North Carolina Newspapers

NEARLY 4,00ffl COPIES OF THY. ENTERPRISE GOING INTO THE HOMjfS OF MARTIN COUNTY. AND1#*) COUNTY SERVICEMEN A.ir-_A PT IT • < ENTERPRISE GOING INTO THE HOMES Of MARTIN COUNTY AND TO COUNTY SERVICEMEN VOLUME XLVIII—NUMBER 54 Williumston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, July 10, 1915. ESTABLISHED 1899 Pfc. Earl Harrell lolls Experiences in European Areas B I f « * Hopes He’il Never See Anoth* er Winter Like the Last One Writing last month from Germany Pfc. Earl T. Harrell, Martin County young man, said: I have been receiving The Enter prise regularly for the past few months, and I notice a lot of the boys are writing of thau' experiences in this war. In the past I have written to have my address changed, but I am not this time, although I may have to in the near future. I have en joyed reading tfoe letters from the boys in service that appeared in you paper, so I decided I would write about my experiences. I have been with the XIII Corps since last November and at present I am still with thdrn but just for a short while, I think. I have directed traffic and done police work for the Corps, through all 01 its operations. I have never had to do any actual fighting, but have been in the con> bat zone all the time. At the time of “The Battle of the Bulge," I was in Haensbrook, Hol land, and spent the winter there and in Horzonrath, Germany. Last win ter was the coldest winter I have ever seen, and I hope I never see another like it. All the men on the Ninth Army front, were worried about “The Bulge,” because if the Germans had succeeded in accom plishing their objective, we would have been completely cut off from our supplies. I think I worked hardest when we first crossed the Roer, which is no wider than a creek back home, but it was a tough river to cross. I cross ed the Roer at Linnich, Germany. All the towns near the Roer were com pletely wiped out. After the Roer came the Rhine, and I crossed it at Wesel, and the cities and towns here were beat up pretty bad too. The city of Munster is just one big heap of rubble and ruins. After crossing the Rhine it was more or less a job of moving about every day or two. We moved as much as 60 to 100 miles at a time. The furthcrest point I reached in Germany was Gordelegen, where one of the many German massacres took place. The Germans herded about 1000 slave laborers, mostly Russians and Poles, into a big barn, matted with straw, and wet with gas- | oline, and then set it afire. They had j machine guns set up at the doors and ‘ shot all who tried to escape. They ; were piled up at the door where they fell. It is impossible to describe the scene when the Americans arrived, because it is beyond description. You could smell the scent of burned and charred bodies long before you! reached the scene. The Americans made about 200 male citizens of Gordelegen, remove the bodies with their bare hands and give them a decent burial, each in a separate grave. They were buried in the field near the barn. Each gravel has a white cross and the citizens of ! (Continued on page six) * Victim Of Accident! Shows Improvement —•— Critically injured when run down by a truck in the yard of her home about six weeks ago, Miss Elizabeth Holliday, 15-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Winston Holliday, was reported yesterday to be improving ^ in a Washington hospital. The accl- ' dent victim was removed from the hospital in Washington to one in 1 Richmond last week for treatment Doctors there explaine d that she suf- | feted a bruised ti-sue in her head, that they were of the opinion it ‘ would heal and that she would be all right in the couit- of time. She was returned to the hospital in Washington Sunday, but it could not be learned how long it would be be ^ fore she could return to her home 1 near Dardens. ! Miss Holliday was struck by a truck driven by Kader Brown about 1 six weeks ago. Her condition was critical for several weeks. -® Shorter Week For ! « Federal Workers s —®— i In accordance with an order issued I by President, Harry S. Truman a short time ago, most federal otfsees 1 in this county tie to observe a 44- ' hour week beginning this week. Most of the offices, including the i United States Employment Service, Selective Service, Farm Security and M others will open at 8.3u each week day morning and close at 5:30 o’clock each evening except on Saturday when tiu.y wiil close at. 12 30 p. m. The rationing board, office will open at 8:30 each morning and re main ooen to the public until three o’clock each afternoon except Sat urday afternoon when it will close at 12:30 o’clock for the day The ra tioning board will be open to the f public until 5 o’clock each Friday afternoon. The publi? is asked to note the hours and scnedule their visits ac cordingly. RAMMED TANKER CARRIES ON DENTED BUT UNDAUNTED, the U.S.S. Gaudalupe, a fast fleet tanker, Is shown going on with her job of supplying American invasion fleets oper ating off the Jap home islands. Only when a replacement arrived, did the ship leave her task behind and head home for a San Pedro, Cal., shipyard for a new bow and overhauling. Navy photo. (International) 100 PER ( ENT r "Every township in the county met or exceeded its quotas in the Seventh War I<oan Drive which ended last Saturday/’ D. V. Clayton, drive chairman for Martin County, announced today. The sales are being tabulated and will be released later in the week ,the chairman said. When the semi-final report was released last Thursday af ternoon, two townships, William ston and Griffins, were a little short of their “E" bond quotas, but they came up with added purchases to go over the top at the last minute. Place Time Limit For Auto Repairs -$—.— Effective the middle of this month, a time limit will be set for making repairs to motor vehicles, it was learned from the War Price and Ra tioning Board this week. The new regulation lists 56 specific auto jobs for which time limits are being fix 'd. In other words, so much time will t>e allowed to handle a certain job, and if more time is required, the re pairman may not charge for the ex ra time, it is understood. Ceiling prices are being set for rach job, effective July 14, and a sales or repair slip must be given the /chicle owner. A list of Lhe 56 specific repair jobs s being mailed to garages and oth jrs, but if any repair shop does not 'eceive one he may get a copy at the -ationing board office or he may re quest one by mail. Nearly $4,000 Paid Pensioners In June Nearly $4,000 was paid to the aged, ii pendent children and blind in this •ounty last month, according to a eport filed by the welfare depart r.ent with the county commission •rs a few days ago. The 236 aged lensioners received $2,648.00, or 111.22 each on an average. Aid to lependent children was offered in he sum of $938.00, or $27.58 per amilv unit. The ten blind persons eceived a total of $214 The department reported expen htures in the amount of $5,790.00, j he State and federal governments laying $3,161.16 of the total. -*• County Young Man Is Awarded Bronze Medal -® With the 6th Armored Division in Europe —Tec. 5 James H. Ayers of Dak City was recently awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious ervice. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe f. Ayers of Oak Ci*j. His father las served as a member of the Mai • in County Draft Board since Select ve Service was established and he ns had an active part in supporting -arious drives in direct support of i he war effort. INVESTOR Saving his pennies made sell ing The Enteriwise on the streets and to regular customers, Wayne Evans White did his bit in sup port of the recent Seventh War Loan Drive. The youngster in vested most of his savings in a $25 war bond. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Palmer White, West Main Street, and he has held to the little odd job with the aim of investing his earnings. Mrs. Naomi *Bowen Died at Her Home Here On Saturday —*— Funeral Services Were Con ducted Monday Afternoon On West Main Street Mrs. Naomi Peel Bowen, highly respected county citizen and a prom inent churchwoman for more than half a century, died at her home on West Main Street here last Saturday afternoon at 3:30 o’clock following a long period of declining health. Mrs. Bowen was taken worse sud denly last Friday after she had spent part of the day handling a few du ties in the home, and her condition was not regarded as critical until just a few hours before the end. The daughter of the late Abram and Emily Peel she was born in Griffins Township 76 years ago last February 16. In early womanhood she was married to John Peel and located in Bear Grass Township. Some years after Mr. Peel's death she was married to James D. Bowen, who survives. She continued to make her home in Bear Grass until about seventeen years ago when she moved to Williamston to make her home. No children were born to either union, but she adopted one and open ed her home to another, rearing them as though they were her own. A grandchild, Dan Bowen, by her adopted son, Harry Bowen, made his home with Mr. and Mrs. Bowen following the father's untimely death in a tractor accident some years ago. Mrs. Bowen was the last member of her immediate family. Mrs. Bowen joined the church at Smithwicks Creek 52 years ago, and was faithful in its support, attend ing services regularly and holding her home open to fellow members and friends at all times. Unpreten tious in manner, she was a devoted wife and a good neighbor, befriend ing and in her humble way doing good for others. Funeral sen ices were conducted at the home yesterday afternoon at 4:30 o’clock by her pastor, Elder B. S. Cowin, assisted by Elders A B. Ayers and Edward Stone. Interment was in the Bowen Cemetery near the old home in Bear Grass. Reports For Duty At Air Station In Seattle, Hash. Noah Thomas Roberson, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Roberson, RFD 1, V. Uiamston recently report ed for duty at the Naval Air Station, Seattle, Washington, after five months’ duty at the Navai Air Sta tion, Jacksonville, Fla. The young man is now a seaman, first class. Draft Registrations ' TorTfie Past Month Cw .tv-' nt Martin County youths registered in accordance with Se lective Service Regulations. Twelve of the twenty-one were white, and several of them have already beer in the service but had never regis tered since they were in uniform be fore the draft was created or before they were eighteen years of age. The June registration and ad dresses follow: James Christian Manning, w, Wil liamston. James Clifton Pate, w, RFD 1, Williamston. Leo 15u. bank Swarmer, w, RFD 2, Williamston. Morris Brown, c, RFD 2, William ston. iSlwood Osar Dortmundt, w, RFD 1, Jamesville. Bruce Whitfield, w. RFD 1, Rob ersonville. Thadius Spruill, c, USED, Port Norfolk, Norfolk. James Bryant, c, RFD 1, Palmyra. Jesse Elwood Everett, w, Hamil ton. Haywood Morris. Jr , e RFD 1 Oak City. Walter Lee Wilkins, c, RFD 3, Wil liamston. James Elbert Daniel, c, RFD 1, Jamesville, James Summerlin, c, RFD 1, Rob ersonville. Bennett Pitt Heath, w, RFD 1, Wil liamston. Thomas Jefferson Purvis, c, Ham ilton. Willie Jasper Parker, c, RFD 1, Oak City. Johnnie Franklin Scott, w, RFD 1, Robersonville. Perlie Bennett Lilley, Jr., w, RFD 1, Williamston. Delayed Registrations James Matthew Thompson, w, RFD 1, Robersonville. Lorey Keith Bland, w, Roberson ville. Elbert Moye Harrison, w, RFD 2, Williamston. -» Local Young Man Is Now In Philippines -■:$> Joseph Thigpen, daredevil para trooper and parachutist, recently landed in the Philippines, according to information received a short time ago by his parents, Dr. and Mrs. J. F. Thigpen. The young man said the scenery was beautiful, that the natives were friendly and made him and other Americans welcome, and that he was enjoying plenty of fresh pine apple, cocoanuts and bananas. These are in addition to the regular “chow” which, according to the young man, is very good. “It all seems like a picnic to me,” he wrote his parents. -« Back In States After Long Stay In Pacific -® Petty Officer 1/c Ransom Rober son returned to the States last week after spending twenty-seven months in the Southwest Pacific. The young man, son of Mrs. Ransom Roberson and the late Mr. Roberson of James ville, wired from San Francisco that he hoped to get a leave soon and vis it home. He has been on most of the invasion islands, including a long stay on Okinawa. THE RECORD SPEAKS . . . For the second time in a row r.o accidents were reported on Martin County highways last week, and in some respects the record this year shows improve ment over the one for the cor responding period in 1944. 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. 27th Week Comparison Accidents Inj’d Killed Dam’ge 1945 0 0 0 $ 000 1944 4 2 0 1150 Comparisou To Date 1945 29 13 3 $7000 1944 31 17 2 6900 i County Boy Tells A bout Few His Experiences on Okinawa •.Writing hum Okinawa under date of June 15 *,n have the address of paper changed, Cpl. L. T. Chesson, Jr., county youth, related a few of his experiences on the island. He mentioned no names, but he said he was sorry to hear of some of “our boys getting killed and hope the rest come out fine.” Six boys v ho left the county with ninety otht -s last September saw action on Okinawa, Four of them were wounded, some badly but not critically, and two were killed. Apparently Cpl. Ches son who had been on Okinawa 78 days up to the 15th of last month, had heard about the deaths of the two county boys there. Moving in on Okinawa during the early days of the bloody and costly campaign, the young Marine stated that he had seen Naha, the island capital, and Shuri, that they were now in complete ruins. The capital looked as if it wa« once a beautiful piece, he explained. “The natives here can carry al most as much on their !re*d as a truck can haul. The women do the work and the men sit around. I know lots of men back hom^. who should be here,” he declared. Cpl. Chesson stated that he had just received nis first copies of The Enterprise, that even though they were dated back in February, they were just as good as new papers to I him and that he enjoyed them a great deal. He was getting along all right when he wrote the letter, and strange as it may seem, he did not | say anything about wanting to come ; home. CHARTER READY FOR THE SENATE PREPARING TO GO BEFORE THE SENATE to deliver personally the United j Nations Security Charter adopted at San Francisco, President Truman, | u the historic document before him, indicates by his expression and j i gesture how solemnly serious he considers the occasion, (International} I More Men Report For Pre - Induction Exams Only A Few Married Men Were Included In The Last Group -$ Thirteen of |li«> Fi^litern iVten Called Thin Week (jinif From I lie Farm Eighteen Martin County young men left the county this week for an Army induction center to under go pre-induction examinations. Nine teen men were called, but one was ruled out on account of apparent physical disability. Two of the men answering the call this week have seen service in the armed forces, one serving sever al months in the Army and the oth er less than ninety days in the Navy. It is believed that conditions under which they were honorably dis charged have been altered, and that they are now subject to recall. Only three of the eighteen an swering the call are married and they leave behind three children. The ages of the group range from a young eighteen to thirty-four, one report explaining that the "over age” selectee had quit the farm or altered his status in the sight of the draft board Eight of the eighteen are eighteen years of age, several of the group having attained that age less than six weeks ago. Eight are in their early twenties and two are 30 or older. Eight of the men had previously been called for pre-in duction and rejected. Thirteen of the eighteen come from farms, The names, registration and last given addresses follow: Ezelle Briley, Hassell and ItFD 1, Bethel. Claude LeRoy Nelson, RED 1, Oak City. Cyril HaVrison Respass, RFD I, Robersonville and RED 1, Bethel Solon Menton Jackson, RFD I, Robersonville. Charlie Edward Flanagan, RFD 1, Hobgood. June Bland, RFD 3, Williamston. Clinton Hale, RFD 1, Palmyra. Ervin G. Robert Wynne, RFD 3, Williamston. Clinton White Johnson, RFD 1, Robersonville. George Carr Wynne, RFD 3, Wil liamston and Williamston. John Levy Flanagan, RFD 1, Hob good. Wiley Stewart VanNortwick, Rob ersonville. Floyd Scott, Jr., Hamilton. Oscar Tice, RFD 1, Williamston. William Earl Bowen, RFD 3, Wil li amsto.n. John Luke Mizelle, RFD 3 ,Wil liamston. Charlie Hoell, Jr., Williamston. Bermice Saunders Silverthorne, RFD 3, Williamston. Reduction In Number Of Tires f or This Month Although the original quota is larger than the one announced for June, it isn’t likely that ns many pas senger car tires v/iR be rationed this month. A total or tires—378 for I ears and On for small trucks — have been allotted fur July Last month 270 car tire* were originally allotted but the number was boosted *o 4Z0 before the mo ith was out. The supply of certificates was ex hausted a few weeks ago, but it has been replenished and all the cer tificates should now be in the hands of the tire applicants, it was learned yesterday. HOG SALE Martin County farmers are again pushing to the front, this time to help relieve the critical meat shortage. Farmer Ophus Bailey, of Bear Grass Township, recently sold 7,375 pounds of meat, the sale being the second largest reported in this county during the past two or three weeks. The farmer received $1, U73.0<i for his hogs. Alleged Bigamist Raises $1000 Bond It. Cornelius Kirkland, charged with bigamy, was released in $1,000 bond last Friday evening after spending eight days in the county jail. A bond was purchased from a bonding company after friends had canvassed the town for voluntary contributions amounting to $100. The young man, a member of the guard personnel at the local prison Ier of war camp, is scheduled to ap ! pear in the Marlin County Superior jCourt for trial m September. No new dt velopments have been reported in the case, but the private prosecution is corresponding with officials in other states in search of additional facts, it was learned to day. Colored Youth Lost In Woods Overnight "Buddy,' adopted son of Herbert Little’s, was found Sunday morning after lie had been lost in the woods ovei night on the I ittle faim near j Hassell. He suffered no ill effects from his expel ience, Shei iff C B Roebuck said after the search was successfully concluded Sunday The 10-year-old boy was sent to a tobacco barn last Saturday after noon for a fishing pole. When he did not return, members of the family and friends started looking for him. The search was continued all Satur- I day night and until about 1(1 o’clock Sunday morning when the boy wan dered to the house and said, ‘‘Here I is." The boy said that he got lost in the woods and walked all night. -——... Tii/taid Taxes Tor The Tost Tour Years Total $ 10,277. -$ Taxes unpaid und due the county of Mai tin for the past four years, in cluding 1944-45 amount to $10,277.39, according to a report filed recently by Tax Collector M Luther Peel. The unpaid amounts were listed by years as follows: 199, $5,710.28; 1943, $1,707.26; 1942, $1,477.69; 1941, $1,376.16. [ ROUND-UP jjj Crime activities in this action are apparent!’,’ in a summer | slump, according to a review of the jail records for the past few days. Only tbeee arrests were made last week-end, the round including two drunks and one charged with obtaining moil ey under false pretense. The ages of the group jailed ranged above the average and were listed at from 26 to 40 years. Two of the three jailed were colored men. mm County Bov Submits [Account of the 83rd hifaritn Ensinocrs j D of Trip from Indian;' to Junction with Russians on the Klhe A member of Co. B, 308th Engin i t-ers, 83rd Division, Sgt. Ernie Lee Modlin, son of Mr. Joe Gray Modlin, RF D 1, Jamesville, submits an in teresting story of his outfit fiorn the time it was reactivated at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, until it met the Russians across the Elbe in Ger many. The third installment of the storj follows: THE ARDENNES Fully entrucked on the night of December 26-27th, the Division moved out of Germany across Hol land and into Belgium to help blunt the point of Marshal von Rund stedt’s counter-offensive. At Roche ant, the Germans were pushed back. Taking up a position on the northern (boulder of tt 1 - ■ «.v eiz •d the towns of Ottre, Joubevai, He ironval, Bihain. 1 anglir, and Peti te Langlir. This cleared the v ay for the 3rd Armored Division to pass afely through the woods and cut the important St. Vith Ilouffalize Highway over which the Germans were withdrawing to the East. Prov ing a worse foe than the Germans was the bitter cold and waist-high snow of the Ardennes which ham pered operations considerably. Mor phine syrettes froze and automatic weapons failed to function in the zero weather. When the Division was relieved in mid-January, it. had ac complished its mission of complete ly routing the German attackers and forcing them into a headlong retreat toward the Reich. For this achieve ment the Commanding General of the VII Corps gave the officers and men of the 83rd high praise for their major contribution in driving the Germans out of the Ardennes. FIRST ON TIIE RHINE During the last week of February, thi' Ninth Army smashed across the Roer toward the Rhine and indus trial Germany. Originally in XIX Corps reserve, the 83rd was commit ted when the retreat of the enemy turned into a dash to the east bank of the Rhine. Jumping off in the vicinity of Rockralh, west of the Erft Canal, the doughboys plowed northeast toward the German indus trial city of Dusseldotf The outskirts of Neuss, directly across the Rhine from Dusseldotf were reached late in the afternoon of March 1st and by midnight the center of the city had been taken. Having a normal population of 58,000 Neuss was the ! largest German city to fall to the 83rd. Infantry patrols were sent across the river and brought back much useful information and 83rd artillery units blasted away at en emy rail and troop movements from their dug in emplacements in the vi cinity of Neuss. The 83rd was the first American Division to reach the lower Rhine and received a high commendation from Lt. Gen. William ;f! Simpson, Ninth Army Command er, for “characterizing as it does the splendid record of the 83rd Infantry Division since it began operations on the Continent.” ELBE BRIDGEHEAD Crossing the Rhine on March 30th, [the 83rd struck swiftly to clean out I pockets of resistance which had been by passed by the Second Armored Division. After eliminating these en emy strongpoints, the doughboys crossed the Lippe River at Hamm to aid m tlie encirclement of the Nazis hopelessly trapped in the Ruhr pock et. On being relieved by other units, the Thunderbolts again smashed eastward in pursuit of the fleeing Wehrmacht and toward the Russians advancing from the east. Utilizing tanks, tank destroyers, motorbikes, captured German vehicles, buses and trailers, the doughboys rode herd against the disorganized Nazis for 215 miles to the Elbe River. In ac complishing this feat, the 83rd wrote a new chapter in infantry history as they liberated over 75,080 Allied (Continued on page six) -———— Hail And Excessive Rain Damage Crops —$— Bright prospects entertained a short time ago for a record quality crop in this county are beginning to fade, according to ■ ports reaching here following the recent excessive rains. No estimate on the damage is to be nad, but in some areas the crop is ' flopping” in the fields while in other areas it continues to hold up very well. The crop between Rober sonville and Gold Point looks sick and lifeless according to Judge J C Smith wno made a general c~> servation in that area following the heavy rain Sunday. Quite a few farmers in Jamesville and Giiffins Townships reported damage to the c rops prior to the big rain last Sunday, and it is likely that the condition was aggiuvated by the latest fall. Wiule quite a few farmers were reporting darn if;, p » result of ex cessive rains, a few in the Palmyra area, including Henry Early, the Smith Brothers and Thompsons, were said to have had fairly heavy hail losses during the storm last Sun day afternoon.