VOLUME THIRTY-ONE FABMVIUJ1 PITT COUNTY, NORTH CABOUNA. FRIDAY, MAT SI, 1940 NUMBER TWO
f , ,
Open House Celebration
Held On 30th Birthday
The Enterprise" and
Building* & Loan Assn.
Entertain Friends Up
on Anniversary and
Opening New Offices
Editor G. A. Souse held an Open
House Celebration on Wednesday
evening from 8:00 to 11:00, the oc
casion marking the 30th Anniversary
of The Enterprise and the formal
opening of the new office of the
Farmville Building and Loan Asso
ciation, both being housed in the
buildings on North Main street, pur
chased from J. W. Holmes by The
Rouse Printery, G. A. Rouse, owner
and manager, and secretary-treasur
er of the Farmville Building and
Loan Association.
The windows had been calling at
tention for several days to the ap
proaching event; the Enterprise win
dow being centered with a large por
trait of Benjamin Franklin, and
furnished as a sitting room in re
production furniture of that period,
including a whatnot, chair, hooked
rug, tier table, needlepoint pillow, a
framed broadside of sayings from
Poor Richard's Almanack, several
interesting old specimens of print
ing, books and newspapers, among
which were the old Tyson Bible,
printed in 1802, bound in deer skin,
loaned by Mrs. George, W. Jefferson,
of Fountain, the owner; the Crusader
file of 1852, bequeathed to his first
1-- i?
naniesiiAe ujr uxc xjxmiwi ><
Henry Morrill, and owned by his
great grandson, Henry Morrill Skin
ner. The Enterprise is indebted to
the Farmville Furniture Co., for the
loan of furniture for this window.
The Building & Loan window sug
gested plans for new homes and a
placard informed window shoppers
that here are the new headquarters
of the Farmville Building and Loan
Association, with the invitation to
come in for a visit.
Quantities of roses, larkspur,
sweetpeas and ragged robins were
used in the floral decorations of the
newly painted and remodeled build
ing, with the color note of pink and
green being effectively carried.
Editor Rouse and niece, Mrs. J. A.
Reagan, of Rocky Mount, and W. A.
McAdams, president of the Building
and Loan Association, and Mrs. Mc
Adams greeted the guests as they
arrived.
Assisting in receiving during the
evening were members of the first
stock company, owning THE ENTER
v PRISE, John T. Thome and Mrs.
Thome, A. C. Moruc and Mrs. Monk,
J. 0. Pollard and Mrs. Pollard; offi
cers and members of the board of di
rectors of the Farmville Building and
Loan Association, Manly Liles and
IJIas. John B. Lewis and Mrs.
Lewis, J. D. Gates and Mrs. Gates,
and B. L. Lang; members of "The
Enterprise" force, T. B. Rouse and
Mrs. Rouse, Charles Gayle and Miss
Emily Gayle, Mrs. M. W. Lincke and
Mrs. Evelyn Harlow, of Nashville;
J. H. Moore, superintendent of the
Farmville graded school, and Mrs.
Moore, who as president. of the
Woman's Club, represented the wom
en's organizations; T. E. Joyner,
president of the Chamber of Com
merce and Merchants Association,
and Mrs. Joyner; Mayor' and Mrs.
George W. Davis; Rev. C. B. Mash
burn, secretary of the Ministerial
Association, and Mrs. Mashburn; Ed
Nash Warren, president of the Rotary
Club, and Mrs. Warren; W. S., Roys
tar, president of the Farmville To
bacco Board of Trade, and Mrs. Roys
ter; J. I. Morgan, representing Farm
vine's industries, and Mrs. Morgan;
Dr. Paul E. Jones, representing Farm
vole's professional group, and Mrs.
Jones; Mrs. M. V. Jones, a former
of the office force, and Mr.
Miss Mary Friar Rouse, daughter
of the Editor, Miss Hazel Monk and
Mfiw Eva Mae Turnage, Richard Har-1
ris, Bob Fixer and James Monk served
punch and cookieh from a candle
lighted table, which also bore floral
decorations carrying .the chosen color
note.
Mrs. Eva Horton Shaekleford, asso
ciate editor, and Miss Helen Rouse
had charge of the register.
Receiving the greatest attention
from visitors was the exhibit of old
Enterprises, furnished in most part
by MfarThhttfta M. DeViseonti, J. W.
Joyner mi Mrs. John 7. Thome, Miss
DeViseonti receiving the award for
bringing in the oldest issue, dated
May ?, 1912.
Operation of the presses and lnter
type machine by Charles Carroll, yras
Mil Iiiilinn iir miti
visitor's name in type as a souvenir.
also
Hosorod
gMflgygy on
MAYOR DAVIS PROCLAIMS
JUNE AS DAIRY MONTH
- i
WHEREAS, milk and its products
constitute an important part of the
diet of our entire population and are
an absolute essential part of the
daily food supply of many of our
citizens; and
WHEREAS, it is generally recog-.
nized that our present consumption
of milk is far short of the amounts
considered by nutrition authorities
as proper and practical, namely, one
quart daily for children through
adolescence and one pint daily for
adults,
NOW, THEREFORE, I, George W.
Davis, Mayor of the City of Farm
ville, do hereby proclaim June 1st to
30th next inclusive, as DAIRY
MONTH and ask the citizens of
Farmville to give recognition
through act and deed to this great
industry, and to the 100,000 mem
bers of our farm families in the
State who are engaged in dairy
farming through which we are sup
plied with this vital food
Given under my hand and the seal
of the City of Farmville, this 29th
day of May, 1940.
Plea Is Made
ByRed Cross
Funds Sought to Re
lieve War-Torn Area
J. Nat Harrison, chairman of the
Pitt county chapter of the American
Red Cross, today received the self
explanatory telegram from Norman
H. Davis, national Red Cross chair
man:
When American Red Cross asked
minimum war relief fun ten million
dollars no one could foresee that in
two short weeks greatest tragedy in
all history would unfold. Impossible
to describe pitiful plight millions
refugees in France. Sick, wounded,
hungry and homeless. They cry out
to us for help. Will need much more
than ten million dollars, therefore
quotas originally assigned should be
regarded only as minimum immedi
ate objectives. Chapters should then
go on and where possible double
their quotas. In fact only limita
tions should be maximum generosity
of American people. Wir^ . reports
Wednesdays and Saturdays.
The first voluntary contribution to
the Red Cross fund was received yes
terday from F. L. Little of Ayden,
who sent in two dollars. Contribu
tions will be received at the Cham
ber of Commerce offices or at either
of the two local daily newspapers.
Building & Loan
Has New High
For Month April
Loans Totalling $2,974,
327 Made by Associa
tions of North Caro
lina; $437,000 More
Than Last Month
Monthly home loans of the build
ing and loan and Federal savings
and loan associations of North Caro
lina made a new all-time high dur
ing April, it was stated by Wheeler
! Martin of Williamston, President of
the North Carolina Building and
Loan League, when the record-break
ing total of $2,974,323 of loans were
made by these institutions. He ex
plained that this represented more
than 1,700 home loans of which 694
were for construction of new homes,
thus . aiding the construction of in
dustry, labor, the local business
firms, and all the others who supply
directly or indirectly the materials
going into the construction of a
home. This loan figure topped the
March volume by more than ,$437,000
which up to this time was considered
the best month that these home fi
nancing institutions have ever ex
perienced from the standpoint of
loans. Martin attributed much of
the credit for this tremendous loan
volume to the Newspaper Advertis
ing campaign which was conducted
by the associations during the letter
put of March and April top explain
to the public the advantages of get
ting home loans from their . local
. building and ken and Federal sav
ings and loan associations.
In a breakdown of the loan fig
ures he revpaled that construction
loans amounted to $1,301,378, while
363 new homes were purchased,
HIGH SmmL^GRADUAT^ ^ ^
MARJORIE LEE PARKER
Valedictorian of '40 Class
WILLIAM CARTER POLLARD
Salutatorian of '40 Class
Rev. D. A. Clarke Ad
dresses Senkr Class
Numbering Forty;
Thursday Night; Clos
ing Events Tonight
V
Rev. D. A. Clarke, pastor -of tie
Farmville Methodist Church, deliv
ered a message of deep thought and
great inspiration to the forty mem
bers of the '40 class of the Farm
ville high school, in the baccalaureate
sermon on Sunday evening. A large
number of parents and friends were
in attendane.
Prayers were offered by Rev. C.
B. Mashburn, pastor of the Christian
Church, and the scripture lesson was
read by the Rev. Mr. Clarke.
The Glee'Club, with Mrs. Haywood
Smith as accompanist, rendered sev
eral aeletions. .
The graduation exercises will be
held, tonight, Friday, at eight o'clock,
with Superintendent J. H. Moore, 1
presiding. William Carter Bill I
Pollard, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. 0.
Pollard, as salutatorian, will make
opening speech, and Marjorie Lee
Parker, daughter of the late Mr. and
Mrs. Jim Parker, as valedictorian
will make the class address.
County Superintendent D. H. Con
ley will introduce the speaker of the
occasion, State Superintendent Clyde
A. Erwin, of Raleigh. 1
Diplomas will be delivered by Dr.
Paul E. Jones to the largest class of
graduates in the history of the
school, including Edward Nichola,
Vassar Fields, Hugh Rasberry, Jr.,
E. C. Carr, Jr., Thomas Warren Wil
lis, J. A. Taylor, Lounell Morgan,
Virginia Bundy, Etna Lewis, Verna I
Ray Heath, Pauline Farmer.
Nellie Letchworth, Lucille Davis,
Carol Hinson, Bill Pollard, Marjorie
Lee Parker, Mavis Leggett, Chris
tine Joyner, Mary Heath, Geraldine
Skinner, Dorothy Skinner, Mary
Brock, Telza Williams, Elizabeth
Moore,' Dalton Corbett, Frances Car
tway, Weldon Ellis, Nelson Fulford.
Linwood Brock, Hume Paschall, I
Arthur Joyner, Jr., Charles Cash,
Olive Taylor, Jesse Gay, James Mc
Conflell, Evelyn Wooten, J. K. Cobb,
and Norwood Jones. ^ I
J. Iv Morgan will present seventh
grade certificates; the P. T. A. prize
will be delivered by Mrs. Claude L.
Barrett, Association pesident, and
other prizes for outstanding achieve
ments will be. presented by Superin
tendent. J., H. Moore. J
On Tuesday evening of this wpek
th piano pupils of Mrs. Haywood
Smith and Mrs. C. W. Rogers pre
sented a recital program of musical
masterpieces in Perkins Hall, which
was heard by a large assembly of
muBic lovers and friends of the I
young musicians.
The recital was a splendid demon
stration of improvement made by ad
vanced pupils and of the excellent I
work being done by the beginners.
The program was as follows:
Hungarian Dance Number 5?Bra<*
Lntwa k?f UftloTI "Pnttflft
X1AUIO) M/ *?v
The Kiss?Arditi, by Joyce Tyson.
The Dress Parade?Wilson, Donald
Baucom.
Apple Blossom?Englemann, Nan
cy Gates.
Thirds on Parade?Wolfe, Mary
Ellen Kittrell.
Dream of a Waltz?Jahn, Dora
Mae Barrett.
Butterfly?Merkel, -Mary Lea
Thome. >
Fifth Nocture?Leyback, Janie
Kemp.' ?: x -
V&lse Chromatique?Goddard, Lil
la Gaynor. ?
Grande Marche De Concert? Wol
lenkaupt, Cornelia Knott
Falling Waters?1Truax, Mary Faye
Smith.
Love Dream?Liszt, Ann Oglesby.
My Riches?Innis, Lucy Moore.
/ Grant's March?Wolf, Cedric Dav
is.
Dancing Spirits?Bohm, Jeanp
Keese. N
Whistling Down the Road I go?
Munn, Emerson Roebuck.
The Fairy Wedding?Turner, Jane
Turnage.
Walt? in A Flat?Brahams, Harry
Davis. ,
Cherry Blossoms?Wright, Vivian
Scott
Paul Plays the Sax?Felton; Spooky
Night Mare?Ralsett, Jackie Willis.
Hyacinth?Stoughton, Etta Frances
Harper. * r
Playful Ronda?Greene, Betsy Wil
lis Jones.
Mountain Belle?Kinkel, Marjorie
Reese. .;; .f -P.' ? - . ~ j|/
Prelude?Chopin; On the Meadow
?Bohm, Johnsie Mae Moore.
Caro Mia Ben?Giordanni, Billy
Smith.
flower Song?Lange, Wilms Slaa
? I
Heliotrope?Lichner, Lois Jones. K,;
% | Scheno-^Mendelssohn, Aim Joneat;
Theme From the Unfinished Sym
phony?Schubort, Jon Esley.
of? Autumn* -<)mer, Hu.1
PITT TO SEND LARGE
DELEGATION TO ANNUAL
MEETING IN RALEIGH
' /
Pitt County will send 200 dele
gates to the combined annual meet
ing of the members of the North
Carolina Cotton Growers Coopera
tive Association and the
patrons of the Farmers Cooperative
Exchange in Raeligh on Wednesday,
June 5, according to word received
here today from M. G. Mann, gener
al manager of the two cc-operatives.
The meeting, whicljf is held an
nually, will start in the Baleigh
Memorial Auditorium promptly at
1 o'clock and arrangements have"
been made to take care of anexpect
ed crowd of 5,000 farmers and farm
women represting every section of
the State. The ^State-wide gathering
climaxes a series of 30 local meet
ings at which delegates were select
ed.
Congressman Graham Barden ? of
the third North Carolina district will
deliver the principal address. His
subject will be: "How National Leg
islation and Farm Co-operatives Can
Aid the Farmer."
A full and detailed report on last
year's operations of both the Cot
ton Association and the FCX will be
presented to the assembled mem
bers by Mr. Mann and the meeting
will then be thrown open for a gen
eral discussion from the floor.
One of the highlight of the day
will be the induction into office of
the co-operatives' directors. John T.
Thome of Farmville is one of the di
rectors of the Cotton Association for
the coming year.
"We have to have every county in
the State represented as well as a
number of FCX patrons from South
Carolina," Mr. Mann said as he is
sued a blanket invitation for all co
era tive members to be present and
learn more about their farmer
owned and fanner-controlled co-op
operatives?the Cotton Associaion
and the FCX.
SCOUT NOTES
The regular meeting1 of Farmville
Boy Scout Troops No. 25, was held
at 7:30 o'clock Friday night. We
opened our meeting with the Scout
Oath, Law and Pledge to the Flag.
Scoutmaster C. L. Ivey talked to. us
about getting leaders for the new
Club Pack, and we decided on Dana
Rucker and Bob Paylor. After Mr.
Ivey finished he turned the meeting
over to Mr. Rucker, who talked i to
us .about getting more Clubs. After,
playing for aVew games the meet
ing was adjourned with the Scout
Benediction. ? *
Milton Williamson, Scribe.
Marvin Horton, Asst. Scribe.
State Clinic To Be
Held June 7th
We wish to remind our readers of
the State Orthopedic Clinic to be
held next Friday in Greenville, June
7, 1940, from 12:30 to 4 p. m.
This Clinic takes all types of crip
ples, both white and colored, free
of charge who are unable to afford
private treatments. It is desired,
though not required, that patients be
referred by a physician or the Wel
fare Officer, and. that the patient
bring such note to the Clinic.
The Clinic is set up to k serve es
pecially the Counties of Beaufort*
Carteret, Pamlico, Pitt and Tyrell,
though patients from other Counties
who desire to come may do so.
The Clinic is conducted by Dr.
- Hugh A. Thornton, orthopaedist,
f Raleigh North Carolina. This Clin
ic has been running for something
over three years and is now serving
a large number of cripples, adults as
i well as children, in this area,
i The Pitt Healh Department Offlc
, es are located-at the corner of Third
, and Greene Streets, - Greeneville,
I North Carolina.
Elizabeth Barrett
La Zingana?Bohm, Bobby Smith.
Sailors Dance?Lawson, Sterling
Gates.
The Song of the Swallow?Bohm,
Agnes Quinerly.
Eurydice?Kinder, Carolee McCon
nell. ; 1
Silver Stars?Bohm, Margaret Ty
son.
Country Gardens?Grainger, Ruth
Parker.
Valse Arabesque?Lock, Yvonne
Smith.
The senir play, "June in January"
given on Thursday evening, under the
capable direction of Miss Ellen
Lyles, and by a splendid cast pror
vided an evening of good entertain
ment and won favorable comment
and praise from the large audience.
HOME > EC CLASSES
STAGE FASHION SHOW
On Wednesday afternoon, at 2:15
o'clock Miss Verona L. Joyner's
home economics class presented a
lovely fashion show in Perkins Hall
with high school students, mothers
and many other friends attending.
The background was a garden scene
with red rdses predominating.
Prior to the raising of the curtain
Miss Mary Elizabeth Barrett intro
duced the show to the audience and
extended appreciation to the "Shop of
Charm" for their courtesy in styl
ing the hair of the following for
the show: x
Wilma Stansill, Grace Beamon,
Frances Howard, Mary Laurie Skin
ner, Anne Jones, Addie Ruth Taylor,
Dorothy Melton, Doris Turner,
and Hazel Wellons. ? ?
- The announcer for the Show who
gave comments and announced the
models was Frances Howard.
The first type of dress was the
street costume, which was modeled
by the following girls:
Cornelia Kftott, Lois Jones, Doris
Turner, Myrtle Nichol, Dorothy
Jones, Agnes Quinerly, ^ucille Al
len, Addie Ruth Taylor, and Hazel
Wellons.
? A
Next were sport costumes ior
beach wear, golfing, hiking, and ten
nis. The models for these were: golf
?Mary Anne Townsend and Bonnie
Bell - Baldree; bicycling?Rosebud.
Tyson; hiking?Rosa Reid Russell'
add Alice Harper Parker; tennis?
Dorothy Melton, Doris Turner, And
Helen Rouse; beach wear?Wilma
Stansill, Nancy Gates, Doney Jones,
and Hazel Wellons.
The third feature was school dress
es with the girls . entering ?.while
sirfging "School Days." Then they
circled the stage and as their names
were called they turned around. They
were: Mableree Allen, Frances Lew
is, Lucy Mae Farmer, Blanche
Rouse, Laureatte H o 1 1 a m a n,
Feddie Pearl Redic, Annie Laurie
Wooten, J. Hazel Mozingo and Glad
ys Lyson.
Then five outstanding school dress
es 'made this year were modeled , by
Dorothy Melton, Myrtle Nichols,
Cornelia Privette, Rosebud Aber
nathy, and Edna Ruth Ivey, after
which the models left the stage
singing "School Days."
Nigbtwear was shown next
Princess housecoats and tailored pa*
jamas were modeled. They were
made of oool summer prints. These
garments were constructed by eight
(8th) grade girls. The girls Who
modeled housecoats, were Marie
Gregory and Ruth Williams. Then'
these for models entered wearing
pajamas?Lois Jones, Dorothy Mel
ton and Margie Mozingo, Rachel An
drews.
Afternoon dresses with appropri
ate accessories were modeled by:
Dorothy Clarke, Grace Lewis, Alice
Harper Parkej, Wilma Stansill, Car
ey Ahn Johnson, Edna Ruth Tyson,
Grace Beamon, Marie Gregory, Mas
tietchworth, Anhto' Skinner
?and Myrtle Nkbols. . .
The last type modeled was
ly summer evening gown made by
Annie Jones.
Miss Jones, 6th^ grade teacher, ae
________ ' ??
EUROPEAN *
Berlin.?Germans gay Lille," Os
tend captured; predict annihilation
or surrender pf half million trapped
Allies within two days:
Paris.?Fiercely fighting Allied
main body retreats toward Channel,
French rear guard battles Germans
in Lille streets; Dunkerque only re
maining sea escape; French wipe
last German-held bridgehead on
south side of Somme in heavy of
fensives along 200-mile Somme
Aisne front. ?
London.?R. A. F. blasts Germans
in effort to keep Dunkerque outlet
open; Americans, other foreigners
placed under wartime restrictions;
King sends encouragement to im
perilled troops; British capture Nar
vik, Norway ore port.
Rome.?Italy expected to strike in
Mediterranean and southward, rath
er than directly against France.
M o s c o w.?Russia cold-shoulders
Cripps trade mission; demands ne
gotiations through Ambassador;
Cripps likely to succeed Seeds, Brit
ain's absentee-envoy.
Washintgon.?Roosevelt to ask
$600,000,000 more for emergency de
fense; all. air corps reserves to be
called to duty. ? , .
SUPERIOR
Paris, May 29j?A government
spokesman said today American air
planes now are arriving in Prance
"in considerable quantities" and are
showing their superiority in action
over "anything on the front."
The spokesman said American
bombers especially were proving
their excellence.
Often, he said, these have been
able to dive within 30 yards of the
ground before cutting loose with
bombs and pulling out.
American bombers, the spokesman
declared, are much faster than Ger
many's and easy to maneuver.
' A French press dispatch from the
front today said;
"Magnificent American bombers
in which we have placed so much
hope already have entered the infer
nal battle of the north. They have
achieved resounding victories over
the German lines. All, so far have
returned to their bases safely."
VISITORS.
Visitors to the U. S. National For
ests have increased so rapidly that
they now number more .than 32,000,
000 each year and spend close to
$250,000,000 on their excursions.
Roosevelt Will
Request More
Millions for Arms
May Ask for 7^0 Mil
lions for Powerful
Mechanized Arm y
Equipment
Washington, May 29.?Military
lessons- learned fropi Germany's
blitzkrieg- led President Roosevelt to
day to rush preparation of a request
that Congress add another large sum
?probably $750,000,000?to - $1,182,
000,000 extraordinary defense fund.
General George C. Marshall,
Army Chief of Staff, was reported
to have told a House appropriations
subcommittee that $750,000,000
would be necessary to buy more pow
erful anti-tank guns, a new type of
light machine gun, additional mech
anizes equipment and other weapons.
Committee, mmbers said the gener
al testified that the relentless, march
of German troop already had dem
onstrated the comparative inefective
,ness of the 37-milLiqieter anti-tank
guns.
"That's why the French were forc
ed to use- their 75-millimeter field
guns at point blank range," one leg
islator said. "We may have to da*
velop a 90-millemeter weapon, the
same size, as our newest anti-air
craft guns to meet the situation." '
Members said the European war
also had demonstrated the need for
a light machin gun which soldiers
could strap on and fire at any angle
in front <of them. One member men
tioned a gun capable of firing 400
shots a minute. They said German
parachute troops and other units
used such guns with deadly effect.
Anti-Drive Bomber Gun
A new anti-aircraft gun "to com
bat the dive bombbrs also is beinf;
developed by the Army, members
smd^This weapon was ^scitted^as
bombers diving at their targets from
many directions.
Legislators said the supplemental
estimates also would include funds
for about 1,800 new airplanes, chief
ly trailing and pursuit types.
The place of aviation in tht de
fense program was empasizea again
during the day when Mr. Roosevelt
requested . immediate appropriation
of $1,200,000 to improve the research
laboratory of the National Advisory
Committee for Aeronautics at Lang
ley Field, Va.
In a letter to Speaker Bankhead,
meanwhile, Mr. Roosevelt urged up
on the nation .a "sober resolve: ...
that neither by moral unfitness nor
neglect of our physical- defense shall
we permit the .lamp of freedom to.
be extinguished in this land." The
communication was read ait jseie
monies in Hie Capitol unveiling a
painting of the signing of the Con
stitution.
. "We should all be immeasurably
happier," Mr. Roosevelt said, "could
this ceremony take place in another
kind of world?in a tranquil world
where mn and nations alike were-free
to seek pacefully their individual dea- -
tinies.
? . .. i. p ? jf.1 " >
EROSION
???
In Flanders
??? - ?? ? ??? ?? ? ?? ???'
British and French
Seek to Escape From
Nazi Net Through
Dunkerque Port
Paris, May 20.?The Allies tonight
gave up as lost the Battle of Fland
ers and, in a great retreat, opened
the flood sluices arodnd Dunkerque
to guard their last port of escape to
the sea.
The bloody conflict in the north
was all but over. The Germans thus
were left substantially in control of
France's northern industrial region
and her northwest coast, across from
England. ; ?
At least, however, the battle had
given the Allies time to build a
strong southern front along the
Somme and Aisne river for 200 miles
across France.
The virtual collapse of the Allied
cause in Flanders, after the Belgian
army's surrender ordered by King
Leopold life their flanks laid open,
came amid scenes of fire and flood.
While the waters rose steadily in
the vast system of streams criss
crossing the plain of Dunkerque,
French divisions fought across the
tortured landscape to hold the rear
while British troops defended the
main points to passage for the main
forces seeking the coastline.
The Allies brought on the inunda
tion by opening the locks southwest
and northeaBt of Dunkerque, on the
great Canal that flows by the city
and follows the coast for many miles.
In Dunkerque, the last Allied re
sistance was rallied under Vice-Ad1
miral Jean Marie Abrial, 61-year old
commander of the port. The Allied
armies/navies and air forces fought
together in an effort to save as much
as possible from the wreckage of
Flanders.
Harassed Retreat
The retreat was harassed by heavy
German fire. Some Belgium units,
refusing to lay down their arms de
spite their King's order to capitulate,
were reported still fighting brides
the_British and French.
A single French division which had
been stationed with the Belgians as
the backbone of their frbnt tried to
bold back the Nazi ruch in the Nieu
port-Dixmude sector, a World War
battlefield on the coaast 'northeast
of Dunkerque.
Suicide ' squads also held on the
eastern and southern sides of the
Allied path to .the sea. Some Allied
units had to fight through^ German
columns. '*
Dunkerque, manned by French
sailors, was the last island of solid
Allied position.
The rest of the battlefield was a
maelstrom of free-for-all fighting,
lighted up by blazing fires. v. c
Airplanes tangled in the heavy
clouds hanging over the battle area.
Allied navy dive-bdmbers, using the
low-flying tactics they employed
against submarines and warships,
plunged on German tanks.
American-made bombers newly ar
rived, operated effectively, but too
late t turn the tide.
More to Come
Still other battles must be fought
on the Aisne-8omme front before the
war itself can be called decided.
The Germans made -Lille, the in- -
dustrial center of Northern France,
and Calais, on the channel Strait of
Dover, particular battlegrounds. But
their advance was slowed by Allied
sharpshooters waging guerilla' war
fare in the fields jand fighting id the
streets of the cities. ! <
v .