Lincoln County’s Favorite Family Newspaper 12.00 PER YEAR—IN ADVANCE Allied Bombers Hit Two More Ships In Large Jap Convoy ROUNDUP OF WAR MnwmMwaiiiißiHißiiiißKiaiiiiaiiiißiiiißiiiiaiiia Monday, March 15 German broadcast claims fall of Kharkov; Russians report heavy fighting continuing in Kharkov area.” Allied airmen hammer Axis de fense areas near Tunisia as ground forces repulse infantry attack at northern sector. Marshal Rommel’s artillery activity increasing in south. Anthony Eden confers with Secre taries Knox and Stimson, lending em phasis to his statement that military as well as political talks are object of his visit. General Giraud embraces principles of Atlantic Charter; offers Gen. de Gaulle a union on basis of mutual pledge that French choose own gov ernment when free again. American Flying Fortresses con tinue search for Japanese convoy of eight ships on which they scored di lect hit on 8,000-ton transport yes terday. Convoy en route to New Gui nea. American fighter planes raid Kiska in Aleutian Islands. R. A. F. continues to batter Nazi occupied France. Italian harbor of Naples feels force of American Lib erator bomber attack. Saturday, March 13 Russian troops pushed back to west of Kharkov as fierce fighting for the Ukraine metropolis continues. Vyaz ma, major deterrent in drive on Smo lensk, retaken by Reds, costing Nazis 9,000 lives, considerable booty. Anthony Eden, British Foreign Secretary, in Washington to confer with Roosevelt on plans for a war planning conference of Allied nation leaders also to get first hand view of U. S. war efforts. Rouen attacked for second time this week by U. S. planes in 45-mile thrust into France following R.A.F. r.ight attack on Stuttgart. Nazi planes smashing at London suburbs take several lives. Guerrilla bands in French Alps growing as Germany pushes labor draft. Well-armed groups organized by “superior officers" of former French army. Jap bases at Burma and in the Aleutians still under attack by Allied planes. Unconfirmed report to State De partment saying Hitler is in state of nervous collapse disclosed by Sum ner Welles. Friday, March 12 Crisis in great Kharkov battle ar rives as superior German forces wheel up still more reserves, but Rus sians report repulsing violent at tacks west of city; Moscow hints ap peal for second front; Red advances elsewhere continued. Rommel, fearing outflanking at tacks southwest of Mareth line but suffers heavy casualties against sav age force of British army; Fighting French and Giraud French forces make contact in flanking move at southern end of line. British planes, sowing bombs at rate of 12,000 tons a month, wreck 2,000 German factories and make 1,500,000 workers homeless, House of Commons told. Hitler demands total war effort of Axis countries in Balkans, insisting upon more soldiers, more workers and more economic aid. Japanese throwing up big air bases in China to attack airfields from which Allies may bomb Japan. U. S. bombers continue to raid Japs in Aleutians and Solomons. French guerrillas kill more than 2,000 German Factories Are Destroyed By RAF Bombers London, March 15. —The RAF s ceaseless bombing offensive, now ahowering German Europe with fire and explosives at the rate of more than 10,000 tons a month, has al leady wrecked more than 2,000 Ger man factories and left more than 1,- 000,000 Germans homeless, Air Min ister Archibald Sinclair told the House of Commons today. Declaring that photographic re sonnaiscence showed that the raid on The Lincoln Times ★ ★ PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY AND THURSDAY g g * ; ; Growing Concentration of En emy Sea Forces Reported North of Australia Allied Headquarters in Australia. Monday, March 15.—Two more Japa nese ships in the eight-vessel convoy off Wewak in Northern New Guinea have been hit, including a destroyer, a communique said today. “Our air reconnaissance shows a large concentration of enemy trans ports and cargo ships in the Ambon- Dobo area to the northwest of Aus tralia,” the communique said. “The enemy’s ground forces there are be ing reinforced, and new air fields are being constructed.” The hitting of two more ships near Wewak raised to four the number struck since the running attack be gan late Saturday when an 8,000-ton transport was left in flames and a direct hit also was scored on a 4,000- ton cargo ship. Fly Long Distances The enemy convoy originally con sisted of three destroyers and five and the Allied air men were fling long distances in an effort to wipe it out. The ccnvoy was sighted Saturday, moving southward behind a storm front. Despite the unfavorable flying weather and the distance from the Allied bases at Port Moresby, Fly ing Fortresses sped to the attack. They reached the scene just at dusk and blasted two of the ships before darkness closed in. In the Solomons, today’s commu nique disclosed, medium bombers carried out a four-night harassing raid on the airdome in Buka, an is land at the northern tip of the ar chipelago. The raid was made under bad weather conditions, but hits were scored on the runaway and in dis persal bays. Results were not ob served. Heavy units of the air force bomb ed the airdome at Gasmata, New Britain, and strafed antiaircraft po sitions at Cape Gloucester. Attack Described Telling of the attack on the eight ship convoy, the communique said: Our heavy bombers, in low level attacks on an enemy convoy, scored a direct hit with a 500-pound bomb near the bow of a large destroyer, strafing the decks during the bomb ing run. A 7,000-ton cargo vessel also was hit. An 8,000-ton transport, previously reported hit and on fire, was seen to explode on both sides and when last seen was blazing from stem to stern. “A 4,000-ton cargo ship previously reported hit was later ascertained to be a tanker and was not subsequently seen and is believed to have sunk. “Co-ordinated with the attacks on shipping, other heavy bombers at tacked th eairdome and town area (of Wawak). Heavy antiaircraft fire was encountered from ships and shore, but there was no attempt it interception. All our planes re turned.” Thousand-pound bombs were un loaded on the airdome runway and adjacent installations at Madang, northwest of Lae, New Guinea. ARMY TO TAKE 9,900 DOCTORS Washington, March 15.—Announ cing army plans to commission 9,900 physicians from civil life during 1943, Secretary of War Stimson said today that none of these would be taken until the War Man-Power Commis sion has certified that he is available and that his commissioning would not cause hardship in his area. CPL. PAYNE PROMOTAD Cpl. John F. Payne, son of Mrs. J. F. Payne, of Alexis, N. C., has been advanced to the grade of sergeant at the Carlsbad Army Air Feild, Carls bad, New Mexico. This promotion is the result of his capable work in the training camp of the Army Air For ces. 250 Germans by blasting troop train and carry out 300 attacks within month. Essen, home of the Krupp arsenals, on the night of March 5-6 “probably was the heaviest, blow struck at Ger mna war industry in the whole of the bomber offensive,” Sinclair disclosed that already 4,000 tons of bombs have been dropped on the Reich this month. The devastation at Essen, he said, was comparable only to that caused at Cologne last May in the first of the RAF’s 1,000 bomb raids. LINCOLNTON, N. C„ MONDAY, MARCH 15, 1943 Japanese Prisoners Captured by Marines These Japanese prisoners, captured on one of the outei islands of the Solomons group, are being lined up by their marine captors as Y separations are made to turn over the area to the regular army. Jje marines took the Japs with them. (Oilic-ial Marine Corps Photo.) Miss Jane Lohr Wins A. Legion Oratorical Contest Friday Night LEND LEASE AID OVER 9 BILLION Washington, March 13.—Over whelmingly approved by the House, the bill to extend the lend-lease pro gram for another year reached the Senate today along with a report that this help to other nations fight ing the Axis now totals $9,632,000,- 000. The report, by Administrator E. B. Stettinius, Jr., said this figure was attained by the transfer of sl,- 077,000,000 worth of lend-lease goods in the quarter ended March 1. “Almost as much aid was provided in the last six months as in the pre vious eighteen months,” ho said, ad ding: “In the last twelve month." we, shipped to our Allies, under lend lease or in fulfillment of previous di- j rent purchase contracts, thirty out of every one hundred bombs we pro duced, thirty-eight out of every one hundred fighter planes, twenty eight out of every one hundred light tanks and thirty-three out of every one hundred medium tanks.” On the basis of the 407 to 6 vote by which it swept through the House yesterday, the bill appeared likely that it would be ready for the Presi dent’s signature within a week. The House action came after the Democratic majority, and approxi mately a score of Republicans com bined to block a move to give Con gress the final say on what this na tion will seek as payment for the wartime aid. Stettinus said four-fifths of the total aid was provided in the year to lend-lease, which began March 11, 1941. VWWIViWVWWMWW, WARTIME RATIONING GUIDE M.VAkV.WAVWAWAWAV March 22. Temporary “T” coupons will be issued directly by ration boards for a period of not more than 30 days. Boards will use original ODT certificates only for checking tire in spection. TIRES —Holders of Ration A coupons must have tires inspected by OPA on or before March 31. Own ers of passenger cars and commer cial vehicles using tires smaller than 7.50 by 20 do not require certificates for recapping. SHOES —Coupon 17 in the sugar and coffee ration book entitles each holder to one pair of shoes until June 15, when a new stamp will be desig nated. WAR RATION BOOKS—Ration Book 1 is being currently, used for purchase of sugar and coffee. War Ration Book No. 2 is being used in purchase of commercially canned fduits and juices, frozen fruits, dried and dehydrated fruits, dried vegeta bles, canned vegetables or vegetable juices and certain types and varieties of soups. SUGAR—Stamp No. 11 in War Ration Book 1 is good for three pounds of sugar through March 15, Stamp No. 12 will be good for five pounds from March 16 through May 11. COFFEE—Stamp No. 25 good for one pound through March 21. FUEL OIL —Number 5 coupons be come valid March 7, and will be good foi ten gallons until September 30. Number 4 coupons, good for nine gallons, will be valid on April 6. GASOLINE—Coupons No. 4 in A book good for three gallons until A1 Stone of Union High School Wins Second Place In Contest Miss Jane Lohr, high school pupil and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. E. Lohr, was winner of first place in the American Legion oratorical contest which was held in the Lincoln coun ty court house last Friday night. A1 Stone of the Union high school, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Stone, won second place. The subject was “The Freedoms of the United States Con stitution.” Miss Lohr will represent Lincoln county in the district contest, whicn will be held in the Lincolnton court house Monday night, March 22. Five counties, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Cleveland, Gaston and Catawba, are included in the district. D. Herbert Miller, legion chairman of the con test, will preside at the district meeting. The winner of the district contest will go to Hickory to compete in the area contest and the winner there will go to Asheboro to take part in the State finals, Melvin Sipe presided over Friday’s meeting here. ARMYREJECTONS REPORTED HIGH Washington, March 10.—If you’re a male American, aged 65, there are only three chances out of 20 that you can pass the army physical. At 36 years, the chance is six out of 20; at 21, it’s 14 in 20, and at 18 and 19 years, 15 out of 20. Tlie senate found the figures today in publication of testimony on the first deficiency bill of the session, a $6,280,000,000 measure which in cludes $3,182,000 for the high school victory corps. Speaking in favor of the appropri ation to give American youths pre induction training, physical and men tal, Col. Leonard G. Ruontree, direc tor of medical services for the select ive service system, disputed the the ory “that we have the healthiest and most rugged youth in the world.” Out of the first 2,000,000 draft reg istrants examined, he said, 1,000,000 were rejected for physical defects, disorders, deficiencies and diseases. “Those accepted were, as a group, soft and flabby,” he testified, add ing that this appied to the current 19 and 19 year old groups as well. He said standards of physical fit ness had now been lowered material ly, because “we are at the bottom of the barrel.” Flabby oldsters and youngsters can take cheer from one point of the colonel’s testimony. He said the Ger mans have set their standards so low that “they will take virtually any body who can serve in any capacity in the armed services.” Rountree said what selective serv ice wants is “prehabilitation”— get ting men ready in advance of their call to service. GEORGE KIZER PROMOTED George W. Kizer, formerly of this city, has recently been promoted to the grade of Corporal in the army aid corps. Corporal Kizer is now stationed at the army air field, Walla Walla, Washington. He has peviously been Located at Camp Adair, Oregon. Peanuts It is reported that a substantial number of peanut pickers, which were manufactured in 1942, will be made available for distribution in 1943. Efforts will be made to have more pickers manufactured this year. BOY SCOUT COURT OF HONOR The March Court of Honor was held at the Presbyterian Church on March 11. The meeting was opened with prayer and the Scout oath, aft er which Mr. Schiele spoke concern ing Scout work at the present time. The meeting was well attended by Boy Scouts and men. Judge S. M. Roper presided and R. M. Schiele, Jake Burgin, C. R. Little, S. A. Lock man, J. A. Burris, Z. R. Burris, Ber lie Dellinger, Rev. A. B. McClure, W. M. Nicholson, Mr. Brady and Fred Rudisill assisted in conducting the business of the Court. The following advancements were made: Tenderfoot Rank—John Ray Sig mon, Caleb Rhyne, § , I SI Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt, wife of our Chief Executive, and Mme. Chians Kai-shek, wife of China’s generalissimo, are pictured as they posed for the cameras and spoke with reporters on the lawn of the White House. China’s first lady came here to seek aid for the war riors of her war-torn country. MEAT AND BUTTER RATIONING SET Cheese, Canned Fish, Oils In cluded In Order Effective On Or Before April 1 Washington, March 13— Rationing of meat, butter, cheese, canned fish, and edible oils was ordered tonight effective “on or before April 1.” In ether rationing changes, the coffee allowance was increased and the cost in points of dried prunes, raisins, beans, peas and lentils was reduced. 'Food Administrator Wickard esti mated that the amount of meat avail able would average “in the neighbor hood of two pounds, more or less," per week per person. Customers will not have to surrender coupons for meat eaten in restaurants. Details of this program will be an nounced tomorrow by the Office of Price Administration. It was indi cated, however, that meat, cheese, butter, canned fish and the edible oils will be lumped together as one group of foods purchasable by using the red stamps in the No. 2 ration book. This would mean some persons would purchase more than two pounds of meat by holding down on butter purchases, for instance. Point allowances are expected to be large enough to permit purchase of two pounds of meat per week plus some of all the other foods. OPA ordered the point cost of ptunes and raisins reduced from 20 to 12 per pound and halved the point values of dry beans, peas and intils, cutting them from 8 to 4 points a pound. It also removed dates and figs from the list of rationed foods—-un less they are in cans or sealed jars. Another order put the coffee ra tion back at one pound for five weeks, bginning March 22, when stamp No. 26 in ration book No. 1 becomes valid for purchase of one pound. The cur rent ration is one pound every six weeks. Explains Action Explaining the reductions in point values for beans, peas and lentils and the increase in the coffee ration, Price Administrator Prentiss Brown said supplies had increased. In the case of coffee, he said, Feb ruary imports exceeded estimates by more than 20 per cent. Large imports of beans from Mexico figured in the cut in point values for them. It was a basic principle of OPA policy, Brown emphasized, to relax rationing restrictions “wherever and just as soon as circumstances per mit.” The point values of prunes and laisins were reduced because stores hold large stocks, and it was feared (Continued on page two) Special Red Cross War Fund Reaches $9,900; Short $l,lOO The Red Cross War Fund in Lin coln county has reached a total of 89,900, which is still $l,lOO short of the goal, it was announced this morn ing from campaign headquarters. An intensive drive will be made this week to bring the amount up to SII,OOO allotted this county. And be cause of the tremendous need for funds to carry on the widespread work of the Red Cross, it is hoped that final figures will go even beyond that amount. Every person in Lincoln county, it he or she has not already done so, is urged to make a contribution to the fund within the next day or two. This POPULATION (1940 Census) Lincolnton 4,625 Lincoln County 24,187 Denver 254 Crouse 221 Iron Station M SINGLE COPY: FIVE CENTS Date Announced In Thursday’* Times Error; Correction Is Gladly Made The next scheduled blackout in Lincolnton and Lincoln county will be held Thursday evening, March 18, and Civilian Defense Chairman W. E. Garrison announced today that everything is in readiness for a one hundred per cent test. The first “blue” alarm will be sounded at 8:50 p. m. The “red” will be sounded at 9 p. m., and the second “blue” at 9:10. No siren will blow foi the all clear, but the signal will be given over the radio and the turn ing on of the street lights. When the first “blue alarm” sounds all lights are to be turned uot in stantly—except that traffic can con tinue to move vex'y slowly with car lights cut down to dim. When the “red” sounds several minutes later all traffic must stop. The second “blue,” following the “red,” will come as a final warning. That will be the last signal sounded on the siren. The all-clear will come by radio. CORRECTION Due to a misunderstanding, it was announced in last Thurs day’s Times that the date for the next blackout in Lincolnton and Lincoln county had been changed to March 16. This was an error. The blackout is due here on Thursday evening, March 18, as originally planned, and NOT on March 16. The confusion came about when the office of civilian defense in Raleigh announced a change in the date for the black out in the Asheville district. As the schedule now stands the blackout will be held this week as follows: Asheville District, Tuesday, March 16. Wilmington District (including Lincoln county), Thursday, March 18. Norfolk District, Friday, No vembed 19. fallsTonTlTer AMONG MISSING Lieut. Robert Webb Martin Missing In North Africa Fighting (Shelby Star) Lieut. Robert Webb Martin, 23, of Fallston, a flier attached to the army air force, has been missing in action since February 23 in the North Afri ca area, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clem Martin, of near Fallston, have been advised by the war department. Lieut. Martin was flying a B-19 bomber which was evidently shot down in the course of the North African fighting. The war depart ment message said any additional information obtained concerning him would be conveyed promptly. The missing airman entered the army air corps in 1941 following graduation from Lees-Mcßae col lege. He attended Fallston high school, graduating there in 1938, and he is a member of Friendship Methodist church. S. BEAM GANTT' FINISHES COURSE S. Beam Gantt. S. 2|C, son of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Gantt, of Vale, enlist ed in the U. S. Navy October 12, 1942, and completed his course in Navy Training School at Norfolk, Va., March 3, 1943. He now ranks as Torpedoman’s Mate, 3d Class, Sea man. He is stationed at Boston, Mass. can be done by contacting one of the workers in your specific community or by leaving your donation at Red Cross headquarters in the Reinhardt building. Every donation, large or small, will help now to bring the drive to a close. Dr. S. H. Steelman, war fund chair man, reported today that a donation had been received from Cpl. George W. Kizer, of the 317th Bombardment Sq. A. A. F., who is stationed at Wal la Walla Army Air Base in Washing ton State. Other contributions received dur ing the past few days were $650 from the Long Shoals industrial units and S4OO from the D. E. Rhyne Mill.