NEARLY 4,000 COPIES OF THE
ENTERPRISE GOING INTO THE
HOMES OF MARTIN COUNTY
AND TO COUNTY SERVICEMEN
THE ENTERPRISE
NEARLY 4,000 COPIES OF THE
ENTERPRISE GOING INTO THE
HOMES OF MARTIN COUNTY
AND TO COUNTS SERVICEMEN
VOLUME XLVIIf—NUMBER 78
Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday, October 2, 1945
ESTABLISHED 1899
Plans Advanced At
Meeting Last Week
For Wildlife Club
New i) rpr.
To Improve Hunting and
Fishing In State
Meeting in the courthouse iast
Thursday night, a number of Martin
County hunters and fishermen ex
pressed keen interest in the North
Carolina Wildlife Federation and
made plans for the organization of a
wildlife club in this county in sup
port of the State federation.
Addressing the group, Ross O.
Stevens, executive secretary of the
state organization, stated that culbs
had already been organized in forty
seven counties, that the organization
would reach into possibly ninety
counties by the end of this year. He
reviewed the history of the new fed
eiatiuii, explaining 111..I the business
of the organization was not to rob
anyone of his job, but to relieve a
bad situation existing in the game
and fish division of the North Caro
lina Department of Conservation and
Developmvn^^J^^^^e.'ns was not
department,
but he frankly pointed out quite a
few oi its shortcomings and declared
that the evidence shows the hunters
and fishermen of this State are get
ting what may be called a raw deal.
According to Mr. Stevens, both
candidates for governor in the last
campaign promised a new game set
up, but the successful candidate
changed his mind. He did appoint a
committee and a hearing was held.
It was apparent that a plan for an
effective game and fish commission
would get no where in the face of
dictatorial policies characteristic of i
policies formulated in Raleigh’s high j
places, and a small group of men,
representing nearly every section of
the state, met in a hotel and laid the
plans for the state wildlife federa
tion. The committee, Mr. Stevens
continued, studied systems in other
states and gave the problem serious
thought with the view of correcting
flagrant errors in the present sys
tem and advancing an effective or
ganization.
The organization committee first
admitted that an effective coopera
tion on the part of farmers and land
owners was necessary, that the or
ganization would sponsor a new de
partment in this state for hunting
and fishing exclusive of commercial
fishing. It was pointed out that the
present commission of fifteen mem
bers is interested in too many things,
that much money is wasted, that a
change every four years destroyed
the effectiveness of the commission.
The new organization proposed to
have a man selected from nine dis
tricts in the stale with definite quali
fications to serve as a continuing
board.
The federation, financed strictly by
the sale of hunting and fishing li
censes and not by general taxation,
proposes a state-wide wildlife con
servation and educational program,
to get more people interested in
wildlife.
The federation also proposes to
protect the rights of hunters and
fishermen.
Mr. Stevens explained the organi
zation set-up, how every county
would be represented by a delegate
and every culb members would have
an opportunity to be heard.
Speaking briefly to the group, A-t
torney R. L. Coburn said he was fed
up with so many appointments by
the governor, that while some were
good and some were bad, there was
too much political flavui in them to
guarantee effectiveness.
The small group discussed various ,
problems, everyone agreeing that it \
was high time for something to be
done. Those present pledged their
efforts in advancing club member
ship, and agreed to hold a meeting
in about three weeks for further dis- .
cussions.
Almost one hundred hunters and
fishermen were in attendance upon
a similar meeting held in Windsor
last Friday evening, and much in
terest was shown in the new wild
life organization there. A member
ship drive was launched there, quite
a few signing up at the time, ac
cording to reports reaching here.
-^
Stolen Car Found
Here Last Sunday
—»—
The 1940 Chevrolet car belonging
to Chas. Forbers and stolen from the
streets here last April 1 was recover
ed Sunday morning when Officer
John Roebiidt arrested John J. Mc
Colgan, stationed in the U. S. Navy
at Edenton. The seaman, accom
panied by a 16-year-old girl whose)
name was not divulged, had spent
the night in the car near Dinah’s hill
just off East Main Street. Police
were notified the car was parked
and when they investigated they
learned the car had been stolen here
six rnoiit. s ago.
McColgan stated he borrowed the
car from Harry Lee Spruill in Eden
ton, and Patrolman Whit Saunders
and Sheriff Roebuck called for him
that morning. Spruill, returned here
for a hearing, maintained that a
sailor known to him as “'Frenchie”
turned the car over to him when
“Frenchie” was transferred months
ago.
The car is almost worn out, offic
ers said.
County People Appeal
For Secondary Roads
Two Groups Appear
Before Meeting In
Interest Of Roads
—«—
Court Clerk Makes a Reeord
Settlement For Month
Of September
Meeting in regular session Mon
day, the Martin County Commission
ers received several delegations who
aired their road problems and ap
pealed for action. The action of the
highway commission in centering its
first big contract letting on primary
roads and super highways has come
in for some bitter criticism, the peo
ple in the rural districts coming for
ward to register deep indignation.
Headed by J. A. Everett and H. A
Eariv. adej^a^m asked the board
in having the
road from Hamilton*to the Halifax
County line via Palmyra paved as
soon as possible.
Heading a seven-man delegation,
John W. Eubanks of Hassell appeal
ed to the board in the interest of the
load from Butler’s Bridge on High
way No. 125 to Fountain's Cross
Roads via Hassell. “We can’t get out
during bad weather without getting
stuck in the mud,” Mr. Eubanks ex
plained in advancing an appeal to the
commissioners to exercise their in
fluence in having the road surfaced
as soon as possible. The delegation
also pointed out the bad condition
existing on the road running by D.
W. Etheridge’s farm and on the Cox
Downs road. They were too narrow
and there are many bad hills, the
delegation spokesman pointed out in
describing the present condition of
the roads.
The commissioners passed a resolu
tion asking the state to add 1.1 miles
of road in Griffins Township, Tun
ing by Arthur C. and Oscar B. Rob
erson, to the highway system.
The Williamston Junior Chamber
of Commerce was exempt of county
taxes on the club-sponsored circus
playing in the county a few weeks
ago.
Johnnie Williams and others, heirs
of L. H. Williams, were relieved of
cost and penalty on old land sales for
taxes on property listed to L. H. Wil
liams in Williams Township in the
sum of $14.50.
W. T. Bunting, Robersonville, was
granted license to sell 20 percent
wines provided he can qualify indcr
state law.
Tax relief orders were granted in
a few cases for the 1944 tax year, as
follows:
Daniel Webster, $2, double-listed
in Jamesville Township. Henry Bell,
$5.30, double-listed in Williams
Township. Earl Taylor, $2, died in
Williams Township. William Man
ning, $4.31, of Griffin Township,
dead, and Woodrow Wrisby, $2, Grif
fins Township, now in Army. Four
were relieved in Williamston Town
ship: H E. Bellflower, $2, physical;
P. E. Cherry, $2, Army; Ivory Hem
mingway, $2, Army, and Lindsley
White, $2, dead. Ira Manning, $4.73,
Cross Roads, dead. Raleigh Gurgan
us, $2, Robersonville, for physical
disability. John Wesley Dunn, $3.05,
of Hamilton, Army.
Making his turn-over to the com
missioners for last month. Clerk of
Court, L. B. Wynne submitted $2,
382.55, the amount being about the j
largest, if not the largest, ever turned !
into the county treasurer in any one
month. All but $158.25 was collected
in Judge J. C. Smith's recorder’s1
court, fines amounting to $1,380.00
and costs totaling $844.30. The j
$158.25 was collected as costs in the I
superior court. The county court
was in session only two days during
the month. |
Reviewing tax collections for the
commissioners, Tax Collector M. L.
Peel stated that $92,447.58 of the 1945
levy of $188,759.65 had been collect
ed. All but $4,379.83 of the 1944
levy of $194,196.08 had been collect
ed.
Charged With Posteating
And Transporting Liquor
Guilford Brown was defamed last i
Saturday night when Patrolman W
E. Saunders found him transporting
a gallon of illicit liquor on Highway
17, near Williamston. Brown’s old
model Chevrolet is being held sub
ject to confiscation orders by the
court.
Brown was accompanied by Louis
Riddick and Washington and Samuel
planning, colored.
ROUND-UP
County, state and local officers
haid a fairly busy time last weei
end when they rounded up ana
jailed twelve persons, one of
them twice during the period.
Eight of the twelve were
charged with public drunken
ness,, two with larceny and re
ceiving of an automobile, and one
each for disorderly conduct and
non-support.
Nine of the dozen were white,
and the ages of the group ranged
from 21 to 60 years.
I
! LITTLE CONFUSION |
V.. - ^
After operating on "fast" time
since February, 1942, the nation
went back to standard time Sun
day morning without too much
confusion. However, the change
was not very smooth locally.
Some one misplaced the key to
the town’s clock tower and the
hands moved an hour ahead un
til after 8 o’clock Sunday morn
ing. Western Union clocks,
maintained by individuals in
their places of business, held to
the daylight saving schedule in a
few instances until late yester
Those who observed the day
light schedule found themselves
getting hungry about an hour
ahead of time Monday, but no
body complained about being
able to ileen an hour longer each
morning.
Town Authorities
Withdraw All Fees
From Officers Here
_ ——•—
I)iSTUBS Other Problems At
Long Session Held
Last Evening
-A
After discussing quite a few
problems, more or less of a routine
nature, the local town commis
sioners in their regular meeting last
evening devoted a full hour to a
study of the police department, look
ing toward a closer cooperation be
tween the officers and the officials.
No concerte action was taken other
than the issuance of an order with
drawing all fees for arresting of
ficers. While no charge was made,
it was suggested that the fee system
could possibly prompt unnecessary
arrests. “If the officers’ salaries are
not adequate, we should increase
them and not let the fee system en
ter into the picture,” one commis
sioner suggested. But salaries were
not increased at the meeting.
In their police department discus
sion, the commissioners were told
that only one officer is allowed to
sign warrants, that adequate street
patrols are not being maintained. It
was also pointed out that officers are
not allowed any arrest fees, that
they are allowed a witness fee of $1
in each case in which they figure.
These fees ordinarily run around
around $30 a month, and the amount
is fairly equally divided among three
of the four regular officers.
Mayor John L. Hassell was direct
ed to advise the officers that the
witness fee would be denied them
in the future, that a greater cooper
ation is expected. It was also sug
gested that a joint meeting of the
commissioners and police be helij on
the first Monday in November for a
cooperative study of law enforce
ment.
Going before the board ,an ap
plicant was deneid a palmistry li
cense.
Appearing before the meeting
Alice Hyman asked that Hyman
Street be widened and extended and
that a light be placed in that sec
tion.
A street light was ordered install
ed in the backlot just to the rear of
Rose’s store.
The purchase of a $3,500 street
sweeper was mentioned, but no ac
tion was taken.
A committee was named to get an
option on a lot for locating a pump
ing station for the town’s water sys
tem. No definite site was chosen,
but the meeting suggested a loca
(Continued on page four)
Willie W. Mizell Granted
An Honorable Discharge
SWANNANOA—T/5 Willie W.
Mizell of Route No. 1, Williamston,
has been granted an honorable dis
charge at the Separation Station of
Moore General Hospital here.
Sgt. Mizell was inducted into the
army September 27, 1940 and after
training at Fort Bragg he served
overseas three years with the 9th
Division of the 47th Infantry Regi
ment asa lineman. He saw action in
Sicily, France, Belgium, Germany
and North Africa.
The son of Mrs. James A. Roberson
he wears the Combat Infantry Badge
for meritorious achievement in ac
tion, the Bronze Star, and the Purple
Heart for battle wounds iri action.
Hit-And-Run Driver It
Arretted By Patrolman
Charged with hit-and-run driving,
Oscar Cherry, colored, was arrested
last week by Highway Patrolmen
and Bethel officers, and will be giv
en a hearing within the next few
days over in Edgecombe County.
| Cherry is alleged to have side
swiped a car driven by Claude Free
man on the Bethel-Hassell Highway
a week ago. He is alleged to have
driven his car home and wrapped it
up with sacks.
Over $35,800 Paid
For County Schools!
During First Month
_——*—
IWWTeacher* On An Av
erage, Receiving More
Than White Teacher*
Martin Countv's school faculty, ex
clusive of maintenance forces and
mechanics, were paid $35,851,83 in
salaries for the first month of the
current term. The lion's share, over
$25,000, went to the 154 teachers in
the elementary schools. The total
pay roll is slightly larger than usual
since some of the salaries covered a
six weeks period.
A break down of the salary figures
follows:
High school principals: twelve
white, $2,337.62; two colored. $802.00,
for six weeks.
High school teachers, sixteen
white, $2,351.03, six colored,
$1,018.98.
Elementary teachers: 76 white,
$12,110.08; 78 colored, $12,968.74.
Elementary principals: one white,
$319.50; one colored, $2)3.00 for six
weeks
Janitors: twe!ver$V,2S»?35s-««a^BB
Truck drivers, forty, $540.00.
Vocational departments; three
white home economics teachers,
$585.13; one colored home economics
teacher, $205.90. Agriculture: two
white teachers, $386.00; two colored
teachers, $378.00.
Superintendents’ office, $416.50.
A comparison of salaries shows
that colored teachers, pn an average
are receiving more pay than the
white, that both have fairly sizable
increases over their 1944 salaries.
Last year, the 75 white elementary
teachers received $10,032.62, an aver
age of $133.76 as compared with $160
received thi syear. The 76 colored
teachers last year received $10,782.31,
an average of $141.87. This year, the
78 colored elementary teachers re
ceived $12,968 74, an average of
$160.00.
In the high schools, the 17 white
teachers last year received $2,104.99,
or $123.82 on an average. This year,
the sixteen white teachers received
$2,351.63, or an average of $148.98.
The six colored high sqhool teachers
last year received $835.33 or $139.22
on an average. This year they re
ceived $1,018.98 or an average of
$169.83.
The colored elementary teachers in
this county, on an average, are re
ceiving about $6 a month more than
the white. The colored elementary
teachers are receiving about $22.85
more than the white teachers, on an
average.
Possibly the colored teachers, on ]
an average, hold higher certificates
than (he white.
The state paid all the $35,851.83 ex :
cept for vocational teachers which |
amounted to $1,555.03, the county I
and federal governments supporting
those services.
McAuliffe Says War
Fund Still Needed
—*—
Few men have attained such de- !
served fame for the use of well-tim
ed slang as Major General A. C. Me- |
Auliffe. His classic answer to the
German commander who demanded
the surrender of the badly beleag
uered American troops at Bastogne— '
“Nuts"—will long be remembered.
General McAuliffe is now the com
manding general at Camp Mackall.
From him State Chairman Victor S.
Bryant has recently received the fol
lowing letter:
Dear Mr. Bryant:
For many thousands of our wound
ed in hospitals the war is not yet
over and will not be over for many
months to come. In addition there
are millions in wartorn lands who
are in need of aid which is dependent
on funds raised through organiza
tions such as those represented in the
National War Fund. During my ser
vice in Europe I hud an opportunity
to see the great work that USO
Camp Shows was doing to relieve
the boresome and homesickness
which are the inevitable accompani
ment of occupation duties following
the war. I feel that the National War
Fund is a most worthy cause and I
hope that it will receive enthusiastic
support.
I TOBACCO SALES |
v*
Tobacco sales exceeded the
seven - million - pound mark on
the local market this morning, a
semi-official report placing the
sales through last Friday at 6,
857,328, Up until that time,
$2,995,508.28 had been paid the
growers, the average price for
the season to date being $43.83.
Approximately seventy per
cent of the crop has been sold in
this section, and it is fairly cer
tain that the glut will be reliev
ed it not eliminated by the letter
part of this week. However, to
bacco moved in in fairly large
quantities over the week-end,
filling two of the first sale hous
es before yesterday. It is now
fairly certain that by the latter
part of this week and certainly
by next Tuesday tobacco can be
delivered one day for sale the
next, and possibly for sale the
same day by the middle of next
week.
Repeat A p peal fora n A ll-()ut
Support for United War Fundi
On tht'Tve of the' 1943 Unrn'iS.Htii
Fund Drive, County Chairman Clar
emee W. Guttm today directed an
otter appeal to every rm.n, woman
and child in Martin County to sup
port the campaign to the limit. Mar
tin County is being asked to raise
$13,232.96 during the drive schedul
ed to get underway throughout the
nation tomorrow. This county has
met every challenge in the past, and
while the amount asked this year is
slightly larger, it is believed that our
people will not slow down until they
have raised the amount to make cer
tain that the pages of history will
not show they quit until every ser
vice flag came down.
The fund is slightly larger than
last year because the new budget is
based on fifteen months instead of
twelve, and this is slated to be the
last drive for the fund.
During the war years, the Fund
sad trouble in reaching many places,
rhe only drawback possible now can
be insufficient funds. Th'- need is
— i~—Qe ma th'
war. and Generals Marshal!. Eisen
hower, and MacArthur have called
upon the fund to continue and in
crease its activities. President Tru
man is speaking tonight at 10:30
o’clock in behalf of the campaign
and he will be followed by other
prominent leaders.
Chairman Clarence Griffin has
named his committees for the vari
ous districts and most of the commit
tee heads have perfected their or
ganizations and plan to start the can
vass for funds tomorrow with the
hope that the task may be completed
within a short time The general ,
public is leinillded that the canvass-I
ers work without remuneration, that
they are working because they have
heard the calls from ranking goner
als and the pleas from starving souls
across the seas. Help the canvass
ers by having your donation ready,
making a second solicitation unne
cessary.
*\
!
)
Receiving an appeal from tlu*
service hospitals, the Red Cross
Ls calling upon production units
here and throughout the nation
to make hospital supplies and
articles for the wounded.
The production unit here has
been asked to accept a sizable
quota, but acceptance is being
delayed until sufficient -workers
volunteer their services.
Mrs. N. C. Green, chairman of
the production unit, will gladly
list the names of volunteers and
accept the quota when an ample
number of workers is available
to handle It.
Pfc. Lucius Turner
Tells Experiences
On Okinawa In May
--
Boyw I .earned To Fray And
Prayed Mueli During Critical
Diiyii On The Jap Island
-<*,
Writing to his parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Ruel E. Turner of Oak City,
under date of September !), Pfc. Luc
ius R. Turnei relates a few of his ex
periences on Okinawa and in other
areas beginning last May.
Stationed at the time the letter
was written on Mindora Island, the
young man briefly mentioned the
weather, declared he was getting
along fine and getting plenty to eat
for a change, and added that censor
ship had been lifted. Going back to
the Okinawa campaign, he said:
“I hit the island of Okinawa on
the fifth day of May, 1945 I was as
signed to my outfit on May 8 and
went into the line on May 10th. I
didn’t have much time to chat with
the fellows, but one thing they told
me was that when they came off the
line on the first of May there were
only 35 men left out of their com
pany. That gave me a queer feeling.
They also told me that if I hadn’t
been used to praying, I soon would
be.
“I was just a member of a litter
bearer team, and I thought that was
tough, especially in all the mud and
water. I mean I really hated to see
a large fellow get hit. Well, I hated
to see anyone get hit, but the large
fellows were a pain for us as well as
for them. I’d try to double-time, but
in most cases all I could do was
creep.
“I was also called upon to help de
liver C rations when a company was
pinned down. We had to take ra
tions and water to them under the
cover of darkness. One company
was pinned down for two days, and
we pulled up arid went in to help
them out of the tough spot. There
were many casualties and we had to
help them with their litter cases.
“One of our shells fell short and
wiped nine men out of a platoon and
(Continued on page four)
Minor Accident He ported
Near Jamesville Saturday
No one was hurt but property
damage amounted to about $200
when two cars crashed on Highway
64 near Jamesville about 12:20
o’clock last Saturday morning.
Clyde Tilghman Modlin, U S.
Navy, stationed at Yorktown, Va.,
was on his way home when Jos. J.
Walker, of Washington, D. C\, and
Jamesville, started to turn around on
the highway and virtually blocked
the road. Walker accepted the re
sponsibility and paid for the damage
done to the Modlin car.
l)a ml L. Muelle Promoted
To Private First Class
-e
MANILA. — David C. Mi/.elle,
whose wife, Alvarita, and young
daughter reside in Williamston, has
been promoted to private first class
while serving as supply clerk at the
5th Replacement Depot near Manila.
Pfc. Mizelle has served overseas
five months and now wears the
Asiatic-Pacific and Philippine Liber
ation ribbons.
! itmflpi ! .iwiijuiplrty
Tins An* Allotted
By Rationing Board
Allotiiirul For (airrrut Monili
Slightly Smaller Than
Srplmihrr (Jiioln
One hundred and thirty tiros—102
for passenger cars and 2H for trucks
-were issued by the Martin County
War Price and Rationing Board last
Friday.
The passenger tire quota for the
current month is slightly smaller
than the September quota, the num
her dropping from 390 to 370. Truck
tire quotas for the month were not
changed, it was learned.
Passenger car tires were released
to the following:
Lester J. Griffin, J. B. Biggs, Mar
ion Evans, C. T. Gaines, W. Jackson
Holliday, Jesse Lee Hale, W T Hurst,
Woolard Furniture Co., Manning’s
Laundry, It. S. Courtney, Harry Rob
erson, Harry E. Mobley, Cleo Jack
son, Jimmie Roberson, N. W Wors
ley, Wiley B. Rogerson, Mrs. Dora C.
Rawls, (). P. Roberson, A. F. Weaver,
J. W. Hardy, James Reddick, Willie
W. Briley, W T. Andrews, Arthur
Peaks, Henry Gabe Roberson, John
C. Gurganus, Leslie W. Hardison, El
belt Roberson, John Stalls, C G.
Crockett, Jr., 11 A. Early, 1). S. Cobb,
D. R Chandler, J. W. Martin, Church
M -i-M-i - A Highsm’ito, Mrs...
Alic< B Tyson, Fernander Bowen, J
Sam Getsmger, Mrs. Shirley It
White, Sim Bell, R A. Haislip, Hu
belt C. Smith, Dorothy Wilson, Le
Roy Harrison, Dr. A. J. Osteen, Earl
M. Coburn, Edith Mardis, J. S.
Wynne, Joe Mizelle, H. E. Brown,
Daniel Gurganus, Ervin Roberson, j
Albert T. Perry, J. M. Saunders, W
E. Stevenson, Garfield Mobley, Ben
nie Bryant, V. R. Peaks, James A
Hassell, Better Chevrolet Co.
R. Sherrod Corey, Haywood Rog
erosn, Don E Johnson, Ernest
Owens, Ronald Clark, Fletcher G
Thomas, J. T. Harris, J. E. Copeland,
Sr., Hewett Edwards, N P. Robei
osn, Staton Griffin, Joe Daniel,
George W. Taylor, Shepard Lynch,
Asa 11 Crawford, B. B. Taylor, H. M
Peel, Clayton Lynch, Benny Styons,
H. L. Swain, W. T. Ross, H J. Brown,
E. B. Peele, Charles M. Hurst, Jr.,
Council Smith, Mrs. W. J Thomas.
Truck tires were issued to the fol
lowing:
A. C. Bailey, W S. Faulk, Robert
Pierce, G. D. Grimes, Jr , 11. L. Pur
vis, Will Wooten, Haywood Harrell,
Holt Evans, Harry C. Jones and Wil
liamston Lumber Co.
Union Attracts Lar^c Croud
At Smith nicks Creek Sunday
The union meeting held ut Smith
wicks Creek ti 1st Saturday and Sun
day attracted unsually large crowds,
the number approximating 800 to
1,000 Sunday. Several ministers, in
cluding two from out of the state,
occupied the pulpit that morning and
afternoon.
A bountiful feast, prepared by the
church membership and friends, was
enjoyed on the grounds early that
afternoon. When the meal was fin
ished, it looked as if the tables had
hardly been touched.
CLASS MEETING FRIDAY
The Philatl ea class of the Baptist
Church will meet with Mrs. Daisy
Pope m the Tar Hell Apartments Fri
day night, October 5, at eight o’clock.
WINTER SEED
Offered to farmers under the
Triple A grant-of-aid plan, limit
ed quantities of vetch, Austrian
winter peas and rye grass seed
are still available for distribu
tion, it was announced by the
county office this week.
Fairly large amounts of the
seed have already been distri
buted in the county, and other
farmers interested in cover crops
are directed to the county agent's
office for detailed information.
Robert McClaren Is
Turret Eleetriciau
Aboard Mississippi
Thiril Slop
Name Is A llappy Ship
County Youth Drclarcs
Robert, McClaren, E. M. 2/c. son of
Mr. and Mrs. R. T McClaren of Rob
ersonville, has sent a history of the
activities of the USS Mississippi to
his home folks.
Of his personal duties aboard the
big battleship. McClaren rays:
“Reporting aboard at Pear! Har
bor, Jan. 10, 1044, 1 missed out on
Kiska and Makin, but was in on
Kwajalein, Tarawa, Wotje, Kavierig,
, Pellilieu, Leyte, Luzon, Okinawa,
jand the famed battle of Surigao
j Strait. (
“The ship has taken two Japanese
suicide planes, one at Luzon and the
other in the moat recent battle for
Okinawa. Damage and casualties
were moderate.
“I am a turret electrician, having
charge of all electrical gear in No. II
turret. ”
The saga of the b.dG^ln^^Lb- S.
Aftei twenty-eight years of devoted
duty, her long, arduous, arid awe
inspiring careet was gratifyingly
climaxed when she, as one of Vice
Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf’s “old
battleships" of Battleship Squadron
One, sailed proudly into the Japs’
own Tokyo Bay as a member of Ad
miral “Bull” Halsey’s Third Fleet
Occupation Force.
The jaunt to Tokyo was a return
engagement for the Missy, the third
ship of the line to bear the state’s
name. Ninctv two years ago the
first Mississippi, as flagship for Com
modore M C. Perry sailed the un
charted waters of Tokyo Bay in an
expedition that opened the doors of
Japan to world commerce. The Com
manding officer of the original Missy
on that hazardous mission was Cap
tain Sidney Smith Lee, brother of
General Robert E. Lee. During the
War Between the States, Captain Lee
became commander-in-chief of the
Confederate Navy at the same time
General Robert E. Lee was Com
mander in-chief of the Confederate
Army. It was in this war that the
Mississippi was severely damaged in
the battle off Port Hudson and was
subsequently' destroyed.
The second Mississippi, displacing
13,000 tons, was commissioned in
1907. She played an early role in the
beginning of aviation, bid was, in
1913, decommissioned prior to World
War I and later sold to Greece.
The present Mississippi, now dis
placing 40,000 tons, was commission
ed on Decomhei 18, 1917 She saw
little action in the frist World War,
and contented herself in the interim
pel ido of peace with normal duties
in both Atlantic and Pacific Waters.
The fateful day of December 7,
found the Mississippi operating in
the North Atlantic with her sister
slups of Battleship Division Three,
tlie New Mexico and Idaho.
Already ah old lady, virtually un
tried in war, the Missy, as one of the
few undamaged battleships remain
ing, became the bulwark of defense
against the rapidly approaching
Nips.
From the icy waters of the North
Atlantic to the sweltering Solomons;
from the foggy Aleutians to the
typhoon-filled waters of the China
Sea, the Mississippi has been fighting
the war. supporting practically every
major amphibious landings in the
Pacific. Firing more than 12 million
pounds of steel at the enemy, prob
ably more than any one ship in all
history, she has participated in many
operations m the Pacific, and wus
flagshpi of Rear Admiral Weyler’s
battle line on the night the southern
force of tlie Jap navy was practically
annihilated in Surigao Strait by
Rear Admiral Oldendorf’s task
group, crossing the "T."
Skippered today by her 25th Com
manding Officer, Captain J. F.
Crowe, Jr., USN, of Washington, I).
C , the Mississippi is playing her part,
along with the other old battleships
of her class in the occupation of Jap
an.
The Missy, having been command
ed by such outstanding naval officers
of today as Admiral R. A. Spruance,
Admiral Reichmuth, and Admiral T.
S. Wilkinson, has lived up to the
tradition of tlie state for which she
is named for “true hospitality,”
which in the Navy means a “happy
ship ”
Hunters Open New
Season Yesterday
Bi aving mosquitoes and the hot
weather, quite a few hunters went
into the woods in this section yes
terday in search of squirrels and
deer, the day marking the opening
of the 1945 hunting season.
Bag limits were "batined in quite
a few eases, but riio.it of the hunters.
It was reported, fled from the woods
fie relief from the mosquitoes. No
reports on deer hunts could be had
immediately.
According to reports, game in
this section is more plentiful this
season than at any other time in
recent years. Squirrels are quite
numerous and birds have been seen
in unusually large numbers.
The season was unofficially and
illegally opened some time ago.