1 mr n — ELKIN The Best Little Town In North Carolina VOL. NO. XXXIII No. 8 PUBLISHED WEEKLY ss ELKIN, N. C., THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 1945 = $2.00 PER YEAR 12 PAGES—TWO SECTIONS = IS PRISONER — Pvt. David L. Bell who was reported missing"" in action in France last Septem ber when he participated in the invasion of Southern France, is a prisoner of the Germans, ac cording to a message received by his father, Lon A. Bell of Hamptonville. Private Bell vol unteered for paratrooper service in November 1943. In making his fifth practice jump he suf fered an ankle injury and was transferred to the infantry. He went overseas last June, serving in Italy before taking part in the invasion of France. NATIONAL * WASHINGTON, Jan. 23. — The war production board and the office of price administra tion today jointly proposed a program to save civilians $500, 000,000 a year on their clothing bill and to make available more low-cost, essential clothing of better quality. Price Adminis trator Chester Bowles and W. P. B. Chairman J. A. Krug tolu a press conference that they were in complete accord on the project and that they believe it holds definite promise of ending inflated prices and keeping the nation decently clothed in the face of dwin dling supplies of cotton, wool and rayon g^Ods. WASHINGTON, Jan. 23. — Henry A. Wallace’s nomination to be secretary of commerce wa:c shoved on to a senate side track today, while his critics sought to hack away the job’s vast financial responsibilities. The commerce committee voted 10 to 2 to defer consideration of the nomination and take up first the proposal by Senator George, Democrat, Georgia, to strip the government’s big lending agencies from the com merce department. Hearings on the George bill were called for 2:30 p. m. tomorrow. George and Wallace were invited to testify as was Jesse Jones, the banker President Roosevelt re moved as commerce secretary to make room in the cabinet for the former vice president. Jones accepted the invitation, but there was no immediate word whether Wallace would be present. * PEARL HARBOR, Jan. 23.— The tremendous sweeping pow ers of Adm. William S. Halsey’s Third fleet throughout the wa ters of the China sea—Japan’s lake—was emphasized with the revelation today that his car rier-borne fliers carried out an other devastating attack against Okinaw’a in the Ryuky us. The powerful enemy base at Japan’s front door-step was hit on January 21, Adm. Chester W. Nimitz announced, partially confirming a Japanese For mosan communique which said American carrier planes struck Okinawa on January 21 and 22. “Reports of the damage inflict ed are not available yet,” the communique said. However hard fighting is believed to have resulted as strong enemy defenses are known to be locat ed on these islands. INTERNATIONAL 21ST BOMBER COMMAND HEADQUARTERS, Guam, Jan. 23.—American Superfortresses flying in tight formations for protection against fierce Jap L, . anese air resistance bombed HI factories at Nagoya, Japan, to (Continued on page five, 1st sec.) Body Found In Lake Believed Surry Man Near West Palm Beach, Florida On December 23 The body of an aged white man, believed to have been Jesse Couch, 80, of Surry, was fished from a lake near West Palm Beach, Fla., on December 23, 1944, it has been learned from county welfare au The man was tentatively identi fied through pictures of his body forwarded here by Florida police, ! and the fact that he was known ! to have left Elkin on December 21 for West Palm Beach leads wel fare officials to the belief that their identification is correct. Couch, who was said not to have had any near relatives, had been making his home with Grover Pardue, of near Little Elkin church. He was said to have lived in this section for the greater part of his life. Surry welfare officials were contacted by Florida police when an envelope, containing the ad dress of the Surry Welfare De partment, was found in the cloth ing of the body pulled from the lake. The envelope was empty. Couch had been receiving aid from the department for some time. It was said that the old man had often been heard to say that he believed he would “go to Flori da where it is warm.” Police said that he had made his appearance at the West Palm Beach police department a short while before his body was found in the lake, but that he would answer no questions as to his identity or where he was from. It is not known how he happen ed to be ih the lake. It is not thought probable, considering his circumstances, that he had been robbed and thrown in. It was thought possible, however, that he might have accidentally fallen in. Couch was the son of the late Oliver and Adeline Prather Couch. IS PRISONER — Mr. and Mrs. George Stokes of Cycle have re ceived notice from the War De partment that their son, Pfc. Romie C. Stokes, is a prisoner Qf the Germans. Pfc. Stokes was wounded at Salerno last Sep tember and was awarded the Purple Heart. He has also won the Good Conduct Medal, and the Combat Infantry Badge. Mr. and Mrs. Stokes have received a letter from their son stating that he was in good health, 'yiey also have two other sons in the service. Pvt. Truman Stokes of the Army Air Forces, and Odell Stokes of the United States Navy. DRAFT STATUS OF ip GIVEN Number of Classifications and Re-CIassilications Announced By Board IN CHARGE THIS AREA The following men have recent ly been classified and re-classified by the Dobson draft board No. 2, which holds jursidiction over this area: Andrew J. Williams from 1-C enlisted to 1-C discharged; Wes ley N. Gwyn from 4-F to 2-V (F); Willie A. Kennedy from 1-A to 2-B (necessary in waf work); Otis C. Boles from 4-F to 2-B (F) (Continued on page 5, 1st sec.) SERIOUSLY WOUNDED—Pvt. Paul M. Whitaker has been list ed as seriously wounded in ac tion in Leembourg on Decem cember 25. His division partic ipated in the capture of 2,000 prisoners, and has seen action in 64 towns. Pvt. Whitaker has been the winner of nine medals, according to a statement made by his mother, Mrs. Alma Whit aker, of Cycle. MEN ARE SENT TOFORTBRAGG Left Dobson On Wednesday Morning To Take Pre-In duction Examination SEVERAL FROM ELKIN The following list of men left Dobson Wednesday for Port Bragg where they were to receive their pre-induction physical examina tion for military service, it has been announced by the Surry county draft board No. 2, at Dob son: Clayton Willie McCann, Moun tain Park; Carlie Elmer Atkins, Route 2, Dobson; Otis Odell At kins, Route 4, Mount Airy; Arthur Johnson Booth, Jr., Route 2, Pin nacle; Raymond Nance, Route 1, Elkin; Roy Lee Lowe, Lowgap; Thaddaus Daniel Hardy, Route 1, Siloam; Dalbert Alex Simmons, Route 1, Pilot Mountain; Raleigh Pinckney Brim, Jr„ Route 2, Pin nacle; Marshall Ray Norman, Rt. 2, Dobson; James Elbert Smith, Siloam; Cranford Wiliiam Phil lips, Route 2, Dobson; Robert Thomas Bryant, Dobson; Alvin Junior Stanley, Route 2, Dobson; James Wearn Mooney, Route 2, Dobson; Arlis Milton Coe, Route 2, Dobson; Marvin Elbert Chilton, Route 2, Pinnacle; John Raymon Tucker, Siloam; Robert Rufus Bledsoe, Route 2, Dobson; Amos Norvale Lowe, Lowgap; James Ray Puckett, Route 2, Pinnacle; John David Cheek, Dobson; Roby Durmond Stanley, Route 2, Dob son; Jessie Albert Vernon, Route 2, Dobson. William Richard Byrd, Elkin; Louis Glenn Tucker, Pilot Moun tain; William Junior Hutchins, Siloam; Eugene Caldwell Schuy ler, Lowgap; Morgan Durmond (Continued on page 5, 1st sec.) Explosion C Excitement They said it was exciting while it lasted! Maybe because folks have been reading so much in the papers about the German buzz-bombs. Anyway, a call went out for any and all available police late Satur day afternoon when a sudden and terrific explosion, of mysterious origin, shooked the countryside several miles north of State Road. Chief of Police Corbett Wall was contacted by Mayor J. R. Poindex ter, who was at his farm north of Elkin when the explosion occurr red, and said officers of some type were needed. Chief Wall then got in touch with Patrolman Patt Mc kinney by the simple method of calling Salisbury and asking the Highway Patrol radio •station there to call Mr. McKinney up via the radio telephone he has in his patrol car. The patrolman was back in town 15 minutes later. Chief Wall, who has as much curiosity as the next man, decided he had better go along inasmuch as during the recent Civilian De ARE HALFWAY TO GOAL HERE IN POLIO DRIVE Contributions By Chatham Employees Total About $500.00 OTHERS UNREPORTED Drive In Business Section Of Town Is Now Under Way, Chairman Neaves Says ASKS FULL SUPPORT The drive for funds for the Na tional Foundation for Infantile Paralysis is now in progress in the business section, with “March of Dimes” jars located in the vari ous stores and business houses, Sam Neaves, local chairman, said Wednesday afternoon. Mr. Neaves stated that the drive had been completed in the Chat ham Manufacturing Company, and that approximately $500 had been contributed. He said this figure amounted to appnteimately half of the local quota. Reports from other districts have not yet come in, he said, but it is hoped that the section will meet and surpass its quota. The drive ends January 31. Goal of those in charge of the drive is a dime from every person, but it was said that in order to really meet the goal, those able to give more would have to do so. However, it was pointed out, no person should be ashamed of giv ing only a dime if that was all they could afford, as every cent contributed will go to a cause that has the eventual stamping out of childhood’s most terrible enemy as its goal. WOUNDED THIRD TIME—Lt. Bill Pardue, son of Mr. and Mrs. Free Pardue, was wound ed in action in Germany. De cember 31, and awarded the Oak Leaf Cluster, it was learn ed last week by a notice from the War Department to his wife, the former Miss Ermyn Langley, of Charleston, 8. C. This is the third time Lt. Par due has been wounded. He re ceived the Purple Heart and the Oak Leaf Cluster last October for wounds received in France. He has been overseas since July, 1944, and is stationed with an Infantry Division. Mrs. Pardue and their small daugh ter reside in Charleston. auses Much Near Elkin fense activity .t was his job to unscrew the fuses from any and all time bombs which might fall in this vicinity, and so the two of ficers rushed swiftly to the gener al vicinity and started an investi gation. Contacting A. C. Phillips, who lives in the neighborhood, they learned that the explosion literal- , ly rocked the entire section. The ground shook Windows rattled. : Trees swayed in the breeze. Every one was sure a German buzz bomb, probably aimed at New York, had strayed off down this way, or else maybe a steam dis- 1 tillery somewhere in the section 1 had let go. But didn’t anyone . know just where it had happen ed. It was pretty exciting for " a while. But it wasn’t until the fol lowing Monday that it was learn- : ed that a measly three sticks of j dynamite, set off by a farmer for i fear his children might find it, ] had been the cause of it all! i Maybe someone should apolo- - gize to Hitler. .. ? AWARDED BRONZE STAR — Pfc. Henry G. Tulbert of the Medical Division of the United States Army has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal for he roic achievement in connection with military operations against an enemy of the United States in France on November 10. Without regard for his own wel fare, he left his place of safety under enemy artillery firfe to render first aid to a wounded man and evacuate him to shel ter. Pfc. Tulbert entered the service in February 1943. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. B. C. Tulbert of this city. ARE TO RAISE POST-WAR FUND Special “Crusade For Christ” Service To Be Held At Methodist Church SEEK MINIMUM OF $5,000 Sunday, January 28, the local Methodist church will observe the Crusade for Christ, a movement in which Methodism is asked to raise $25,000,000 for post-war re lief and rehabilitation. Other Methodist churches throughout he Western North Carolina Con ference will hold similar services >n the same date. The Elkin church has been asked to contribute $3,600 toward the over-all goal, and the local ;ommittee, which is headed by R. 3. Smith as chairman, will seek a minimum of $5,000 with a view toward joining hundreds of other congregations that have already Dversubscribed their quotas. It is pointed out that the post war world needs are far greater than can be met by a minimum response on the part of the church members. Elkin Methodists are being asked to come to the Sun Jay morning service prepared to leave their pledges. These pledges may be paid at any time between now and January 31 of next year. The Crusade headquarters in Chicago reports that present indi sations point to at least a 20 per :ent over-oubscription of the $25, 000,000 goal. Dr. J. Lem Stokes, pastor of the local church, said that this is gratifying to all who have sensed something of the challenge which presents itself from among the war sufferers. He also stated that other denomina tions are taking up the matter of relief and will share in the tasks that loom so large ahead. The local Crusade comm it te in cudes, in addition to Chairman Smith, the following: W. M. Al len, Dr. E. L. Rice, Hubert Parker, Dr. E. G Click, Clifton Leary, Charles (7. Weaver, Jr., T. A. Red mon, Claude Farrell* Eugene Spainhour, Dave Smith, George Roy all, and R. W. Harris. John P. Burch Said Missing In Action Mr- and Mrs. Paul Burch of Mountain £ark have been notified >y the War Department, that heir son, John Phillip Burch, has seen missing in Germany since December 16. Young Burch was a member of the Infantry Division, and had jeen awarded the Good Conduct Medal. He is a graduate of Mountain Park high school, and >f State College where he majored n agriculture. He is well known by the mem bers of the college group in this lection. !__ Pvt. Fred C. Reece Is Reported Missing The War Department has noti ced Mrs. Fred C. Reece that her msband, Pvt. Fred C. Reece has >een missing since January 7th at Luxemburg. He is the son of Mr. md Mrs. Owen Reece of Jones 'ille and took training at Camp Vhite, Oregon. 4 ~ Breach Last Natural Defense Line In Big Assault Along River ' ' * ❖ TO HALT RISE APPAREL PRICE OPA Program Expected To Reduce Cost of Clothing In Next Few Months BOWLES GIVES DETAILS The Elkin ration board has been notified by Chester Bowles, of the OPA, that controls are to be tightened within the immediate future to stop and decrease the prices of wearing apparel. Mr. Bowles stated that the alarming rise in the price of clothing shows no sign of abating, with the rate of rise accelerating. Unless firm action is taken now the entire stabilization program will be in danger, he said. Principal reasons for the in crease in clothing prices are: Shifting by manufacturers to higher price lines and consequent disappearance of low-cost cloth ing from stores: actual price in creases; deterioration in quality of many gartnents, causing a fur ther price increase that cannot be measured. The controls which will be plac ed in effect within the next few months were outlined as follows: 1. Within the limits of supply, textiles will be channeled into more essential and lower priced types of apparel. 2. Manufacturers will produce in (Continued on page 5, 1st sec.) WOUNDED—The former Miss Geneva Corder, of this city, has received a message that her hus band, Pvt. Samuel M. Bullin, Jr., above, has been wounded in action in Germany on Decem ber 12. Pvt. Bullin entered the service in June, 1944, and trained at Camp Croft, S. C., and Fort Meade, Md.. going ov erseas last November. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Bullin, of Rusk. WAGGONER IS CLUB SPEAKER Pastor of Nortl Wilkesboro First Methodist Church Guest of Kiwanians NO MEETING NEXT WEEK “My Philosophy of Life” was the subject discussed at the meet ing of the Elkin Kiwanis Club last Thursday evening by Rev. A. C. Waggoner, pastor of the First Methodist church of North Wilk esboro, guest speaker for the ev ening. In the absence of President T. C. McKnight, Vice-President Hoke Henderson presided. Dr. C. C. Weaver introduced the speaker. The program for the Kiwanis meeting this evening has not been announced. No meeting of the club will be held next week, due;to an inter club meeting which will be held at Salisbury Wednesday'. A majority of the members of the Elkin club are expected to attend to hear a talk by Ben Dean, advertising ex ecutive and president of Kiwanis International. The meeting will be held at the Yadkin Hotel. KILLED IN ACTION—Private James A. Stanley, of this city, has been reported' by the War Department to have been killed in action in Germahy on De cember 19. He had been award ed the Purple Heart for wounds received in action in France last July. Pvt. Stanley joined the Army in 1943. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Emory Stan ley, and his wife is the former Miss Nellie Isaacs. He is sur vived by his widow; a daughter, Glenda; his parents, and two sisters, Miss Perlenia Stanley and Mrs. Horton Gentry. ELKIN LIONS HOLDMEETING Fat Salvage Collections To Be Made First Sunday In Each Month COMMITTEES NAMED The Elkin Lions Club, following their dinner meeting at the Gil vtn Roth YMCA Tuesday evening at 6:30, perfected plans for a con tinuation of their campaign to collect waste fats, and announced committee chairman who will serve during the coming year. Collection of fats will be made each first Sunday in the month beginning at 2:00 p. m., it was an nounced. All housewives are urged to save their waste fats and put in a convenient place for collec tion on the dates specified. Three new members were wel comed into the club during the meeting. They were H. G. York, Eugene Lewis and R. E. Smith. W. J. Graham, president, presided. Activities committee chairmen were announced as follows: Boys and girls, R. E. Smith; citizenship and patriotism, Luth er Stuart, chairman, W. A. Pos ton, co - chairman; community betterment, Glenn York; educa tion, M. C. Whitener; health and welfare, Dr. Seth M. Beale; safe ty, R. L. Gentry, sight conserva tion and blind, J. F. Ludwig; in itiation committee, John Ken nedy, R. E. Jennings, Graham Green; military affairs, E. J. Free man; greeters, Tom Parnell, Gene Lewis, Glenn York. Committee To Study Needs Of Hospital Here Finns for an eventual new wing of approximately 30 rooms to Hugh Chatham Mem orial Hospital here, were dis cussed Saturday at a meeting of hospital committee mem bers, U was learned Monday from Dr. C. C. Weaver, super intendent of the hospital. Dr. Weaver stated that a committee made up of J. W. L. Benson, Dr. E. L. Rice and himself was named to investi gate plans for such an addi tion. He said that before any definite move was made it was important that a surrey be made to determine the actual needs that could be incorporat ed in such a structure. Should such an addition, which is bad|yy heeded, be con structed, it would increase the capacity of the hospital by about 33 and one-third per cent. ' ,1 — II*— I 'Sh u '■■■"■ "V " , '*' • '" •;...; *‘:r\ v.. t x, • YANKS WHITTLE DOWN BULGE IN HARD FIGHTING Attempt To Overtake and De stroy Retreating Nazis BULGE NOW SIX MILES Artillery and Fighter Bomb ers Destroy Thousands of German Vehicles CATCH ARMY ON MOVE London, Jan. 24. — Marshal Ivan Konev’s First Ukraine Army forces have crossed the Oder Riv er in Silesia, Reuters News Agency said today in a dispatch from Moscow. The dispatch said the Russians had “established at least one bridgehead across the Oder,” last natural defense line for the heart of Germany. The report did not specify where the crossing was made, but it may have been at Brieg, 25 miles south east of Breslau where Berlin ear lier reported the Russians were at tacking in force. Brieg is on the west bank of the Oder about midway between Bres lau and Oppeln. » The German High Command, acknowledging wholesale setbacks from end to end of the blazing eastern front, said that the “de cisive battle” was nearing a climax, and had reached a pitch of ferocity and violence “which cannot possibly be surpassed.” Nazi military spokesmen, corn firming Moscow reports that Poz nan was under assault, said two columns of Marshal Gregory K. Zhukov’s Army were storming the city from the east and south. The tenor pf the spokesman’s comment and a High Command admission - v of “embittered fighting” therein* dicated the city s fall was imipi nent. ' Soviet field dispatches reported the attack on Konigsberg and said that other Russian forces pushing up through the western belt of East Prussia were within 15 miles of Elbing, the fall of which would slam the door on some 200,000 Nazi troops in the province. (Continued on page 5, 1st sec.) YADKIN GROUP GOESTOCAMP Leave Yadkinville Early This Morning (Thursday) For Camp Croft, S. C. ARE TO BE INDUCTED Twenty-three Yadkin county boys will leave Yedkinville early this morning for Camp Croft, S. C,. where they will be inducted in to the various forces of the arm ed service. They are: Worth Kitchen Burgess, Route 1, Cycle; McCree James Walters, Janesville; John Robert Turner, Route l, Boon ville, Homer Colum bus Welch, Route {2, East Bend; Arvin Lameul Harris, Route 2, Yadkinville; Garvip Cook, Route 1, Jonesville; Ivin Cecil Chappell, Cycle; Richard Rober Joyner, Route 2, East Bend; Emory Paul Windsor, Hampton ville; Corbett Reavis Hoots, Union Grove; John Wesley Adams, Route 1, Yadkin ville; James Roy Howell, Route 1, Cana; Wilbert Free Harrison, Route 1, Yadkinville; Allen Enos Brown, Boonville; Joseph Henry Cranfill, Hampton ville; Mcalpin Wood, Route 2, Yadkinville; Dan iel Lee Gilley, Route 1, Jonesville; Clay Lamae Parker, Jonesville; Allen Clay Dobbins, Cycle; Ray Junior Collins, Route 1, Boonville; Paul Vernon Beane, Route 2, East Bend; Alex Leroy Shore, Route 1, Cycle; Cooledge Harold Shore, Yadkinville; Hiram Thomas Wil lard, Route I, Yadkinville; Joe Harold Holcomb, Route 1, Jones vUle. - ' 1