NEARLY 1000 MARTIN COUNTY SERVICE MEN NOW READING THE ENTEPRISE IN ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD EACH WEES. THE ENTERPRISE NEARLY 1000 MARTIN COUNTY SERVICE MEN NOW READING THE ENTEPRISE IN ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD EACH WEEK. VOLUME XLVII—NUMBER 69 W illiamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Friday, September 1, 1944. ESTABLISHED 1899 Allies Take Verdun And Push on toward The Belgian Border —»— American Forces Are Within Fifty Miles of German Territory --- The battle of France, for all prac tical purposes, has been won, late reports stating that a hot race is now pointing toward Belgium and Ger man soil. The capture of Verdun, World War I battlefield where the French valiantly fought the Ger mans back in 1916, by the Ameri cana was announced this morning, placing the Allies within fifty miles of German soil. At the same time, the Americans have reached Sedan on the Belgian border. It will be re called that Allied forces, twenty-six years ago today, crossed the Belgian border, and that feat may be dupli cated before the day is spent, Gener al Patton’s Army traveled sixty miles through old World War I battle grounds in the past twenty-four hours to chalk up the new victories. While the Americans were sweep ing forward, the British were handl ing an extensive drive of their own into the rocket coast. Advances of nearly eight miles were reported by them in less than three days, the drive taking advanced units across the Somme at Amiens and shutting off over 100 miles of the robot bomb launching area. The enemy retreat has been so rapid that it has become disorganiz ed, reports declaring that the rear guard has been eliminated and that the pursuers are tearing to shreds the main German forces. The Germans warned today that their new secret weapon will greet the Allies at the German border. It was also claimed the Germans were about ready to release their No .2 robot. High military authorities are of the opinion that the Germans will not use poison gas. The authorities point out that the Allies are in a much better position to spread the poison stuff than the Germans are, and for that reason Hitler and his gang will go slow even if their pol icy is to wreck and ruin. General Eisenhower declared again yesterday that he saw no rea son why victory over Germany should not come in 1944. As the war enters its sixth year today, the nations count a death toll estimated at 25 million and a cost that runs into the trillions of dollars. It was revealed yesterday that the Americans had lost 3,000 planes in (Continued on page four) -$-— No Court Session Held Last Monday —<*>— It was not listed on any schedule, but Judge J. C. Smith declared a holiday for the county recorder’s court last Monday, the jurist ex plaining that it was tobacco opening day and since that even is about the greatest of any during the year for the farmer, it was in order to take the day off. There were very few cases on the docket anyway, and those that were there will come up for trial next Monday when, strange ly enough, the tobacco markets and a few other business establishments are to observe the day as a holiday. A fairly large docket is already in the making for next Monday, the cases representing a varied list of law infractions. Two defendants are up for operat ing motor vehicles without drivers’ licenses. Three are charged with drunken driving. One is booked for reckless and hit-and-run driving. Another is charged with an assault with a deadly weapon. Stil an other is charged with operating a liquor still, and a tenth one is book ed for speeding. There was a dis turbance in the Oak City section last Monday night when several James ville young white men invaded the town and questioned Chief Edmond Early’s right to arrest them. They are booked for disorderly conduct and interferring with an officer in the performance of his duty. One report reaching here stated that the officer was attacked and kicked in the face. County officers and mem bers of the highway patrol were call ed and they helped round up four or five of the young men, it was learned. -& Escapes Injury In Main Street Wreck —®— Clinton L. Haislip, USN, escaped uninjured when his car sideswiped a telephone pole on West Main Street here last Tuesday night. His 1937 coupe had a fender ripped off, of ficers estimating the damage at about $25. No damage was done to the pole or the wires suspended from it. Charged with drunken driving, Haislip, 18 years old, was temporar ily detained. A case is pending in the county recorder’s court against the young man who was released under bond. He was said to have been spending a short leave 'with rela tives in Pitt County. To Hold No Tobacco Sales on Local Market Next Monday -<*> For the first time in years and possibly in the history of the mar ket, no tobacco auction sales will be held on the local market next Mon day, September 4th, on account of the Labor Day holiday, it was offi cially announced this week by the Tobacco Board of Trade. Sales will be resumed the following day in accordance with a new sales card, it was announced. No holiday will be observed here by general business, but the banks, post office, Virginia Electric and Power Company and liquor store will be closed. No mail deliveries will be effected in either the town or rural communities and the post office windows will be closed that day 1'he tobacco market holiday will be general throughout the belt. It was reported, however, that some markets planned to disreg, rd the Tobacco Association of the United States ordering the suspension of sales that day. At the same time it was pointed out that the authorities would demand the recall of the buy ers from any market that did not comply with the closing order. The holiday, unexpectedly called by the tobacco association, upsets the sales schedule for the second time. Local warehousemen prepared sales cards for the first-announced open ing on August 21. That date was changed and cards were altered to coincide with the delayed opening on August 28. And now before a week of the season was spent, the warehousemen are having new sales cards printed. According to the new card, the Carolina warehouse here will have first sale next Tuesday, the day after the holiday. GETS CITATION j Staff Sergeant L. Nelson Leg gett, son of Mr. and Mrs. II. W. Leggett of Robersonville, is pictured receiving a citation for meritorious achievement in the USAAF. TOWN - FARM IN WARTIME (A weekly news digest from the rural press section of the OWI news bureau) Cost of Living Remains Stable The cost of living has risen six tenths of one per cent in retail prices of essential commodities, Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins reports. The figure is for the month ended July 15, most recent for which data are available. During the last year, Secretary Perkins added, average prices of family living essentials have risen 1.8 per cent, as compared with advances of 6 per cent and 11 per cent in the years ended July 1943 and July 1942. Higher prices for fresh fruits and vegetables were noted. Prices for potatoes, sweet po tatoes, spinach and onions were up in July, but there were large de creases for cabbage, lettuce and green beans. Now You Can Draw a Bead on ’Em If you have a few moments to spare, you may begin to oil up the family flintlock. WPB has taken cognizance of the fact that animals and birds are causing widespread destruction to crops and livestock all over the country. The ban on the sale of ammunition to hunters will be removed temporarily in the near future. Available for nimrods will be 240 million rim fire cartridges, 8 million center fire cartridges and 130 million shotgun shells. Wolves, coyotes, foxes, weasels, wild ducks, crowds and pheasants should not be told of this regulation. Happy hunt ing. Will Open Fourth Pre-Natal Clinic The Martin County Health De partment will open its fourth pre natal clinic in the county at Rober son ville on Thursday, September 14, it was announced this week by Mrs. Fleming, department nurse. The clinic will be maintained on the second Thursday in each month. In addition to the care offered expect ant mothers, the clinic will also ex tend its services to babies up to one year old and their mothers. The clinic will be open to white patrons only, the department explaining that one is held on the last Tuesday in each month for colored patrons. Other clinics are functioning in Williamston on the first Tuesday and Wednesday, Jamesville on the second Tuesday and at Oak City. -$ Short Session In Prospect For County Commissioners -1 With very little business on the docket a short session is in prospect for the county commissioners when they hold their regular meeting here next Monday. The auditor’s office is completing the 1344 45 tax books and will turn them over to the collector after they are reviewed by the' board. Local Boy Declares Second Invasion Of France Was 'Boring’ Inflation Is Non Rampant in Italy, Ll. Hardy Rost* Says In Recent Letter -- Writing to Bob Cowon here, First Lieutenant Z. Hardy Rose, Jr., local young man, tolls about the southern invasion of France, inflation in Italy and declared that while he was not ashamed of his part in the Normandy invasion, all the reports about the part he played were not altogether accurate. His letter follows, in part, with a slight “robbing” for Bob: “There is no reason why I should write you. It seems you never an swer. Whatsa matter, did you fall off the porch and bust your right lunchhook? "As you know by now there lias been an invasion of Southern France. I participated in it and am glad to report I’m still healthy. Frankly, the entire operation was mild, almost boring. Being bored though is bet ter than being shot. “We’ve been in Italy long enough to see some of it. Rome is all its tout ed to be. It’s the only city I’ve ever enjoyed sight-seeing in. Naturally, I've seen plenty other places, but I’m not allowed lo mention them “The entire country has been laid low by the wai. What Allied land and air bombardment didn’t get, the Germans blew up in retreat. It’s pretty bad. Inflation is also a prob lem, not to us but for the Italians. Cigarettes are selling for one to two bucks a package. An old pair of GI shoes would bring twenty-five bucks easily. Everything else is in ratio to this. We have Eyeties in the kitchen working for seventy cents a day and food. Any one of them carries a thousand bucks or more in his wal let. “Our outfit is under field condi tions, living in tents, chow lines, mess kits, etc. . . . All the officers got together and built showers and an officers’ club. We did every bit of the work. The club features cog nac, vermuth, wine and domestic (Continued on page four) Bear Grass Farmer Loses Tobacco Barn Starting possibly from a fallen stick, fire destroyed a tobacco barn and a large shelter on Farmer Cal vin Ayers’ farm in Bear Grass about sundown Tuesday. There were about 750 sticks of choice tobacco in the barn, and the: owner estimated the loss at $1,500 with about $250 in surance in foice. It was about the twenty-first tobacco barn to have been destroyed by fire in the county this season. Just as he approached the barn, Mr. Ayers heard the fire roaring. He asked a member of the family to ring the farm bell and within just a few minutes nearly 100 neighbors reached there and prevented the fire from spreading to another barn just a few feet away. A number of sticks of cured tobacco, several cords of wood, a disk and tobacco sticks were removed from the barn shelter just ahead of the fire, but Mr. Ayers’ son, Harry Calvin, suffered a heat stroke and had to be given medical treatment. Postpone Revival Meeting At Piney Grove Church -% The revival meeting that was to begin at Piney Grove Baptist Church Sunday night has been postponed in accord with the advice of the State Board of Health, and the Sunday school is closed until further notice, it was announced by the pastor, Rev. W. B. Harrington. Library To Observe Next Monday As A Holiduy Here The local library will observe next. Monday as a holiday, it was announc ed by Mrs. Ethel Anderson, librar ian. MARTIN COUNTY In WORLD WAR I (Reviewed from old Enterprise files twenty-seven years ago) May 3, 1918. On Friday morning of last week the following eight white selectees lef for Camp Jackson: William Eas on Price, Kelly Lorenzo Rawls, Sam Stewart Hardison, George Gordon Bailey, Lonnie C. Gardner, Albert Q. Roebuck, Simon Peter Harrison, Robert L. Coburn. It is. gratifying to ‘state that of the 127 colored drafted men of Martin County called to report for military duty within the past thirty days to fill calls for entrainment to Camp Grant and Camp Jackson, every man answered to the roll call except three and two of those who did not report were sick and the other man did not get his mail. This week, Rev. W. R. Burrell spoke at Poplar Point Township on “Third Liberty Loan Bonds,” and the sale of bonds amounted to $16,000 that evening. Hugh Stokes, another of Oak City’s boys, volunteered and joined the Na vy tw'o weeks ago. May 10, 1918. oday, the following selected men left for Camp Scriven at Savannah, Ga.: Robert A. Moore, Sylvester S. Moore, Edwin C. Sexton, and Nor man King Harrison. Martin County lias gone “Over the Top” in the Third Liberty Loan Drive. The county went over its al lotment about 35 per cent. Mrs. W. H. Harrell has received a letter from her son, W. H. Harrell, in which lie states that he has been appointed Assistant Surgeon in the Navy with the rank of Junior Lieu tenant. Out of the 8,114 North Carolina men to be entrained for camp on May 25th, or during the five-day period thereafter, Martin County will furnish 72 of the number of white men required. The colored se lectmen will be sent about three weeks later. May 17, 1918. Mrs. Ella W. Hassell has received a message from her son, Lieut. John W. Hassell, saying that lie had arriv ed overseas. He sailed the first of the month from some Atlantic port. He had been stationed at Camp Green, Charlotte, and is a member of the 58th U. S. Infantry. Ministerial Croup In Regular Meeting —«— The Williamston Ministerial Asso ciation met yesterday in the study of the Baptist Church in order to work out plans for the fall months. It was decided to begin all night serv ices at 8 o’clock with a full program for the local churches including eve ning services. Rev. John L. Goff reported to the association that he had conferred with county health authorities re garding the lowering of the ages of children attending Bible school. Upon recommendation of the county health authorities the ministerial as sociation voted to keep the age level at 18 years until the opening of school, feeling that it was better to sacrifice a little time rather than ex pose any child by having them as semble. Rev. Joseph Huske, Jr., rector of the Church of the Advent was elect ed to membership. It was agreed that all churches would be opened for prayer when news came of the end of the Eu ropean campaign. -^ Wounded Soldier Hopes To Return home Shortly -<* Lewis Taylor, Martin County young man who was seriously wounded in France on June 11, ex pressed m a letter to his mother, Mrs, Maniza Taylor Whitaker, a few days ago the hope that he would be able to return home soon. He also stated he was able to be up and that it felt mighty good to be able to walk again. He did not say where he is now located, but he asked his mother not to worry about him. Mrs. Whitaker received a letter from Congressman Bonner a few days ago in which he expressed his sorrow to learn her son had been wounded and expressed the hope he would soon recover. He assured her that the government had prepared the best medical treatment possible. TIRE QUOTA I J More than three, hundred tires —271 for cars and 36 for small trucks—have been allotted this count} for September, it was announced today by Mrs. Irene Blount, rationing board clerk. The quota is slightly larger than it was for August. While the quota is larger for the current month it is reported that holders of certificates al ready issued are finding it next to impossible to get tires in cer tain '•tees. Possibly the shortage is only temporary and will be relieved in a short time. No tires for large trucks were allotted. Red Cross Bandage Room Here Reports j Gain In Its Activities Leaders Ask Others To Help Prepare Remaining 16. 400 Surgical Dressings After waddling along at a slow and honestly disheartening pace, work in the Red Cross bandage room developed a new, faster and more encouraging trend this week when volunteers reported in increased numbers and materially boosted the task toward completion. However, it was pointed out that there are 46, 400 dressings yet to be prepared, and more volunteer workers are asked to report as often as they possibly can. The outlook for the project was not very encouraging a few days ago when only two or three persons found time to visit the room. And there are still large numbers who have not seriously recognized the urgent need for the work and shown an honest-to-goodness willingness to help handle it. "Won’t you give just a few hours to the work any after noon or night including Sunday?” The work is not contributing to the destruction associated with war. It merely offers relief for suffering, bleeding humanity—our boys— tin the battlefield. Late reports from the several sup porting units state that Jamesville has completed 3,433 dressings and its volunteers are working on 9,000 more. Accepting 4,500 pieces of ma terial, Hamilton volunteers will open a dressing room there next Monday afternoon. Bear Grass is now work ing on 1,500 dressings. The names of those reporting to the local room since last Monday, follow: Monday night: Misses Mary War ren, Della Jane Mobley and Millie Biggs, Mesdames C. R. Mobley, Ed win Holding, G. H. Harrison, Jno. L. Goff, Anna S. Harrison, Bud Peele, John Gray Corey, John R. Peele, B. P. Perry, B. S. Courtney, W. O. Grif fin, Verner Godwin, W. E. Old, Ralph Parker, Leman Barnhill, H. I). Harrison, A. It. White and J. C. Manning. Tuesday afternoon: Mesdames D. R. Davis, A. E. Browder, Joe Roe buck, Frank Weaver and Dean Speight. Tuesday night: Mesdames B. S. Courtney, H. H. Cowen, Sam Zeman, Ellon Andrews, Tom Letchworth, Abner Brown and L. P. Lindsley, and Misses Mary Elizabeth Keel, Bolton Cowen, Edith Hines, Shnrn ma Ramey, Elsie Richardson, Mary B. Sellech, Mamie M. Parker, Betsy Manning, “Bootsie” Lyons, Elaine Burroughs, Millie Biggs, Anne Fow den, Mary Charles Godwin, Lorene Weaver, Mary O’Neal Pope and Mar jorie Lindsley. Wednesday afternoon: Mesdames B. S. Courtney, J. G. Cheatham, T. B. Brandon, C. C. Parker, Elbert Sherman, J. B. Taylor, D. L. Speight, Travis Kitchin, E. R. Froncberger, and B. S Courtney and Miss Elaine Burroughs. (Continued on page four) Increased Activity In Justice’s Court Following u fairly long period of little activity, business picked up in Justice J. L. Hassell’s court here during the past few days. For the first time in many months, substan tial fines were imposed by the trial justice, the fines running up to $10 in two cases. Charged with being drunk and dis orderly. Roy Boston was fined $10 and taxed with $8.50 costs. Walter Jackson Cullipher was re quired to pay $7 costs for operating a motor vehicle with improper brakes. A ten-dollar fine with $0 costs at tached was imposed in the case charging Richard Benjamin Jones with operating a motor vehicle on the wrong side of the road. Rufus Tavtoi was taxed $9.50 costs for being publicly drunk. Frank Brown was required to pay $8.50 costs for public drunkenness. Charged with disorderly conduct, Walter Anderson was taxed with $0.50 costs. In the case charging him with a simple assault, Frank Scott was re quired to pay $6.50 costs. -« Sunday Services In The Presbyterian Charches Rev. James Pharr of Grover, N. C., will conduct services in the sev eral county Presbyterian churches Sunday, Williamston at 11 a. m.; Roberson’s Chapel at 12:30; Poplar Point at 3:30, and at Bear Grass at 8:30 p. m. . To Conduct Rcvivul In Church At Cross Roads A revival meeting will be held in *.ie Cross Roads Christian Church beginning Monday night, September 4th The ten-day meeting will be held by Rev. Perry Bauldman, of Creswell. Each service will begin promptly at 8:30 p. m. Higher Price Average But Sales Are Light on Tobacco Market Here KILLED IN ACTION Oniley Shepard Cowan, Jr., young son of Mr. and Mrs. Oni ley S. Cowan, Sr., of YVilliams ion, made the supreme sacrifice for his country in the Mediter ranean theater on August 18. The youth volunteered for serv ice in the U. S. Navy in January, 1943, and was serving on a de stroyer at the time of his death. Announce Growers’ Peanut Prices For The Coming Season Crop in Thin Section Expect c i Receives Citation Staff Sergeant L. Nelson Leggett, son of Mr. and Mrs. II. W. Leggett of Kohersonville, recently received a citation for meritorious cervices as a member of the United States Army Air Force. He received the Air Med al on July 7th in England. The citation, made tit the direction of Major General Hodges, reads: "For meritorious achievement in accomplishing with distinction over half of his aerial operational mis sions over enemy occupied Conti nental Europe. The courage, cool ness and skill displayed by him in the face of determined opposition materially aided in the successful completion of these missions. His ac tion reflects great credit upon him self and the Armed Forces of the United States.” Now in England, the young man in a recent letter to his parents stat ed that he was getting along all right. Legion Post Will Hold Fair Here In October - .*$'' The American Legion, after skip ping a year, w*)l hnid » county fair here the week of Octobej 9, it was announced this week by Manager W. E. Dunn. Expect Larger Sales After 1-Day Holiday In The Bright Belt -- Prices for Inferior Grades ili*;lfrr Than Those Paid On Opening Day -$ Although stilus continue unusual ly light on the local tobacco market, the general price average is higher today than it was on opening day, official figures placing the market average between 43 and 44 cents a pound or right at the ceiling level. The added strength is centered on the inferior quality grades, one re port from the market stating that those grades that sold for 40 cents on opening day are now bringing two cents a pound more. Little or no change has been noted in the prices paid for the better grades, and 47 cents continues to be about tops. Following the opening last Mon day when approximately 118,000 pounds of poor quality tobacco was sold for an average slightly under 43 cents a pound, sales were unus ually light, some observers declar ing they were reminded of the sales at the latter part of the season. It is believed the record low was reach ed on Tuesday, however, and that a gradual increase is almost certain to follow with the possibility that the markets will head toward a block the latter part of next week or the week following. Exclusive of the sales today ,it is estimated that the market has sold right at 200,000 pounds. The sale today comes nearer ap proaching the opening-day figures of any reported this week. Tobacco was placed on the floors late yester day and early today by farmers from at least six counties, including Cho wan, Bertie, Washington and Pam lico. There is no marked improvement m the quality of the general offer ings, but occasionally better types of leaf stand out in spots on the floors. Many farmers are completing the crop harvest this week, and grad ing is expected to got underway on u fairly large scale next week. Re ports state that in some instances. (Continued on page (our) Bethel Fire Loss Is Placed At $75,000 -« The big fire last Tuesday night in Bethel, costing J. R. Kellis of Wilm ington his life and destroying Car son’s filling station and three store buildings near the intersection of the Greenville and Tarboro Highways, did damage estimated at $75,000 or more. In addition to the real proper ty loss, a large oil transport truck loaded with nearly 4,000 gallons of kerosene for scheduled delivery to a Williamston oil firm, a truck park ed on the streets and several hogs heads of tobacco were burned. Fire departments in Robersonville, Greenville and Tarboro sent equip ment to fight le fire. The fire would have possibly burned more property bad the oil not drained into a storm sewer. The oil continued to burn in the sewer and was seen breaking through the ground some distance from the main fire. Show windows were broken by the heat in stores across the street. Driving east on the highway, Kel lis had almost cleared the intersec tion when a truck, driven by Ed ward Belcher and loaded with to bacco, plowed into the side of the oil truck. The big transport plung ed into Carson's filling station and a steel beam fell across the cab, and it is believed by some that the truck driver was badly injured by the beam. However, it was said he call ed for help. The fire spread so rap idly that attempts to remove him were futile. Norman Perkinson Dies In Baltimore Norman W. Perkinson, husband of Mrs. Lenora Corey Perkinson, died in a Baltimore hospital last Sunday of a heart attack. He had been ill only a short time. Mr. Perkinson was born in War ren County sixty years ago and was married to Miss Corey of this coun ty in 1911. They had made their home in Baltimore for the past twen ty-six years. He was a member of the Baptist Church for a long num ber of years. Detailed funeral arrangements could not be learned here, but it is understood the body was, returned to his old home at Wise for inter ment.