NEARLY 1000 MARTiN COUNTY
SERVICE MEN NOW READING
THE ENTEPRISE IN ALL PARTS
OF THE WORLD EACH WEEK.
I
THE ENTERPRISE
NEARLY 1000 MARTIN COUNTY
SERVICE MKr KQS*
THE ENTEPRISE IN ALL PARTS
OF THE WORLD EACH WEEK.
VOLUME XLVIII—NUMBER 1
Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, January 2, 1945.
ESTABLISHED 1899
Q
Back Several Enemv
Drives At Bastostne
-.fesMbwo 7»t»
Against Japan Talked In
Official Circles
Marked by fierce and costly fight
ing on both sides, the war on the
Western Front is going badly ror the
Germans who dared drive a 60-mile
salient into American ranks in Lux
embourg and Belgium last December
16. Latest available reports declare
that the German advance corridor
had been narrowed to just a few
miles, that several enemy counter
attacks had been thrown back and
that Patton’s men were still advanc
ing in the southwestern corner 'of the
German salient.
A powerful offensive by German
airmen, the strongest in some time,
was reported yesterday, but the at
tacks upon American airfields and
installations cost the enemy almost
250 planes. At the same time, Allied
airpower was in action, one report,
stating that over 7,000 sorties were
flown by American and British air
men against the enemey’s communi
cation lines and strategic installa
tions, including oil and supply cen
ters.
In fierce armored battles on both
sides of Bastogne corridor the Third
Army destroyed or damaged nearly
100 German tanks and smashed two
counterattacks launched at the cor
ridor from the east. In the same area
fighter bombers of the U. S. Ninth
Air Force disabled 125 tanks and mo
tor vehicles before noon yesterday.
As his bold Belgium adventure
backfired and threatened possibly
to develop into a major disaster, Von
Rundstedt hurled a series of night
and day attacks aginst the Amerl- <
can Seventh Army in the vicinity of i
the old Magfnot Line fortress city of ,
Bitche in the French Saar.
The new Nazi assaults, two of [
which were in at least battalion j
strength, began before Sunday mid- t
night and continued through yester- t
day along a 10-mile front on both ,
sides of Bitche. Allied headquarters r
conceded that the enemy might have
made some progress there.
Although it still was too early to (
tell, this possibly was the beginning j
of another major assault by the j
enemy. The German commander’s p
actions since his Belgium attack was
thrown into reverse last week have \
indicated he was searching for a ]
new—and softer—spot to strike. c
Over in the Pacific, American air- c
men struck at the Japs off Luzon, c
sinking eight ships, including two ],
destroyers, two transports and two v
cargo vessels. However, the big \
news coming from that area came 0
from Adiral Nimitiz’s headquarters w
who for the first time after an of- s|
ficial fashion discussed the possible j,
entry of Russia into the war against j.
Japan. It was declared that Russia
- is not as cautious in its remarks I
toward the Japs now, that in time I r(
the Soviet will join the Pacific
|"
While there has been no shortage w
(Continued on page six)
S
Training Courses
In Baptist Church
This, the first week of the new
year, has been set apart by the Bap
tist Church for a special week of
study courses emphasizing the work
of the training union. Classes will |
be held on Tuesday, Wednesday,!
Thursday and Friday nights at 7:30.
Not only the present members of the
training union but all of the church’s
membership are urged to take ad
vantage of this opportunity to learn
about this phase of the church's ac
tivity. There will be a special class
for adults taught by Rev. G W. Bul
lard, associational missionary. It is
hoped that all adults and especially
the parents of juniors and intermed
iates, will participate in this study,
looking toward the building up of a
strong adult training union backing
up the other work of our church.
There will also be a class for jun
iors taught by Miss Ethel Guest, and
one for intermediates and young peo
ple taught by Miss Margarette Ricks.
B
to
th
fii
tr
it
r
NEW SOLICITOR
* *'■ ivuurrsun, jusi recent
ly discharged from the Army,
was appointed Martin County
solicitor this week by the com
missioners, succeeding Elbert S.
Peel who stepped aside upon the
return of the former prosecutor
from the service.
Auto Crowded Off
Pill By Big Truck
In one of the last highway acci
lents in the old year in this county
10 one was hurt but considerable
iroperty damage resulted Sunday
ifternoon at 1:30 o’clock when a car
lrivon by a U. S. Army Air Corps
ieutenant was forced off this end of
ho Roanoke River fill and caused
o tear through the guard fence and
011 down the twelve-foot embank
lent.
Driving a 1939 Chevrolet tudor se
nn, 2nd Lt. R. A. From, of Rialto,
California, and 1st Lt. Arthur K.
reland, of Now Jersey, were travel
og south to report to a station in
lorida. The car, driven by Fromm
nd owned by Ireland, had just en
?red the curve apparently at a fair
' rapid speed when a big truck
rowded it into the fence. The ma
line turned over about twice before
iming to a stop in the narrow road
■ading to the fertilizer plant. The
ictims were removed by Captain
incent Vehar’s men at the prisoner
war camp after breaking out the
indshield. Fromm suffered a slight
lock, but he had recovered the fol
ding morning and he and Lt. Ire
rid continued their trip south by
is and train.
Lt. Ireland, just back from the Eu
ipean theatre, had flown 35 mis
ons over enemy territory without
nous mishap. Both the young men
ere B 24 pilots.
-«,
upar Stamps Mast tip
Placed on Gummed Sheets
-$
The War Price and Rationing
lard this week directed an appeal
all retailers and dealers urging
em to place their sugar stamps on
immed sheets when depositing or
ansferring them. It is possible cred
will be withheld if the coupons
e offered loose.
GAS REBATES
Saturday, January 13th, is the
deadline for farmers and non
liighway gasoline users to file
claims for state tax rebates on
petroleum used during the
months of October, November
»nd December. Claims for re
runds will be considered only
»n the gasoline used for farm
ing purposes or of a non-high
way nature during the three
months.
f
]
1
1
The offices of the Harrison Oil
Company will gladly assist farm
ers In preparing their claims for
refunds.
1
Safety Suffered On County’s \
Roads and Streets Last Year '
_«._ e
After reviewing the cold facts and
figures, one has little choice other
than to say that* safety suffered on
the highways and streets in this
county last year. There were seven
ty-four motor vehicle accidents on
the streets and highways during the
period. Forty-four persons were in
jured, some of them permanently.
The lives of six others were snuffed
out, some in the twinkling of an eye.
The property damage alone amount
ed to almost $15,000. not to mention
the cost in medical and hospital bills
and the impairment of one’s ability
to work and earn a livelihood.
In this day of rationed gasoline
and tire snortage and when the au
thorities have pleaded agd pleaded
for conservation, it would seem that
the accident record would reflect a
marked improvement over the fig
ure for the preceding year. Yet, mo
torists on Martin County highways,
and throughout the country, too,
plunged ahead with their costly de
struction. There were seven more ac
cidents last year than the year be
fore. One more person was killed
than in 1943, and the property dam
age was over $1,500 greater. More
cars were wrecked off the roads than
there were new replacements. The
figures offer food for thought.
t
r
P
o
t
t
f
XI
v
t
s
a
52nd Week Comparison
Accidents Inj’d Killed Dam’ge
■• 1944 3 1 0 $ 1,300
1943 4 10 0 775
Comparison To Date
1944 74 44
.1943 67 46
6
5
14,375
12,810
:■ cr n no an
Favor of Recently
Discharged Soldiei
Considering Present Situj
lion. Property Is in Fair
ly Good Condition
-$
Meeting in regular session her
yesterday, the Martin County Com
missioners appointed Paul D. Rober
son. young Rubersonville attorney
solicitor for the Martin County Re
corder's Court. Elbert S. Peel whi
went before the democratic primar;
last May and who was reappointe<
last month by the comissioners, with
drew when Roberson was recently
given a medical discharge from th(
Army. Solicitor Roberson was the
second solicitor taken from the coun
ty by the armed services. Solicitoi
D. E. Johnson, now a lieutenant (jg)
in foreign service, was the first to be
called. Mr. Roberson suceeded him
and served only a comparatively
short time before he was called. He
was badly hurt in a fall just before
he was scheduled to go overseas and
was recently given his honorable
discharge.
uuoim.Do wna UflUl t* UlC
commissioners in their first meeting
of the New Year and they were not
in session very long. Commissioner
John Henry Edwards, Williamston
man appointed to succeed C. D. Cnr
starphen, resigned, attended the ses
sion and his first official acts were
recorded in the minutes.
The resignation of L. L. McLen
don, assistant farm agent for the
county during the past year and a
half, was accepted. It was learned
that no successor is to be had, that
several counties are without agents.
Complying with an urgent re
quest the comissioners recommend
ed that a bridge should be built and
drainage provided on the Boston
Road leading from the Old Dyke
Road to Welch’s Creek in Jamesville
Township.
Upon the motion of Commission
er Edwards, seconded by Commis
sioner Joshua L. Coltrain, a resolu
tion was passed requesting the North
Carolina State Highway and Public
Works Commission to report to each
county on the first Monday in every
December the amount of money ap
propriated to the county and the
amount actually spent. In passing the
resolution, the commissioners ex
pressed the belief that expenditures
could be made to greater advantage
by consultation between the county
authorities and the highway com
mission, that friction could be avoid
ed through a spirit of closer coopera
tion.
Nothing was said about it, but in
the past the commissioners have for
warded the requests of their people
to the highway authorities with very
little success in many eases. They
have been advised that funds aren’t
available for this or that improve
: ment, or some other excuse was
I made.
Quite a few tax relief orders were
allowed at the meeting, a goodly
number of them going to young men
who are in the services. Six were al
lowed because errors had been made
Iin listing. Twelve against who the
county held accounts, had died. Six
others are in prison, one has only
one arm, two others are victims of
tuberculosis and several are unable
to work, it was explained by the
tax collector in presenting the claims
for relief.
Tax relief orders were granted the
following:
for 1944—Jamesville Township*
Leon Powers, $2; A. L. Cordon, $2;
W. H. Mizelle, Est., 77c; J. A. Mi
zzle. 77c; Leonard F. Holliday, $4.77;
(continued on page six) t
--♦- i
Wounded Everetts I
Soldier Recovered ;
-v F
The 313th Station Hospital, Eng- £
land.—Corporal Roger B. (“Kitty”)
Riddick, 23, of Everetts, North Car- r
olina, who was wounded in the back t
by German 150mm shrapnel during t
the fighting near Matz, France, is
now fully recovered. He is at pres- /
ent taking military and physical j
training at this United States Army '
rehabilitation center in England pre
paratory to his return to duty.
"When we reached the outskirts
of Metz, artillery units laid down
barrages on the forts surrounding
the city,” Cpl. Riddick said. “Our
fire also aided the infantry in driv
ing the Germans into the v/oods and
we repulsed their attempt to es
tablish a bridgehead across the Mo
selle. One of our machine gun
squads killed three Germans and
captured 80 and three of their ve
hicles when they tried to infiltrate
our lines." H has ben awarded the
Purple Heart.
Cpl. Riddick, son of Mr. and Mrs.
C. B. Riddick of Everetts, has a
brother, Cpl. James D. Riddick who
is serving with the Army Signal
Corps in the South Pacific,
Appointed the early part of
r| last year and confirmed about
| six months ago, Mr. W. E. fVy*to.
retired plumbing and heating
j contactor, .a&swmed. hi* duties
‘ 'its "ttMnm-.ter• for- the*
as of 12:01 o’clock yesterday
morning. Mrs. Sue Fowden, act
ing postmistress following her
husband's retirement, was
checked out by postal inspectors
r* late Sunday, but she will con
tinue in office as auxiliary clerk.
Yesterday was a holiday in
a. the office and the change was
not generally known until the
windows in the office were open
ed this morning.
* Mrs. Stacy S. Cox
Dies At Home Here
0 -$
v Mrs. Elizabeth Thomas Cox, wi
d dow of Stacy S. Cox, died at her
. home here on West Main Street at
y 4 o'clock Sunday afternoon following
e an illness of short duration. Appar
e on'ly in her usual health Saturday,
. Mrs. Cox suffered a stroke and nev
r cr regained consciousness.
) The daughter of the late Jesse and
? Louenda Thomas, slie was born near
1 Oak City on Oetober 10, 1888. She
/ spent her early life there and was
; married to Mr. Cox in 1909, moving
* a short time later to Williamston
I where he was employed by the old
> Martin County Buggy Company for
several years or until he took over
. the management. He later built a
; home and opened an antique furni
ture shop on West Main Street.
Mrs. Cox was a member of the lo
cal Baptist Church and was held in
high esteem.
She is survived by two sons, Ed
ward and Ernest Cox, and a daugh
ter, Mrs. Frances Griffin, all of Wil
liamston, and a sister, Mrs Mattie
Ayers, also of Williamston, and four
grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conduct
ed at the home this afternoon at 2:30
o'clock by her pastor, Dr, W. K. Bur
rell, and interment will follow in the
Woodlawn Cemetery here.
-®
0. S. Anderson, Jr.,
Promoted To Major
3rd Bombardment Division Head
quarters, England—Oscar S. Ander
son, 27, of Williamston, N. C., has
recently been promoted from the
rank of captain to major at this
heavy bombardment division head
quarters.
Major Anderson is the executive
for the ordnance section, supervising
the supply of ammunition for all
groups in Third Bombardment Divi
sion, the division cited by the Presi
dent for its epic England-to-Africa
shuttle bombing of the Messerschmitt
plants at Regensburg, Germany. The
major is responsible for seeing that
sufficient numbers of bombs are
supplied to each station for loading
on B-17 Flying Fortresses participat
ing in Eighth Air Force attacks
against vital Nazi targets. He also
sees that ammunition is delivered in
large quantities which will be in
stalled in the fast-firing .50 calibre
machine guns to protect the fort
resses against possible Luftwaffe at
tack.
Major Anderson entered the Army
as an enlisted man in August, 1941,
and was commissioned as a second
lieutenant at Aberdeen, Md., in Sep
tember, 1942. Before entering the
Army, the major was an assistant
superintendent at the Standard Fer
tilizer Company in Williamston. He
attended Campbell College.
--Q»>--°-—
County Boy Has Reverses
Receiving Basic Training
--q~ - ■
Pvt. William C. Bi tton, county
boy, has met with several reverses
since reporting to Camp Wheeler, I
Ga., for his basic training. Soon af
ter recovering from an attack of in
fluenza, he returned to his battalion
and five days later on December 18
he broke his ankle and was returned
Lo the hospital. He explained that he
with others was going to put out a
fire started by a tracer bullet, that'
ie fell into a ditch and hurt his
ankle. „
Despite his setbacks the young
nan hopes to complete his basic
training and return home on leave
ay early spring.
ROUND-UP
Following a busy period a
week before, local and county
officers reported a fairly quiet
time on the crime front last
week-end. New Year’s, observed
very quietly for the most part,
did not add to the number of ar
rests which stood at two for the
period. One person, a young col
ored man, was arrested and jail
ed for an assault, and a white
woman, about 36 years of age,
was arrested and jailed ior va
graucy and being drunk and dis- j
orderly.
Numbering slightly more than
sixty, the arrests last month
were nearly three times greater
than those reported for last
November.
(its «
iM4‘ny"
m
'//////&////M.’/A
SWITZ. '
» ITALY"
l •
K polak:
^ j
CZECHO
*>7
SLOVAKIA
' AUSTRIA
MILITARY OBSERVERS ABROAD are of the opinion that the explanation or
bw SRS2 Sirsr-fiss r~
a? “
tack him in the east. Achievement of this aim would give hhn time n
heavy 'sJl’T ‘he/ast while A»‘ed Ernies would be sTaMed by
Na Jytt l f. mer! and equipment. Arrows show the direction of the
Nazi attack and probable route of Red drives. ,,
, Mrs. Maude Mizelle
Passes In Hospital
After A Long Illness
—®—
Fuucra! Service This After
noon at Home for Highly
Respected Citizen
Mrs. Maude Bowen Mizelle, high
ly esteemed citizen, died in the local
hospital yesterday morning at eight
o’clock following a long period of
declining health. Her condition,
however, was not regarded as criti
cal until last Thursday when she was
moved immediately to the hospital
for treatment.
The daughter of the late John
Dawson and Paisa Lou MsCaskey
Bowen, she was born in Poplar Point
Township on September 11, 1873, and
spent her early life there. On Janu
ary 0, 1R92, she was married to
James H. Mizelle and located in
Williamston where she spent the
rest of her life. Possessed of nn un
derstanding nature, she spent much
time nursing the sick and rendering
aid to the needy, always ignoring
her own welfare when others, re
gardless of their station in life, wore
in need. Her life was made beautiful
I by the tender care given her family
and loved ones and others. Mrs. Mi
zelle was a member of the local Bap
tist Church for almost half century,
and its teachings and principles were
exemplified in her humble walk
through life. She was always a wel
comed visitor in any home, her pres
ence radiating hope to those in dis
tress and cheering others along the
way. She was a devoted wife and
thoughtful mother, giving willingly
and lovingly of her all in their wel
fare.
In early life, Mrs. Mizelle made
her home in Williamston while she
attended the local schools.
Her husband died some years ago,
and she is survived by four children,
Mrs. Jordan Ward, Mrs. Roy A. Ward
and Mrs. Herman Taylor of William
ston and Mrs. T. E. Miller of Norfolk;
a sister, Mrs. Tom Harrell of Wil
(Continued on page six)
-.....
W. Lawrence Knox
Dies In Hospital
—®—
Willis Lawrence Knpx, retired far-1,
mer, died in the local hospital Sun- j
Jay evening at 0:30 o’clock. He had : '
been in declining health for some j
:ime, but had been in the hospital
for treatment only a few days.
The son of the late William A. and
Martha Manning Knox, he was born
leat Robersonville 71 years ago.
During the past number of years he
rad made bis home in the Hamilton
lection.
He married twice and is survived
>y his widow and five children, one
if whom is serving in the U. S. Navy.
Funeral services are being con
lucted this afternoon by Rev. J. M.
5erry at 2:30 o’clock at the grave
ide in the Knox family cemetery
lear Robersonville.
jLocal Boy Removed
To England Hospital
—
His feet frozen-while in action
somewhere on the Western Front,
Jimie Manning, local youth, has been
transferred to a departmental hos
pital in England after receiving pre
liminary treatment in a hospital
somewhere in France.
In a letter just received by his par
ents, the young man stated that he
was still suffering badly with his
feet, that his condition while possi
bly not critical was a bit serious.
There is some doubt if he will be able
to return to active duty.
Commenting briefly on the war,
the young man expressed the belief
that much of the German power was
being spent in the Von Rundstedt
attack in Luxembourg and Belgium,
and that he hoped the war would
soon be over.
MAJOR
Oscar Anderson, Jr., son of O.
S. Anderson and the late Mrs.
Fannie Higgs Martin Anderson,
was recently promoted to the
rank of major in the U. S. Army
Air Corps. He is stationed in
England.
Man Penalized For
Ration Violations
—.*—,—
Isaac C. Whitley, RFD 2, Roberson -
ville, was penalized by the Martin
County War Price and Rationing
Board in regular session lust Friday
night for alleged violation of the
regulations controlling the use of gas
ration coupons.
Going before the board a short
time ago, Whitley asked to have his
B gasoline ration book renewed.
When his “A" ration book was ex
amined, it was found by an office
clerk that the man had already used
his No. 14 tickets and declared that
he did not know what filling station
accepted them. This angle of the case
s still under investigation. It was
dsn found that Whitley had not writ
en his State license number on the
coupons.
His “A" gas book was taken for
hree months and the board ordered
hat no “B” gasoline rations be al
owed him during that period.
Co n ors ginnings
Cotton ginnings, believed to be
about complete from the 1944
crop, continue to trail those from
the 1942 crop by more than 1,000
hales, according to a report re
leased this week by the Bureau
of the Census for the period end
ing December 13.
The report, filed by Strelsa
Griffin, shows that 2,2fif> hales
of cotton were ginned from the
1944 crop in this county as com
pared with 3,332 bales ginned
from the 1943 crop up to the cor- i
responding period. i
mJkwk±hJi imiamLi&miipfr
jVirit i*s \l>out Tillies
UifisMan^T ’ i ealer
j , . ‘-.*»—
■iSwfflW Has*} o i,mtrA If in Pa
per Just As He Guards
His Equipment
-~<s>
Writing from somewhere in
Franco, Pvt. Mack H. Leggett, coun
ty young man, said recently:
For sometime I have been over
seas. To be exact, it is just a little
more than twelve months. That
seems rather a long time, for being
in a foreign country with so much
exictement going on makes time
double in a person-s mind. After so
long the age begins to show up, too.
Right now 1 don't feel any too good
being here in this particular place.
One reason is this fast music (ar
tillery barrages) they swing out now
days.
During all this time I have been
receiving The Enterprise, however,
a bit irregular. I suppose that is
because of shipping space and trans
- portation schedules over here.
usually they arrive two or three
I months after being mailed. Once I
! received one six months old. Then
another mail call brought me two the
same day. Even that did not sur
prise, for such things happen pretty
often over here in the E. T. O. (East
ern Theater of Operations)
“Since coming overseas I have
learned to appreciate The Enterprise
lots more than I did at home, pos
sibly because it has been coming to
me on a battlefield. At the same
time it brings all the home-town
news. When I see one coming, I
just want to get mad with the
Jerries, for usually I have to guard
it the same as my rifle. In one place
I held on to copies as long as three
days before opening them. And
they are the ones I want to read
more than ever. I hope you are not
wondering why I did not read them
sooner. Well, I'll tell you. It was be
cause I had to sweat out something
Jerry was steadily sending us. ‘In
coming stuff’ is tiie name for it in
the E. T. O., and believe me he
knows how to send it, too.
“During this, a seemingly forever
lasting time, a person learns quickly
and acts faster. Everybody will be
making for a hole in the ground, and
any type will do. TJusually a person
can profit by not stopping to choose.
One doesn't hesitate to jump into
old latrines and slump pits, for he
can think of the comfort afterwards.
“When crossing the Atlantic, Lu
ther Harris and I were in the same
outfit. We never learned about each
other though until one day in Ire
land. I recognized him, and walked
over to talk with the group and
see if he recognized me. We had
only a few minutes before chow so
naturally I invited him to my com
pany. During all this time he was
wondeiing who I was. Finally I
gave him my name and looked him
in the eye. For a second he sat as
if shocked. You can imagine what
followed. A long conversation about
(Continued on page six)
Funeral Saturday
For J. R. Bullock
-®
Func ral services were held last
Saturday afternoon at 3 o’clock at
the home in Everetts for Jos. B. Bul
lock, well-known county citizen, who
died at his home here early the
previous morning after a brief ill
ness. Elders B. S. Cowin and A. B.
Ayers conducted the last rites, and
burial was in the Clark Cemetery
;it Everetts.
Mr. Bullock was 09 years of age
jnd was held in high esteem by all
who knew him. He was a member of
die Primitive Baptist Church at
Bear Grass for a long time. He was a
son of the late Robert and Pattie
Knox Bullock and lived in this coun
y all of his life.
He leaves three sons, J. C., W. C.(
md J. I. Bullock; three daughters,
VIrs. G. II. Forbes, Mrs. J. E. Ed
nonds, and Mrs. C. C. Bailey; a
mother, N. S. Bullock; a half-broth
■r, J. It. Bullock, and two half-sis
ers, Mrs. Millie Beach and Miss Nan
■y Bullock, all of whom live in and
iround Everetts.
Few Legislative Changes Are
Expected For Martin County
---
The North Carolina Legislature
opening its regular 1945 session in
Raleigh this evening is expected to
puss very little legislation affecting
this county or its political subdivi
sions directly. At least, no formal
requests have been made upon Rep
resentatiye Clarence W. Griffin,
urging him to have any laws enact
ed. Just before leaving for Raleigh
today, the county lawmaker stated
that there had been some talk about
the town of Hamilton calling for a
law to have "its incorporated lirpits
extended. It was also learned that
something had been said about a
law creating a primary for William
ston. A petition was pending im
mediatel yafter the last municipal
election in 1943, but the paper nev
E
#’■**■*
j er made its appearance. It has been
suggested that the town is large en
ough to have a primary with estab
j lished zones, that no opposition
j would hardly be expressed to a pro
; posal to a law creating a primary.
The new legislature, scheduled to
run the gauntlet ot formality, is ex
pected to accomplish little or noth
ing this week. Committee appoint
ments will hardly be released before
next Monday and once the House
speakership arid one or two other
offices are filled at the caucus to
night, swapping and trading and lit
tle else will be in order during the
first few days other than the in
augural address by Governor-elect
Gregg Cherry and the passage of a
bill upping the lieutenant governor’s
pay.