since I've been overseas, 1 have only seen one nelson from home. I ran into Billy Biggs on the beach head and spent an afternoon talking ovei old times. 1 now understand that he was later wounded during the battle for Rome and is in a hos pital somewhere in the Rome area. I wish 1 knew which one. I'd look him up but there are many hospitals here now, and it would be like hunt ing for a needle in a haystack. Sev end of the boys 1 went to medical school with are over here and we have been together several times. 1 have seen most of the historic places, Naples, Vesuvius, Pompeii, Rome, St. Peters, the Coliseum, and others, but Williamston is still the best place I’ve ever seen. I can hardly wait to get back there. I’ve got a lot of liv ing to catch up on." The young man stated that he would almost give his left arm to see his young son and family. He also said that he was getting The Enterprise regularly and that it was really enjoyed. Alleged Violators In Ration "Court Several persons were called before the Martin County War Price and Ration Board recently to explain alleged variations in the observance |i.tion regulations and the 35-tmtSpr^o'our speed law, Surrendering an unidentified “C" gas coupon to a tenant, L. A. Roe buck, Robersonville, lost his A gas book until August !). Possessing an unidentified "C” gas coupon, Nellie Smith, of Oak City, was denied further gas rations until the first of September Spencer Hyman, Oak City, charg ed with possessing an unidentified “T” gas coupon, explained that he purchased it from a party unknown to him. He was denied further gas rations until he identifies the sell er. C. D. Pittman, Williamston, lost his “A' gas rations for sixty days for alleged speeding. Action is pending in a fifth case where the applicant, W. A. Perry, Williamston, thinking he had lost his first book, applied for second ra tions. _ I till I an l IS annul To The Loral Police Force Paul A. Ballard, named to suc ceed John Gurganus, resigned, en tered upon his duties as a member of the local police force last eve ning. Entering upon his new duties as chief this morning, Chas. R. Mobley stated that no other changes in the department personnel were being considered just now. |Local Youth Killed In Action In Italy July 11 •/ J r~ _ mils ] Daniel Davis Holliday, Martin C'onntv mail, died in a naval hos pital, Portsmouth, on July 21st, following an illness of about two weeks' duration. He was a pet ty ofliecr in the Navy. Two Youths Report Narrow Escapes In Battle For Saipan llushand of I oral Young Wo man Wounded Twice in <hie Day on Island David Uix Harrell, Jr., for two years a member of the Marine Corps, was wounded twice in a single day recently in the battle for Saipan, ac cording to information received here this week by his wife, the former Miss Betsy Anderson Two years ago on July ti. Harrell, a lad of only 1H, and Henry Lyons of Windsor volunteered for service. They were soon separated and met again, two years later to the day, on Saipan. Young Harrell, with shrapnel in his arms, apparently was unable to write and his chum gave an account of their narrow escapes from death in the following letter to Mrs. Harrell under date of July 11 ... Nielli belorc Inst, .) inks (tic is referring In Harrell) stayed at my battalion dump and held field day on the .laps all that night as they kept trying to gel past our dump to their lines. We were under machine gun fire all that night The following morning at day break all hell broke loose. The Japs opened up with everything they had against us ex cept the kitchen sink, and there looked to he a million of them run ning among us in the dump. We ran them out hut not before they had wounded three of us. I went into the dump to phone for help. I was pick ed out and the phone Wits riddled, and my rifle was knocked out of my hand. I was beside a water barrel and a hole larger than a 5l)-eent piece appeared above my head. That gave me a shower, but under tin circumstances I didn’t appreciate it Jinks, seeing me pinned down and realizing I was unable to move, came to help me Me was behind a tree trying to spot my y< llow-bi Hied at tucket V-iieil he was spotted by the <t ■ my who fifed nop;' hj,'>j. ""'king him several times on the chest. Then we both ran into a Idx hole and fir ed at the Jap: on the ridge above tin dump. Then we took the four wounded, including Jinks, to tht sick bay. After his wounds wen dressed lie and 1 went back to tin dump to see if eveiything was all right. We v.a re relodding our wrap ons and then decided to go up tit the ridgi and see if the Jap I had shot iit wits up there. It was a pleas ant sight and quite a boost to my egc to see him an Imperial Marine, the guy who almost had our number— shot through the heart. (Continued on page six) IJTTIKS l So far tiiis year the members of the loeal Kiwanis Club have written over 300 letters to the men in the armed forces, each member writing one letter each month to some serviceman whose name is supplied hy the club. One of the hoys in service recently wrote a Kiwanian, de claring that mail from the folks at home constitutes at least half of a soldier's happiness in life. • It is believed that some 500 let ters which the Kiwanians will write this year will be a credit able and worthwhile undertak ing.—Reported. < Editor's note: The addresses of nearly a thousand Martin County servicemen are posted r each week on The Enterprise ■ window, and others are invited > to remember the boys with a let ter). Dennis H. Whichard Lave His Life July II. Mother Advised —.»— Was tlir Twonty-seveiilh IVIan from Tliisdoimly to Make lli«* Siiprome Sacrifice /Pvt. Dennis *{ V'iiichard, William ston young man, was killed in ac tion over in Italy on July 11, rela tivi s were notified here yesterday afternoon, the terse message from the War Department offering no de tails He is the 27th Martin County man to be killed or to die of natur al causes in the current war, and the sixth to give his life in Italy. The son of Mrs. Edith Whichard, of Nm in Haughton Street, and the late D B Whichard, he was born near Williamston on February 5, 1921. When in his teens, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and was stationed at New Holland for about three years. Early in January, 1940, he volunteered for service in the Army and at the time of his death was serving in the signal corps. After a short stay at Fort Bragg, he was transferred to Fort Jackson where he spent almost a year, going from there to Camp Blanding where he trained about one year. In early February of last year, he was trans ferred to North Africa where he saw much action. He later participated in the Sicilian campaign and moved on over to Italy. He was home on his second and last furlough in November, 1942. In his last letter written to his mother a short time before he was killed, the young soldier stated he was getting along all right. He had visited Home and went into much detail describing the beautiful shrines in the Eternal City. The young man was very conserv ative m his conversation. He accept ed the Army and its rules and fare without complaint, declaring in his humble manner that he was ready and willing to do his part for his country. Besides a grief-stricken mother, he is survived by five sisters, Mrs. Ira Price, BED 9. Williamston; Mrs. Palmer White, Mrs. Charlie Hoell and Mrs. Frank Weathersbce, of Wil liamston, and Mrs. Gid Harrison, i HF!) 2 Wi 1 liamsion; five brothers John Whichard, Washington; Paul and Charlie Whichard, of Williams ton; David Whichard, of St. Pauls, N C., and Sam Whichard, U. ri. Ma rine Corps, stationed at Morehead City. Silver Star Medal Awarded Local Boy The Sliver Slur Medal, one of the Army's high honors, was awarded James S Rhodes, Jr., captain in the Medical Corps, just recently for gal lantry in action. The award to the Williamston young man was accom panied by the following notation: ■‘James S Rhodes, Jr., Captain, Medical Detachment, 17f)th Infantry Regiment, lot gallantry in action from September 11 to 14, 1043, near Persano, Italy. On September 11, 1043, the 170th Infantry Regiment was isolated and forced to engage the enemy on three fronts. The area was swept by artillery, mortal, and mall tar a. f; unities. Captain Rhodes in order to facilitate prompt care and evacua tion, established a forward aid sta tion only two hundred yards behind the front lines. Here lie worked un ceasingly throughout the day caring lor the wounded. In spite of mental f uigue and near physical exhaustion, cTipiam Rhodes continued to cure for the wounded nu n for three suc cessive days. Ilis tireless and cour ageous action under the direct fire of the enemy inspired his men to ef forts far beyond their normal abili ties. His gallant service exemplifies the high traditions of the Medical Corps.” The award was made by command I of Major General Eagles. Leal Prices Above Ceiling Figures —$— Reports coming from the Georgia belt, following the opening sales yes terday, stated that tobacco prices were ranging well above the fixed ceiling level of 39 cents a pound. Price averages ranged from 40 to 45 cents, while individual prices rang ed from about 13 1-2 cents upward. Jim Gray announced that the av erage at Moultrie was $40.38 for the medium nuality offerings. Block sales were reported on all markets as a result of the one-week holiday dec'ared by Tom Linder, Georgia’s commissioner of agricul ture and No. 1 griper. South Carolina will open on Tues day of next week, and the markets in this belt will open on Monday, August 28.
The Enterprise (Williamston, N.C.)
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Aug. 1, 1944, edition 1
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