NEARLY 1000 MARTIN COUNTY SERVICE MEN NOW READING THE ENTEPRJgE IN ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD EACH WEEK. THE NEARLY 1000 MARTIN COUNTY SERVICE MEN NOW TRADING. THE ENTFVR'SF IN ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD EACH WEEK VOLUME XLVIII—NUMBER 6 William*!on, Martin County, North Carolina, Friilay, January 19, 1945 ESTABLISHED IHW Offirftirs..R%ielecte44»y County Farm Bureau p Of Tobacco Acreage And Crop Insurance -- Officers and Name Ten Directors at Meet ing Tuesdav Night Meeting in the coun-y courthouse here last Tuesday evening, represen tatives of the Martin County Farm Bureau reelected officers, named ten directors and passed resolutions fav oring an over-fill crop insurance pro gram and the measurement of to bacco acreage this year. The meeting also expressed confidence in the or ganization’s state leadership and fav ored their continuation in office. A report on the Chicago convention was offered by Messrs. S. T. Everett, G. H. Forbes and Chas L. Daniel. Messrs. Chii. Daniel, president, and A .£. Ayers,Tiu- pre.-ju- nt, were re-elected and T. B. Brandon was elected to succeed L. L. McLendon who resigned to enter employment in another county. The ten directors elected: Carl Griffin, Jamesville: C. L. Daniel, Williams: Geo. C Griffin. Griffins; H. U. Peel, Bear Grass; D. V. Clayton, Williamston; G. H. Forbes, Cross Roads; Sam T. Ever ett, Robersonville; Mayo Hardison, Poplar Point; Goo. Oglesby, Hamil ton, and Henry Early, Goose Nest. Discussing the resolution calling for the measurement of tobacco acre ages this year, the meeting stated that much complaint had been di rected against the “spot" or percent - i age plan for checking compliance. It •was explained that in some cases where the acreages were measured and the plantings exceeded the allot ment, the farmer paid the penalty while others who planted in excess of . their quotas were not required to pay any penalty because their lands were not measured by representa tives of the Triple A Uniform check ing will be fair to all, and it is about the only way to solve the problem, it was agreed. The meeting, recogniz ing the labor shortage, urged that the lands be measured if it is possible to get the supervisors. While those present admitted they knew little about it, the meeting went on record as favoring an over all insurance program for farm crops. Briefly addressing the meeting in connection with his trip to the Chi cago convention, Mr. Sam Everett (Continued on page six) Eye Clinic Is Held Here Wednesday The Martin County Welfare De partment, with the cooperation of the Williamston Lions Club and the State Commission for the Blind, held an eye clinic for children, both white and colored, at the Woman's Club building here last Wednesday. Dr. Matthew S. Broun, Opthalmologist of Roanoke Rapids, was the examin ing physician. Fifty-four children, 29 white and 25 Negro, attended the clinic. Glasses were prescribed for 30 of this number. Twenty did not need glasses but were advised by the doc tor and nurses to drink more milk and eat vegetables in order to im prove their general condition. Four children's glasses were checked and found to meet the child’s visionary needs. Dr. Broun stressed the importance of adequate diets for all 54 children who attended the clinic. He stated that obviously a large percentage of them were badly in need of milk, fresh vegetables and eggs. He be lieves that if these suggestions are carried out there will be less eye de ficiencies among this group of chil dren. The Welfare Department plans to discuss this situation with the par ents of these children and the school authorities in an effort to provide them with an improved diet. Jamesville Youth Is A Glider Pilot South Plains Army Air Field, Tex —Flight Officer Ferdinand C. Stall ings, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Stallings, Sr., of Jamesviile, has re ceived his wings as a glider pilot and appointment as a flight officer at the “Home of the Winged Comman dos’’ at Lubbock, Texas. The graduating officers have un dergone one of the most intensive courses in the Army Air Force Training Command, which is train ing thousands of men in the largest educational program in history. These “Winged Commandos” have just completed their course of train ing in Uncle Sam’s giant cargo and troop carrying gliders at SPAAF, the school for invasion. StalLngs graduated from Jarr.es ville High School and also attended Campbell Junior College at Buies Creek, and North Carolina State College The unnal drive ft>. the in fantile paralysis fund is making splendid progress in this county, according to a preliminary re port released yesterday after noon by L. B. Wynne, chairman of the drive. Sending out approximately 100 appeals by direct mall on Wed nesday, six were received a few hours later, the early contribu tions amounting to $55.00. None was for less than $5 and ranged up to $25. Two grade rooms in the local schools, the first and only ones to report up until yes terday afternoon, raised $43.70, one reporting $21.30, and the oth er about $19.40. The March of Dimes is real ly on and is expected to reach a new record by early next week. Appeals for support of the drive have been well received by the school people iu the coun ty, and it is sincerely believed the drive will reach and pass the $2,282 go*l in the county. Eighty-Four Tires Allotted By Board —$— Thi' Martin County War Price and Rationing Board last Friday evening issued certificates for the purchase of eighty-four tires—78 for cars and six for small trucks. Tire rationing has just about been moved from the OPA to the dealers, reports stating that certificates are plentiful and that tires are scarce. Possibly several hundred certificates are outstanding, the holders finding it next to impossible to supply the demand. Assigned quotas far larger than the actual supply of tires, ra tion boards seldom find it necessary to deny an applicant, and then the dealers have to follow a policy of first come, first served. Certificates for Grade I tires were issued to the following: Ervin Woolard, Leo Harrell, Mer lin Hollis, J. D. Price, J. D. Wynne, J T. Phelps, W. H. Vanderford, C. D Pittman, Tommie L. Harrell, L. H. Gurganus, John A. Ward, Z S. Cowin, James H. Gray, Z. D. Cox, Jesse W. Martin, Rosa Elizabeth Williams, Nora Cherry, Standard Fertilizer Co., King Tobacco Co., H. A. Bowen, Herbert Bunting, Simon Rogers, Henry Hollis, H. F. Wil liams, William Archie Mobley, Na than Thompson, W. E .Holliday, Da vid Gurganus, Walter Williams, J. R Rogers, J. C. Eubanks, C B Roe buck, Johnnie Bland, Bernard Moore, W. C. Jones, J. D. Britton, Ernest Beach, K. B Etheridge, J. C. Coun cil, Prince Ayers, D. E. Bunting, H. A Sexton, S. H. Grimes, Claude An drews, John H Roberson, George A. Peel, W. K. Roebuck, Robert H, Cowan, Lewis Arthur Shaw, H. G. Godard, Ruby Williams, T. H. Lynch, Julian L. Mizelle, Nathaniel Coltrain, Dennis Moore, Thurman Williams, Cleo Daniel, Daniel Mobley, Sam Moore, Perlie Moore, L. H. Lilley, Clyde Barber, C. B. Burroughs. Certificates for small truck tires were issued to the following: R Sears, G and H Builders Supply, Harrison Oil Co. --A.-— Conservation Checks Received In County —«— The first soil conservation pay ments, earned by those farmers em ploying soil building practices last year, have been paid in this county. So far 299 checks, totaling $8,198.50 and representing 267 applications, have been delivered to Martin far mers, it was learned from the office of the county agent this week. Approximately 800 applications for payments have been filed by far mers and forwarded to the State Tri ple A office where about 530 are now pending. It is estimated that farmers in this county are eligible to file approximately 1,500 applica tions for the payments. The checks do not include any par ity payments since prices for farm crops are supposed to have reached and in some instances passed the parity figures. The payments are based solely on soil building prac tices employed. Last year Martin farmers received over $100,000 in soil building and parity payments. This year, they vail receive approximate ly $25,000 for their soil building prac tices. Those farmers who have not filed applications are asked to do so. -. Capture Small Plant And Six Barrel* Of Math » Raiding in the Free Union section of JamesviUe Township a few days ago, Officers J. H. Roebuck and Roy Peel wrecked a small liquor plant the third to go down in the 1945 drive to date. Approximately 300 gallont of poor-grade mash were poured out and the old gas drum used foi ja still was wrecked. pmsJTy l)w of Lime, Urged This Year -« In an all-day meeting in the coun ty courthouse last Wednesday, Tri ple A committeemen, including those from the county and the several com munities, discussed a proposed farm plan for the current year. No goals were fixed and the program allows the farmer free reign except for to bacco plantings. Soil building prac tices will be urged on a greater scale than ever before, however, it was learned. Briefly stated, the program is to center around the theme, “Lookini? Ahead," while it will make every ef fort to maintain the record produc tion figures established last year in this county and throughout the na tion. The program will be carried to every farmer in the county by hi1 community committeemen during the early part of February, either on the second and third or on the >iAMU and tenth of ',ext month. The program anticipates a mark ed reduction in cotton acreage in the county, some estimates pointing to a drop in reduction greater than the 1,000 bale decrease reported last year from the year before. Since no increase is apparently needed in pea nut acreage, it is likely that land taken out of cotton production will be planted to extra tobacco, general feed crops, sweet potatoes and some will add to their peanut acreages While the county is assigned no ov er-all production goal, the State, as a whole, is being asked to increase its plantings, as follows: oats from 365.000 acres to 400,000; hay from 1, 281.000 to 1,400,000 acres, soybeans from 190,000 to 220.000 acres, sweet potatoes from 80,000 to 90,000 acres, flue-cured tobacco from 663.000 to 697.000 acres. Even the greater to bacco acreage will still be within the established allotment. Marked in creases are being asked in the num ber of beef cattle, sheep, chickens, broilers and turkeys and eggs. Just how much the farmers of Martin County can accomplish in the proposed program will be tenta tively determined when they chart their plans with the committeemen next month. Next to the production of vital food and feed crops, soil building practices ore expected to receive the most attention in the county’s 194b farm program. The big production figures in recent periods have been impressive, but it is admitted that those figures were attained only by superhuman efforts and by draw ing heavily upon the soil. High pro duction figures, while important now in meeting food and feed require ments, will be important in the post war period. In other words, high acreage yields will be necessary if production costs are met and profits are to be realized. In this county the soil building pro gram is expected to center around the use of lime in large quantities and in the seeding of new and im provement of old permanent pas tures. Hundreds of samples of farm land were tested last year, and it was found that in nearly every case, liberal quantities of lime were need ed. Martin County, it is estimated, can well use over 100,000 tons of lime this year. Under the soil-building program, farmers may participate in the particular soil building practice up to his maximum soil-building pay ment. The government will pay $3.40 and he will pay at the rate of 95 cents a ton for lime. Contracts have been made to have the lime delivered di rect to the farms, but delivery dates will have to be agreed upon. "This is one feature of the program that farmers in this county should give serious consideration in mapping their 1945 farm plans,” A. P. Has sell, district Triple A representative, pointed out. The government will al so participate up to $6 per acre in (Continued on page six) i <»> Youth Recuperating In Station Hospital —#— The 303rd Station Hospital, Eng land—Wounded in the left arm and shoulder by shrapnel as he fought with his infantry unit in the Hurt gen Forest in Germany, Sgt. Tyree B. Tyson, 19, of Oak City, N. C., is now recuperating at this United States Army station hospital in Eng land. He has been awarded the Pur ple Heart. "‘Sergeant Tyree has shown good progress,” said his ward surgeon, Capt. Paul L. Lane of Chicago, 111., “and at our rehabilitation center he will be helped to get back into phys ical trim." "We were getting ready to move out in the attack and my company was waiting for another one to pull ahead of us,” Sgt. Tyson recalled. "The Germans seemed to be firing shells all over the forest. One of the big ones landed near me and a couple of fragments hit me.” An employee at Barrett's Drug Store in civil life, Sgt. Tyson has served over a year in the Army. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter E. Ty son, live in Oak City. CARRYING FUll RACK and wearing ■ helmet, this ten-year-old Chinese Youngster prepares to board a plane •t the North Airstrip. Myitkyina, Burma, with members of his divi sion. He is one of a large number of boys in China's huge army Sig nal Corps photo. (international) Judge Calvin Smith Calls Eight Cases in The County’s Court Very Small Crowd Present To Hear Court's Routine Proceedings Following one of its biggest ses sions last week, the Martin County Recorder’s Court went to the other extreme last Monday when Judge J. C. Smith called only eight cases and continued one or two of them. The court, with Solicitor Paul D. Roberson prosecuting the docket, was in session hardly an hour. A very small crowd was present for the proceedings which attract ed very little attention. Eight or ten cases were continued last week and two or three new ones have already been added to the docket since Monday of this week, and it is apparent now that a fairly long session of the court will be held next Monday. Proceedings: The case charging S. A Mobley with violating the fire laws in VVil liamston was continued until the first Monday in January of next year or until Tokio burns, according to one interpretation of the judgment. The ease charging Fate Gurganus with drunken driving was continued until January 20. Pleading guilty in the case charg ing him witti non-support, James Henry Norfleet was sentenced to the roads for nine months. The road term was suspended upon the pay ment of $60 and costs and with the understanding that $15 is to be paid each month during the next twelve months for the support of his three children. The money is to be dis bursed at the direction of the county welfare department. In the case charging William Fai son with assaulting a female, the defendant pleaded guilty. Judgment was suspended upon the payment of the court costs. The case charging Mariah Peter son with aiding and abetting in dis orderly conduct, was nol prossed. George Thomas Roberson, charg ed with operating a motor vehicle without a driver’s license, was fined $15 and taxed with the cost. He en tered a plea of guilty in the case. Pleading guilty of operating a mo tor vehicle without a driver’s li cense, John Henry Saunders was (Continued on page six) THE RECORD SPEAKS . . . After coasting through the first week of the current year, motorists on Martin County highways broke into the accident column. The facts represent mi nor accidents, to be sure, but they are of sufficient meaning to serve as a warning against what may happen and what did hap pen last year. The following tabulations of fer a comparison of the accident trend: first, by corresponding weeks in this year and last and for each year to the present time. 2nd Week Comparison Accidents InJ’d Killed Dam’ge 1945 2 1 0 $ 15U 1944 0 0 0 000 Comparison To Date 1945 2 1 0 $ 150 1944 .. 1 0 1 600 Reel Into Germany; Other fronts A*v CrackiiMfc •oTrwunl; T.liina (.oast Uombartl«Mi Death do;1 ling blows are being ad ministered to Germany on both the Eastern and Western Fronts today as the Russians drive into Silesia and East Prussia while late reports indi cate sections ot ttie Western Line are cracking before ncv. attacks by the British in Holland and the Ameri an Thiru Army in the Louxembourg area. The great industrial section in German Silesia is reeling and rock ing today as the Russian drive, one of the greatest in military history, gains momentum despite gigantic at tempts by the Germans to check it. Late news from the active battle fronts in the East is running well be hind the fast moving Red Army, but the force and seriousness of the drive are admitted in reports coming out of Berlin. The Nazi military has thro ve what were described as "as tronomical forces" into the fight, but the Red Armies continue their lunge forward. Silesia, one of the richest industrial areas in Europe and where Hitler’s big guns and tanks have been turned out in vast numbers, is believed to be in immediate dan ger. Farther to the north, gains have been chalked up in a powerful drive by the Red Armies into East Prus sia. Berlin reports that Krakow has been evacuated, opening the way for the drive into East Prussia. The Rus sian White Army has overrun more than 1,000 localities and is driving to Lodz. In Silesia where the Red Armies are now less than 250 miles from Berlin, the home army of over-age and physically poor recruits have l>cen placed under a baptism of fire. On the Western Front, the British Second Army, backed by American heavy artillery, advanced two and one-half miles on a 28-mile front toward the Rhine. Simultaneously, the U. R. Third Army opened a new assault in north ern Luxembourg, broke across the Sure River on u seven mile front and 'dunged on two miles into the moun tainous defenses on which the enemy must rely to hold his shrunken posi tions in Belgium. With some infantry wearing white camouflage suits such as those worn ni the Russian front, Lt. Gen. Geo. ■v Patton’s Doughboys fought into iekirch, 17 miles northeast of Lux mbourg City, and Bettendorf, three miles east. while other forces seized .trategic heights beyond. Late reports declare that the Ger man defenses in the two areas are racking, and it was rununed that j iiimc of the seasoned German troops witli equipment had been transfer red m an effort to cheek the Russian teamroller in the East. American casualties along the Western Front now stand at 74,788 for the month of December, boosting the total since D-Day to 822,912. Am erican casualties in all theaters dur ing the war up to January 7 were placed at 580,495. Included in the Belgian bulge casualties were an es timated 10,000 killed. In the Philippines, the Americans are pushing their march toward Ma nila in the face of stiffening oppo sition in some sectors. Following closely their setback on Luzon, the Japs are greatly disturbed by the re peated attacks on the China Coast from Hainan north to Shanghai. The Japs believe the attacks are a pre hide lo a major land offensive on the Asiatic continent. Down in Burma Chinese troops are closing in on Wanting, last en emy stronghold on the Ledo-Burma Road route. In Italy the Germans have scored minor successes during the past few days, but the line there is little changed with the Allies holding an estimated 27 enemy divisions away from other fronts. (Continued on page six) Widows Eligible For World War Pensions —%— Widows and minor children of de ceased World War I veterans are now eligible for pensions under the terms of an act recently passed by Con gress, according to information re leased by Herbert C. Bonner, First District Congressman. The law pro vides a monthly payment of $35 for the widow, plus $10 for the first child and $5 for each additional child; no widow but one child, $18; no widow but two children, $27 (equally divided) and so on Congressman Bonner stated that he would be glad to furnish eligible v. idows or guardians the proper forms on which to make pension ap plications. When the applications are prepared they may be returned to Mr. Bonner and he will file the claim —sec that it is properly considered by the Veterans Administration and lend such other aid as he can. The congressman pointed out that the pensions are not retroactive, and those widows in need or entitled to the pensions should file their appli cations at their earliest convenience. ■Direct 6mmlT“SchCiWs ' J\}&aid aiLLLsc of Property listing while hardly half complete. Is progressing fairly rapidly in most of the townships in the county, most of the reports coming through Sup ervisor M. L. Peel before he left for Arkansas yesterday to see his son in the service, stating that the listing was well ahead of that , t the same lime last year. The reports indicated that val ues were holding up unusually well in most if not all the dis tricts, Very few inventories have been listed, but in three cases reported here sizable gains have been recorded. In one instance, values were double those a year ago. There are only eight more days for listing property, and late listings will he made sub ject to penalties. David ii. Whitfield Passes At His Home David Henry Whitfield, well known building contractor, died at Ills home in Robersonvillo Wednes day night at 10:25 o'clock following an illness of only a few hours. He was working on a house roof that afternoon and went down about 4:30 o'clock, suffering a cerebral hem orrhage a minute or two later. He was removed to his home, regaining consciousness for a short time only. He had been unusually active and in good health until he was fatully stricken. Mr. Whitfield was born in Pitt County on January 29, 187(1, the son of the late George W. and Susan James Whitehurst He spent his early life on the farm and located some over thirty years ago in Roberson ville where he operated a coal and wood yard for a number of years, later going into the building trades. About thirty years ago he was married to Miss Maggie Salsbury of (lie Spring Green section. She died several months later and on Septem ber 15, 1918, he was married to Miss Fannie James of Pitt County. Mr Whitfield was an able craftsman in his profession and he was a promi nent and faithful member of the Primitive Baptist Church at Flat Swamp for about eighteen or twen ty years. His pastor, Elder W E Grimes, assisted by Elders B. S. Cowin and A B Ayers, will conduct the last rites in the Robersonville Primitive Baptist Church Saturday afternoon at 3 30 o'clock and inter ment will follow in the Roberson ville Cemetery. Besides his wife he leaves one son, CpI. David H. Whitfield, now sta tioned at Dayton, Ohio; five sisters, Mrs. G. N. Warren of Stokes, Mrs. Elector Cherry of Wilson, Mrs. Bes sie Mallory of Everetts, Mrs. Ruth Jones and Mis. !.Elian Berry both of Norfolk; three brothers, Messrs. Geo. S. Whitfield of Mackeys, and P. W. and F. L. Whitfield, both of Wilson. Youth’s Condition Not So Favorable A late report iust received by his mother, Mrs. Maniza Taylor Whit aker, stated that Tfr. Lewis T Tay lor is not getting along so well in an Army hospital somewhere in Eng land, following two operations per formed on his heart. About a month ago the young man wrote his mother and explained that he had under gone the second operation for the removal of a bullet or shrapnel from ins heart, that he was able to be up and walk around and that he was getting along very well. At that time he expected to be leaving for home pertty soon. In the late message, the War De partment said that the young man’s recovery “was not proceeding satis factorily.” The Adjutant General went on to say in his letter to Mis. Whitaker, “It may be comforting to know that some of this country’s finest doctors are assigned to the many excellent hospitals maintained at our overseas bases, and that your son is receiving the very best of medical care.” Young Taylor was critically wounded in action in France last June 11. The young man’s case is one of the most unusual of the war. He surviv ed a heart wound and two oper ations on his heart. Justice John L. Hassell Hears Two Cases In Court -<&• Business continues to hold to a de pression level in Justice J. L. Has sell's court here. During the past several days, the trial justice has heard only two cases. Henry Price, charged with simple assault, was ! sentenced to the roads fox thirty days. The sentence was suspended upon the payment of $7.45 costs. Wheeler Beach, charged with being drunk and disorderly, was fined $1.50 and required to pay $8 50 costa. IMiafliiMiiii o rjnrnmate rixira Curricular Activity Effective Next Week Unilv Sessions To Open F.aeb Morning a* 0:30; dose About Usual Time Taking action to prevent an acute fuel shortage in the schools, the Mar tin County Board of Education, in a special session here Wednesday morning, advanced a fairly definite conservation program. Scnedu'ed to go into effect next Monday, the con servation program calls for a short er school day and the elimination of all extra-curricular activities where fuel is used. The action designed to conserve a rapidly dwindling fuel supply is not a mere suggestion, au thor ities pointing out that it was ad vanced in the form of a necessary or der and its enforcement is to be ex pected. It was pointed out that no sch,.ols are likely to be closed on account of | fuel shortage, that the action is be | mg taken to offset a ten per cent re duction in the fuel allotment this term and to make ready for a still more drastic reduction next term. By opening the schools at 9 30 each morning and closing them about or possibly ' • fore the usual hour, it will be possible to save from three quarters to a ton of coal in the coun ty school system each day, authori ties estimated. Play and lunch per iods will possihly be shortened to j offset the delayed opening each | morning while extra activities will be eliminated in their entirety. Discussing the fuel situation, the county superintendent explained that maximum orders allowed by the Solid Fuels Administration were placed last summer and early fall, that the orders had been filled. Stor age space in the various school base ments was filled to capacity, and or dinarily the supply would last through the term if replenished with a few tons during the month of Feb ruary. Orders were placed for more coal to be delivered next month as usual, hut the school authorities de clare that additional shipments are not to be expected. In those cases where the supply is nearly exhaust ed, it will be replenished from the larger stocks in other schools. (Continued on page'six) Critical Need For Ship Yard Workers —®— In line with the current national movement to get 4 F’s into war work, Mr M F. Vaughan, Civil Service labor recruiter for the Norfolk Navy Yard, said here today at the U. S. Employment Service office that the Norfolk Navy Yard, which is locat ed at Portsmouth, is urgently in need of more than thirty types of skilled and unskilled labor. He urged men classified as 4-F who are looking for war work to contact him at the employment office in the City Hall building. Excellent wages are paid at the Navy Yard, housing is available and the govern ment pays transportation to Ports mouth. In rushing "must" naval construc tion to completion electricians, ma chinists, sheetmetal workers, welders and other types of skilled tradesmen are needed, and laborers ar. i helpers are wanted badly. 'We must work now as we have never worked before, to supply the necessary ships to transport troops, guns, food and ammunition and the Norfolk Navy Yard offers every man an opportunity to do his part in the wai He cautioned men already in es sential work, however, not to apply. For the next several weeks, Mr. Vaughan will he in the local U. S. ! Employment Service office each Wednesday and Thursday. On other j .lays he will be in the Washington nffice. -4, - Local Young Man Slightly Wounded —<*— Pvt Wilson B. Partin, local young man, was slightly wounded in action on the Western Front in Belgium last December 30, his wife, the for mer Miss Mary Walston of Scotland Neck, was advised here yesterday. The message, coming from the War Department, offered no details. Pvt. Partin, son of Mr. and Mrs. S. A. Partin, RFD 2, Tarboro, enter ed the service from Williamston last March and had been overseas since last October. He has two children, Master Billy, a first grader in the ' local schools, and little Mi*s Penny. Mr. Partin moved his family here in July, 1943, and was local represen tative for the Royal Baking Com pany until he entered the service. Mrs. Partin and children are mak ing their home here on Williams Street for the duration. mum