Support Liberally The Tied Cross WazJEiuuLGAMptiign Noiv Underway frrMttrttn Courity'Cfiapief NEARLY 1900 MARTIN COUNTY SERVICE MEN NOW READING THE ENTEPRISE IN ALL PARTS OF TH? WORLD EACH WEEK. THE ENTERPRISE NEARLY 1000 MARTIN COUNTY SERVICE MEN NOW READING THE ENTEPRISE IN ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD EACH WEEK. VOJJJME.XJ.VHI-»XUMB£R ,-M* — " ¥C'i loVCTiiy, 'Norih Carolina, Tuesday, March 6, 1945. ESTABLISHED 18W Town Board Orders Line Extension And Stock Replacements —•— Plan To Pave Alleyways and Handle Several Other Improvements In a lengthy session last evening, the local town commissioners went on a regular spending “spree,” or dering the purchase of motorized equipment, a cement mixer, water pipe and fire hose. It was pointed out that some action was almost imperative, that it was dangerous in some instances to delay action any longer. Going before the board, Dr. John Williams cited several drainage problems and asked the board to consider paving some of the alley ways and the installment of storm sewers. In their discussion, the board members agreed *hat the alleys lead ing into Main, Smithwick and Wash ington Streets should be paved and instructed the superintendent of the streets to purchase a $1,000 cement mixer and handle the work as soon as possible. It was pointed out that the town would have much concrete work in the future, and the invest ment would prove economical. The street superintendent was al so instructed to purchase a new truck for use in hauling garbage. The de partment’s rolling stock is in bad repair and garbage collections are subject to fail unless some of the equipment is replaced soon. Pointing out that the water sup ply for fire protection on Grace Street and near the high school was not adequate, the commissioners in structed the water department sup erintendent to connect two lines which will afford circulation and a greater source of water. Less than 200 feet of mains will have to be laid. A several hundred foot extension of the water lines beyond the fair grounds was ordered, the superin tendent of the water department ex plaining that applications for several connections were pending. Reporting to the board, a special committee said that a town lot on the corner of South Haughton and West Warren Streets had been sold for $355, that the town had several other lots for sale. The fire department head explain ed that the supply of fire hose was running dangerously low, that ap-! proximately 1,500 feet of 2 1-2 inch hose and 200 feet of 1 1-2 inch hose plus connections were needed to equip the new truck expected with in the next few weeks and to meet present needs. Mayor J. L. Hassell and Fire Chief G. P. Hall were appointed a commit tee to make a study of the several streets and name those with no offi cial title. -« Few Register For Draft in the County Sixteen Martin County men just turned eighteen years of age regis tered for the draft last month. While February was a short month, the list of registrants was still short er, the draft board office stating that the registration was about the small est on record for any month. Only ; two of the sixteen registering are white. Names of the registrants and their addresses follow: Wiley Theodore Williams, c, Oak City. i James Augusta Barnes, c, RFD 2, Robersonville. Edward Durham, c, RFD 1, Rob ersonville. Jobie Peele, c, RFD 3, Washing ton, N. C. Jaosa Purvis, c, RFD 1 Oak City. Dowell Guy Forbes, w, RFD 1, Robersonville. William Earl Jones, c, Oak City. William Lonnie Haislip, w, RFD 3, Williamston. James Lee Ampley, c, Roberson ville. Allen Brown, Jr., c, Robersonville. Elex Daniel Smith, c, RFD 1, Pal myra. James Willie Thompson, c, RFD 3, Williamston. Joseph Thomas Williams, c, RFD 2, Williamston. Louis T. Alston, c, RFD 1, Rober sonville. Paul Davis, c, RFD 1, Palmyra. Raymond Hyman, c, RFD 1, Pal myra. _ Firemen Called To Plant Of Lindtley Ice Company Firemen were called to the plant of the Lindsley Ice Company last Friday when fire started pouring iiuin the exhaust of the ice plant en gine. No damage was done. The owners and operators recog nized no danger, but other parties hastened tp call out the firemen when they saw iire spouting from the engine’s exhaust pipe. So far this year, local firemen have received fewer calls than in any other like period in years. Meeting Will Discuss Rural Electrification In This Area Meeting here tomorrow morning, twenty or more representatives of the Virginia Electric and Power Company, headed by Mr. Clark Spellman of the Richmond office, will discuss plans for a post-war rural electrification expansion pro gram in this, the Albemarle District, it was learned today from R. H. Goodmon, district manager. Representatives from thirteen counties—Edgecombe, Halifax, Pitt, Martin, Washington, Tyrrell, Cho wan, Perquimans, Camden, Gates, Pasquotank, Currituck and Dare — are expected to be present. No details of the proposed pro gram have been made public, but it is understood that the company is planning a far-reaching program that wiil fit in with a recognized post-war economy. The company re cently cancelled ail its rural electri fication contracts, giving rural pa trons the same minimum rate al lowed urban customers. It is cer tain that the new program will of fer an attractive contract to the ru ral people throughout this district, that it is possible the use of light and power will be made available to just about every rural home in the coun ty and district. Anticipating one of the greatest expansions in rural electrification the country has yet seen, the com pany, it is understood, has made requisitions for equipment and ma terials and will start work just as soon as possible on the rural service expansion program. No membership fee is required and it is believed that the contract is the most liberal to be found anywhere. No estimate on the line mileage was offered and the number of potential customers the expansion program will serve could not be learned, but it is fairly cer tain that it will place power and light in reach of nearly every rural home. WOUNDED Pfc. William C. Bunch, Jr., lo cal colored youth, was slightly wounded in Italy on February 7th, his parents were notified here a few days ago. Suffering a broken leg while in action, Pfc. Bunch is recovering in an Army hospital. Delegations Appear For Aid In Opening School Lunch Rooms —®— Shortage of Spare Obstacle In Opening Rooms At Present Time -® Appearing before the members of the county board of education here yesterday morning, delegations from several schools in the county asked for assistance in opening lunch rooms. There were seven delegates from Jamesville, twelve from Farm Life and five from Everetts. Bear Grass had no delegation at the meet ing but its appeal was advanced along with the others. Much inter est was shown in the proposed school projects, but the shortage of space offers a serious obstacle. After hearing the appeals, the board called in the county commis sioners and a general discussion fol lowed. The superintendent was in structed to contact W. L. Credle, di rector of school house planning for the State School Commission, and determine the type and cost of con structing the necessary buildings. The federal government is lending valuable assistance in the operation of school lunch rooms, but they do not participate in the maintainance of lunch rooms in those schools. At the present time, lunch rooms are being maintained in the white schools at Oak City, Hassell, Ham ilton, Kobersonville and Williams ton, and in the colored schools at Robersonville, Oak City and Sals-1 bury. Appearing before the board, rep resentatives of insurance companies pointed out that since values had (Continued on page six) ROUND-UP County and local officers and members of the highway patrol had a busy time last week-end when they rounded up and jail [ ed eleven alleged violators of the law in this immediate terri tory. Niue were uooked for public drunkenness and disorderly con duct, one for drunken driving and another for assault with a deadly weapon. The period was about the busiest so far on rec ord this year. Two ot the eleven were white, and the ages of the group ranged from 19 to 56 years. Rural People Plead To Commissioners For Better Roads —«— Authorities Discuss a Varied Business Calendar In Long Session Monday -* Meeting in regular session here yesterday, the members of the Mar tin County Board of Commissioners heard a goodly number of urgent pleas for improved roads and the in clusion of others in the Slate system. The authorities were in session until late in the afternoon discussing a varied business calendar. They will meet in special session on March 9 as a board of equalization and re view. Several petitions were placed be fore the board and others appeared in person to plead for better roads. In accordance with the wishes of the people, the board recommended that the road in Bear Grass leading from Bear Grass to Cross Roads at Fannie Harris Mill via Delmus Rogerson, Mrs. H. A. Salsbury, Walter Bailey and others be widened. The road, about 2 1-2 miles long, is mighty narrow, it was pointed out. The second request was that the road leading off the Bear Grass-Wil liamstcn road near John Daniel Biggs’, thence north to the Prison Camp dr old Greenville Road, a dis tance of one mile, be included in the State system. It was also requested that the road in Jamesville Township, running from Cedar Branch Church a west erly direction to residence of Horton Modlin be included in the State sys lem. The mile-long road serves six families and is traveled by RFD carrier. A community road in Griffins Township was also asked to be plac ed on the State map. Starting at Jas. A. Roberson’s, the road runs about eight-tenths of a mile to Marshall or Harry Corey place via farms of W. T. Roberson, Sylvester Lilley, Ru fus Coltrain, John Coltrain and W. B. Harrington. The State is also being asked to improve the Gus Lane road leading from Jodie Ayers’ to Joe Ausbon’s via Stanley Ayers, Simon Rogers, Charlie Roberson, St. Paul colored church and school. The road serves nine families and is traveled by mail carriers. A petition carrying fifty signatures was presented urging that that por tion of the old Jamesville-Plymouth Road abandoned when U. S. Route 64 was established be placed on the highway map. At the f«qaeet of-Atrterr.oy-- Wadi Dickens of Halifax County, and in the absence of requests from others, the board endorsed J. Waldo Whit aker, Enfeild man, for State High way Commissioner in this district. I. Mayo Little, Robersonville man, was reappointed a member of the County Welfare Board to serve for two years, his new term to begin April 1st. W. Clarence Wallace was appoint ed constable for Jamesville Town ship, his term to run until the first of December, 1946. A $500 bond, sub mitted by Wallace, was approved. The board provided for the in stallation of a telephone in the as sistant home agent’s office in the agricultural building. -* Former Citizens of County Lose Home by Fire Recently I Fue of undetermined origin re I cently wrecked the home of MV. and I Mrs. Lester Hardison, former coun ty citizens, in Portsmouth. The family was sleeping when the fire was discovered and they bare ly escaped, Mrs. Hardison moving the children to safety, Mr. Hardison was slightly burned and almost over come by smoke. Damage to the home was estimated at $1,800 not includ ing ail the clothing and bed linens that were burned. Pre-induction Call Is Answered in County Calling six colored men for pre induction, the armed services got only two from this county yester day. Two were transferred and two others failed to report, reducing the group to the smallest total of any to leave the county for pre-induc tion. Three of the six men called are married and they have two children. Five of the group were called from non-farm jobs, and according to one report, the sixth man left the farm and subjected himself to in duction. The ages of the group rang ed from 21 to 29 years. Names and registration and last given addresses of the men called this month follow: Thurman Bell, Jamesville and Norfolk. He was transferred to Nor folk. Booker T. Williams, RFD 1. Rob ersonville and Norfolk. King Thadius Wooiard, RFD l, Williamston and Lansing, Mich. He failed to report. William Lawrence Everett, RFD 1, Oak City. Charlie Alfred Williams, William ston and Norfolk. He war transfer red to Norfolk. Arthur James, RFD 1, Williams ton, failed to report. Rev. J. W. Vinson Gains His Freedom —$— Rev. Jack W. Vinson, former local minister, and Mrs. Vinson were lib erated a few weeks ago from a Jap anese prison camp in the Philippines, presumably in the Manila area when the Americans returned there last month. No direct word has been re ceived from the minister who serv ed as assistant to Rev. Z. T. Piephoff in the churches here and at Bear Grass, Roberson's Chapel and Poplar Point for some time. However, an Army chaplain has advised relatives in this county that he had talked with the minister and his wife, that they were well and looking forward to returning to the States. The minister has a brother, Dr. T. C. Vinson, a medical missionary in the Philippines, but no word of his liberation has been received. He was last heard from at Los Banos Camp, about 35 miles south of Manila. Rev. Vinson gave up his work here to return to the mission fields in China. Just before the outbreak of the war, he was transferred to the Philippines where he was interned along with other American subjects before they could continue the trip home. Cage Tournament Starts Tomorrow The annua] Martin County High School Basketball Tournament opens in the gymnasium here tomorrow evening at 7:30 with five teams par ticipating. The Jamesville and Williamston girls open the tourney at that time, and Farm Life and Robersonville will take the floor at 8:30. Bear Grass drew a bye for Wednesday, but will meet the winners of the Farm Life Robersonville game at 7:30 Thurs day evening, the winners of this con test going on to meet the winners of the Jamesville-Williamston tilt at 8 o’clock Friday evening. The first of the boys’ games will be played Wednesday evening at 9:30 o’clock when Farm Life and Williamston meet. On the following night—Thursday—at 8:30 o'clock, the Jamesville and Bear Grass boys will bid for a place in the finals, while Robersonville, holding a bye in the first round, will play the win 'riei'S of tne rarm Life Williamston game. The championship games will be played Friday night, the girls playing at 8 and the boys start ting their game at 9 o’clock. An admission fee of 20 and 35 cents will be charged. WOUNDED l ___ Pvt. Winford Mobley was slightly wounded in Germany on February 23, his wife, the for mer Miss Catherine Wynne, of RFD 3, Williamston, was noti fied by the War Department yes terday afternoon. The young man is now in an Army hospital, pre sumably in France. Pvt. Mobley, son of Mr. and Mrs. 1. D. Mobley, of near Wil liamston, entered the service last July 19 and went overseas short ly after spending a fourteen-day furlough in the county with his i family. The casualty message was the second known to have been re ceived in the county during the past two or three days, Mr. and Mrs. Heber Jenkins of Rober sonville having been notified last week-end that their son, 8am D. Jenkins, had been slight ly wounded. Red Gross Drive Half Completed In Chapter Original Goals Are Exceeded by Two Of Five Townships Willianistou Reports $1,508. In Ilaiui at End of First Four Days of Drive Accorded a liberal and willing sup port in nearly every quarter, the 1945 Red Cross War Fund Drive is making marked progress, but Chair man V. J. Spivey late yesterday in timated that the outlook was not overly encouraging locally. Reduc tions in some of the larger contribu tions received by the organization in past drives, are to be expected, it was pointed out, and it might be that a second solicitation will be necessary unless all individual quo tas are met and oversubscribed in quite a few cases. Up until last night a total of $2, 770.80 had been collected and report ed by four of the five townships in the chapter. It is fairly certain that a sizable amount had been collected in addition to that amount, that it will be included in the next report. Two of the townships, Bear Grass and Griffins, have virtually com pleted their campaigns. Bear Grass, reporting $502.50 yesterday after noon, exceeded its quota last Satur day, Mrs. Fete Mendenhall, chair man, explained. Mis. J. Eason Lilley, chairman for Griffins, announced yesterday that the $450 goal in her district had been oversubscribed, and that the school would possibly boost the total to a figure in excess of $500. Mrs. Mendenhall explained that the Bear Grass School had not reported, that possibly late contri butions would send the total figure for that district to $100 in excess of the $450 quota. Mrs. Claude Jenkins, canvassing the community out on the Hamilton Road, reported the campaign com plete there. The people there, rais ing $42.2;'), more than double the 1944 contribution. Several canvassers completed their work here last week and Mrs. Elbert Price Sherman yes terday completed the first canvass in the residential section. The Jun ior Woman’s Club members are handling the canvass on the north side of Main Street, and members from the Senior Club are canvassing the residential areas south of the street. James die, with only three can vassers reporting, accounted for ap proximately $300 up until early yes terday , ft i neon. No rc port lias been received from Willian : The drive among the col ored cum. ns in the five townships is making progress ,but is possibly far from complete a*t this time. The Martin County chapter is be ing asked to raise $6,600.00 William ston reported $1,508.30 collected up until last night, the amount being just a little over one-third of the total quota assigned the township. The fund chairman explains that liberal contributions will be abso lutely necessary if the township goal is to be reached. There is no doubt now about the progress of the drive in the other townships in the chap ter. The names of the fust coniriDuuns in Williamston Township follow: Darden’s Dept. Store $30, B. S. Courtney $40, Central Cafe $35, W. R. Banks $25, Sam Zemon $15, Nat Israel $20, Williamston Cafe $20, Ann’s Variety Store $10, Geo. Rey nolds Hotel $10, Dr. and Mrs. E. T. Walker $25, Ben Andiews $1, Mrs A. L. Green 35c, Raymond Rober son’s store $5, George Harris, Sr., $5, Critcher Bros. $20, Williamston Hdw. Co. $25, Farmers Supply Co. $35, Martin Supply Co. $35, Claude Leg gett $10, Planters Nut & Chocolate Co. $5, Guy Thomas $5, Woolard Hardware Co. $10, Mrs. Mayo Har dison $1, Moore Grocery Co $25, 1 /• Roy Savage $1, Jesse Melson $1, Eu la Leggett 50c, R. L. Ward $5, Harry A. Biggs $50, A. P. Gilbert $5, F. U. Barnes $50, Dr. A. J. Osteen $15, S/Sgt. and Mrs. J. Paul Simpson $5, P. S. Critcher $100, Mr. and Mrs. C. P. Cullipher $2, Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Modlin $2, Mi. and Mrs. C. E. Jen kins, Sr. $2, Mr. and Mrs Willie Modlin $2, E. N. Hardison $!, Henry Golf 25c, Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Rober son $1, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Martin $1, Community Church $1, Mr. and Mrs. (Continued on page six) Victim Of Wounds Lands In States Fmc Days Ago -<*, Wounded iri his left arm in action on the V/estern Front last December 12, Roy Manning recently returned to the States, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Perlie Manning of near Harnil ! ton. Were advised Iasi week-end The young soldier is spending a ! few days at Camp Edwards, Mass., and hopes to come home soon. MISSING Pvt. William J. Etheridge was reported missing on the Western Front since February 6th of this year, his father, I). W. Eth eridge of near Ilassell was ad vised a short time ago. Accord ing to indirect information re ceived later, the young man was taken prisoner by the Germans. First County Youth Killed In Invasion Buried In Normandy Lrllcr fvom (iliaplain Tolls That Ia*vu* II. Davis Was Given (iliristian Burial In a letter received by his mother, Mrs. Mattie Gurkin Davis, RFD 1, Jamesville, just a short time ago, Chaplain Gerald J. Rabe told that Pfc. I.evie II. Davis, Jr., who was killed somewhere in France on June 19, 1944, was given a Christian bur ial. The letter reads: The officers and enlisted men of the 22nd Infantry Regiment, join me in the regret that we must extend to your our sincerest sympathy on the death of your son, Private First Class Levie II. Davis, Jr., ASN 14039158. Your boy was a part of our "Famous Fourth'1 Division, as much as he was a part of your own home. We shall miss him, even as you your self will miss him. We were proud to have had him with us! We hasten to communicate a few facts concerning your boy which, we trust, will prove of some comfort to you in this hour of trial. Your soli was killed in action, somewhere in France, on June 19, 1944. lie now lies buried in an Am erican Military Cemetery in Nor mandy, France. Just as both you and he would have wished it, appropri ate burial services were conducted for him by a Protestant Army Chap lain. As a soldier, your son bravely fought and bravely died, to stamp out the threat of slavery which hangs over the world today. As a member of our great Allied Armies, he brought liberation, new hope, and new life to nations that had been in sulted, robbed, toitured, defiled, and enslaved by their conquerors. With such courage and strength in his heart, he walked humbly with his God, and was therefore worthy to conquer. Almighty God has received the1 Supreme Sacrifice of your boy. It is, therefore, • with- the utmost confi dence that we offer to God this fer vent prayer for your son: ‘‘May the Angels receive him at his coming, and lead him into Para dise, where hi' may have rest ever lasting.” While you grieve the death of your beloved son, you know that lie still lives, and still awaits that glorious and longed-for reunion with you! Both of you will meet again, in a far (Continued on page six) ASSISTANT AGENT lJ Charles J. Goodman has been named assistant farm agent for .Martin County to succeed L. L. McLendon who resigned about two months ago to accept a posi tion with the Standard Ferttlii er Farms with headquarters at Aurora. Mr. Goodman, a graduate of State College, taught agricul ture in the schools of this State for several years, and served as assistant agent at Lenoir in Caldwell County the last two years. He and Mrs. Goodman , are eypeeted fry locate here about the first of next month when he will enter upon his new duties. Crossing Of Rhine s Next Objective on The Western Front —®— Americans Taking Over Co* logne; Russian Attack In The Hast Awaited After ripping to shreds the great er part of two German armies in their great offensive launched just ten days ago at the Roer River, the American First and Ninth Armies are now almost at a great turning point in the war. And the next ob jective is crossing the Rhine. Wheth er the Allies will attempt an immed iate crossing of the quarter-mile stream or whether they will man euver for positions while supplies are brought up only time will tell. It isn’t likely that the move will be easy in either case. Today, the American First Army is mopping up Cologne, Germany's fourth largest city with a normal population of three-quarters of a million people. Many of the batter ed German troops crossed the Rhine there, leaving remnants to carry on a delaying action. The fight for the city is still bitter, but the people’s army has crumbled and the people themselves are proving far more friendly than Allied military lead ers had expected. In fact, the fra ternization of American troops with the German people in Cologne is al ready recognized as a problem, the military leaders having anticipated a cold shoulder and snipers' bullets. The American First Army’s Third Armored Division pulled into the city yesterday morning at 7:11), fol lowed about two hours later by the 104th Infantry. The Cologne resi dents are said to have actually wel comed the invasion and expressed relief in the fact that the shooting war was about over for them. To the north, the American Ninth joined by the Canadians are mop ping up the west bank of the Rhine. South of Cologne, General Patton’s Third Army is pushing toward Cob lenz, the action going forward under a virtual news blackout. Still far ther south, the American Seventh is increasing its tempo and driving toward Saarbruecken. Having just about anchored their northern flunk to the Baltic coast and driving hard with the view of knocking out Stettin, the Russians are expected soon to renew their steamroller push on Berlin. Reports declare that the Russians have en countered a costly and bitter fight m mopping up isolated German pock ets left behind in their last great of fensive. In the Pacific, the Marines are bringing up vast quantities of equip ment and material for a final drive to wipe the remaining Japs on Iwo Jima off the face of the earth. The last drive possibly is already under way. Un Luzon in the Philippines, six Jap divisions or nearly 100,000 Japs have been accounted for. Tokyo is still on the receiving end. Sixty Tires Issued By Ration Board Sixty-six tires—60 for passenger cars and six for trucks— were allot ted in this county last Friday night. A total of 300 passenger car tires and thirty tires for small trucks have been allotted the county for the current month. Grade 1 tires were issued to the following: II. B. Bennett, Dalmer G. Manning, K. S. Peel, J. E. Andrews, B. S. Courtney, Woolard Furniture Co., J. H. Ayers, B. L. House, John nie Griffin, Leonard C. Bennett, A. R. Osborne, C. B. Saunders, G. H. Forbes, Collin Smith, J. L. Bunch, M. L. Robinson, Marvin M. Everett, Mrs. Alfred Griffin, Jesse F. Crisp, M L Peel, Steve G. Clary, P. E. Get singer, K. B. Etheridge, Thomas Tice, Dr. E. T. Walker, L. R. Gard ner, Frank S. Hitch, C. P. Cullipher, J. S. Ayers, Sr., J. P. Hodges, Ed ward S. Dixon, R. A. Edmondson, Foy Rogerson, Ida O. Roberts, D. B. Latham, N. T. Tice, I L. Alexander, Lester Terry, S. T. Brady, Ben W. Mason, Kelly Rawls, F. F. Pollard, Jasper Purvis, Oscar Ayers, John L. Hassell, Garland C. Tice, L. D. Har dison, H. L. Davis, Henry Keel, Mack Warren, M. E. Bennett, J. R. Pierce, J. M. Ayers. Small truck tires were issued to the following: Van G. Taylor, Saun ders and Cox, G and H. Builders Supply Co., W. C. House. Don. B. Harrison, Jr., Gets Commission and Assignment -- Recently commissioned an ensign at the U S.N R school, Chapel Hill, Don B. Harrison, Jr., was immed iately assigned to a ship and left this week for a port on the Pacific coast. He is tiie son of Mr. and Mrs. Donnie B Harrison, of Palmyra. Mr. Harrison, S*\, is a native of Williamston, and both he and his son have a number oi leiatives here. While visiting in' Williamston, En sign Harrison visited his aunt, Mrs. Della Green.