Statesville Record and Landmark from Statesville, North Carolina • 1

Paper and Don't Let THE LANDMARK RK Is the Date Your Label On Your The Date On The Label Your Subscription Paper Will Be Expire! Stopped! I VOL. 70 STATESVILLE, N. MONDAY, APRIL 17, 1944 No. 82 A TORNADO TAKES TWO SCORE LIVES IN TWO STATES Georgia And South Carolina Towns Hard Hit TOLL OF INJURED RISES ABOVE 500 Atlanta, April least 40 persons were killed and more than 500 others were injured by a night tornado that cut a 100-mile path of destruction across northeast Georgia and western South Carolina Sunday. Property damage, unestimated, was considered high.

Georgia was hit hardest. The Associated Press and the Red Cross tabulated 21 deaths in and nine in Hart county, where eight of them died in the Nuburg community. Nineteen persons were reported killed in South Carolina. The twister, moving erratically in advance of severe rain squalls and electrical disturbances, apparently struck first near Gainesville, Ga. That was the scene of another spring tornado in 1936 TURN TO PAGE THREE Scores Church As Lacking In True Religion Washington, April Howard Stone Anderson, pastor of the First Congregational church here, called yesterday for a rebirth of protestantism because "there.

is no place in God's world for a wanton, street kept In an hour indictment of what he termed "the prostitution of he told an institute of 100 Methodist clergymen from 24 states that protestantism with "personality boys" in the pulpit -has into ego: ism of the most insidious and victous sort." He described many protestant preachers as "glorified prima don nas" who trail personal experiences through their sermons every. one to see, admire and copy." "Person after he charged, "has joined not Christ but some personality boy occupying the pulpit." He called the existence of 200- odd protestant denominations exclusiveness" ing better than an excess of corporative egoism." Protestantism, he added, "has played Magdalene to capitalism" and "most of the slum owners are church Protestanism has "taken the employer's side," he said. "Child Labor, poor housing, low said the capitalist and the church, 'are the proper and bitter lot of the Instead of teaching the new test. ament's promise of "trouble, grief, sorrow and Anderson said, "protestantism too often has suckled pleasure mad fools obses sed with the idea that every man has a right to be He said that protestantism is "morally rsponsible" for world conditions and for the men who are in power. Mussolini Said Very Gravely Ill Bern, Switzerland, April The Fascist press said yesterday that Benito Musolini was gravely ill, providing the first confirmation of long-current reports.

SLAVE KILL MORE THAN 1,100 GERMAN TROOPS London, April 15. In widespread operations from Slovenia south to Monte Negro, partisan troops of Marshal Tito have killed more than 1,100 Germans and puppet troops, a communique from free Yugoslav radio said. Raids On Jap Island Outposts Stepped Up To Daily Frequency Pearl Harbor, April Aerial blows at Japans island outposts from North Pacific to the tropics have been stepped up to daily frequency by aircraft under Admiral Nimitz's command. Four attacks Thursday on the Kurile island chain branching northeast of Japan, were reported late yesterday, for a total of 13 raids on the enemy's farthest north strong points in four days. On the same day Ponte, the enemy base 440 miles east of Truk in the Caroline islands and Ulul (Pakin) and Kusie islands in east of the Carolines were hit also.

It was the 13th daily ham mering this month for Ponape. Four Davie Men Meet Death When Car Hits Truck Parked Beside Road Four persons were killed in an automobile wreck which occurred a short distance south of Mocksville early Sunday morning. The dead are William Otis Taylor, 26, Mocksville, Route 2, owner and driver of the car and his younger brother, Albert L. Taylor, 16, who were instantly killed; John Robert Ijames, 19, Mocksville, Route 1, who died a short time after the accident, and Lynell Richardson, son of Mr. and Mrs.

Theodore R. Richardson, of Sheffield, Davie county, who died in Rowan General Hospital, Salisbury, Sunday night. The wreck, which resulted in the deaths of all occupants of the car, occurred when the automobile crashed into the rear of a parked truck on the highway south of Mocksville, about 1:30 o'clock Sunday morning. Taylor, accompanied by his brother, Ijames and Richardson, was driving south on highway No. 601 when the wreck occurred.

A IREDELL HAS ONLY FEW CANDIDATES Election Officials For This County Named Mr. W. W. Hartness, chairman of the Iredell county board of elections announced today that the following named candidates had filed notices of candidacy without opposition and were, therefore, declared by the Iredell board of elections as the nominees of their respective parties for the offices for which had filed notice of candidacy. The terms of office for all other county officers will not expire until 1946 as the term of office for each is four years: Democratic candidates: State senator, Hugh G.

Mitchell; menber state, house representatives, E. Turner, justice of peace, Statesville township, George R. Anderson; constable Statesville township, R. Graham Reynolds; constable Sharpesburg township, M. D.

Tilley; constable Turnersburg township, C. E. Evans; constable Concord township, H. E. White; constable Shiloh township, Herman 0.

Hoover; constable Fallstown township, Z. Sherrill. Republican candidates: Justice of the peace for New Hope township, B. F. Williams: constable for Union Grove township, Staley Henderson.

The Iredell county, board of elections also announced the following as a list of the registrars and judges of elections appointed for the various precincts of Iredell county. The registration books open April 29th. Barringers precinct: H. N. Haithcox, registrar, J.

C. Murdock Democratic judge and W. F. Spears Republican judge. Bethany precinet: C.

R. King, registrar; John Blackwelder. TURN 10 PAGE FIVE ROMANIA IS STILL ANGLING FOR PEACE Washington, April 15-Conversations with Prince Barbu Stirbey of Romania are progressing in Cairo, it was reported, and allied officials hope that they may lead to a definite peace move by Romania. Stirbey arrived in Cairo via Turkey last month to discuss peace possibilities. He has been given a general idea of what the allied terms would be, informed sources said, and has passed the informaon to Bucharest, Romania's capital.

He remains in Cairo awaiting an answer from Bucharest. Cairo is headquarters for Gen. Sir Henry Maitland Wilson, allied commander-in-chief for the Mediterranean area. Stirbey is known, to be close to Juliu Maniu, leader of the Romanian peasant party whose star is mounting in the hard pressed satellite government, between the advancing red army and German forces. SOLDIER AND SAILOR SWAP UNIFORMS Hickory, April police were confronted with a "who's who' problem when a soldier and a Thursday, uniforms during an argument as to the better branch of service.

Before they had time to swap back they fell into the hands of the law. "I ain't a soldier, I'm a sailor," said the one in soldier's garb. And the one in the sailor suit said, "I ain't a sailor, I'm a soldier." They finally convinced police they had actually swapped uniforms but not that they were sober enough to go home immediately. In fact, they weren't permitted to leave the hoosegow until this morning. RUSSIAN TROOPS ARE IN SUBURBS OF SEVASTOPOL Last Major Bastion In Southern Russia Held by Huns NAZIS TRYING TO ESCAPE BY SEA (By The Associated Press; London, April fall of burning Sevastopol, last major axis bastion in southern Russia appeared imminent today as Russian troops were reported smashing through the suburbs two miles from the heart of the city while soviet bombers and warships lashed at thousands of Germans and Rumanians trying to escape by sea.

Field dispatches painted a scene of flaming chaos in the big Black sea port bombarded incessantly by Russian siege guns commanding the nearby hills and pounded by swarms of planes pouncing on axis troops streaming for the last ships in a harbor strewn with wreckage and bodies. on the besieged city from the sone southeast a soviet communique said Russian column early last night swept up Yalta, once summer residence of the Czars and to. day it was reported eating up the 30 miles of coastal highway separating it from Sevastopol. This force also captured nine other towns along the Russian the bulletin said. Other troops were converging on Sevastopol from the mountains inland, along trails chosen to avoid elaborate German mine fields and booby traps sewed along the roads in an attempt to gain time.

Altogether the Russians. have seized 3000 prisoners in the Crimea yesterday, the soviet communique said, boosting to 40,000 the total captured in the lightning conquest which has left the Germans holding 150 square miles of the 9,900 square mile peninsula. The communique quoted German prisoners as saying the commander of the 98th infantry division and regimental commanders routed on the Kerch peninsula "fell sick with Crimean sickness" and flew off in a plane. It added that many other German generals "left their soldiers to their fate and deserted the Crimea." STILL DIGGING OUT OF WRECKAGE Tornado Bounced Around Like A Huge Ball (By The Associated Press) Atlanta, April workers digging into the wreckage left by a tornado that roared over a 100-mile strip in northeastern Georgia and western South Carolina early Sunday fixed the death toll today at 38 with more than 300 persons injured. Twenty deaths were reported in Georgia-12 in the Royston area, and nine in the Nuburg community of Hart county.

Seventeen persons were killed in South Carolina. TURN TO PAGE FIVE WEATHER WEATHER Fair to partly cloudy today and tonight. Cooler today except in mountains. Continued cool today. Tuesday increasing cloudiness, rising temperature.

Appreciation of Pastor Voiced By Local Church On the occasion of completion of Rev. Harry Y. Gamble's third year as pastor of the First Baptist church and in appreciation of the pastor's outstanding work here, the board of deacons called a special conference which was held immediately following the Sunday morning service. Mr. J.

W. Hendricks, chairman of the board of deacons, presided. Mr. H. E.

George was asked to read the resolutions passed by the board of deacons, submitted for the approval of the congregation. The resolution emphasized the pastor's splendid leadership and superb pulpit work, and pledged full and complete co-operation and support in the future. In appreciation of Mr. Gamble's effective work, the board recommended also that his salary be increased, the board suggesting that $600 be added to his present annual salary. The question of approval of Distillery Found In Eagle Mills and Negro Arrested A still in Eagle Mills township was a destroyed Saturlay afternoon by Deputy Sheriffs Henry Shuford, Wade Moore, Pressly Johnson, and C.

B. King. About 400 gallons of beer were poured out. The distilling plant. a 60-gallon steam outfit, WaS located about eight miles northwest of Harmony.

No one was at the place when the officers made their appearance about 4:30 but indications were that it had been in operation recently. The officers found wagon tracks leading from the still to the home colored tenant farmer, William Roseborough, 300 to 400 yards away, and on this evidence arrested Roseborough and placed him under a $100 bond for his appearance in the Recorder's court, April 24. GET TWO STILLS IN OLIN TOWNSHIP One In Operation And One Nipped In The Bud Constables M. D. Tilley and Staley Henderson destroyed two stills Saturday afternoon in Olin township.

The first, 8 50-gallon still, located in a hollow 500 to 600 yards from the Olin church cemetery, was not in operation, but from appearances a run had just been made. Rye mash was used. This still was destroyed about 5 o'clock Saturday afternoon. No one was around the site when the officers appeared. Immediately following the first haul, the officers went a mile east of Olin and found another still, of about 75-gallon capacity, that had been moved in.

The officers this one in the bud." destroying the outfit before the first run was made. No one was around the place and no arrests have been made. JAMES CONNOLLY ECHERD. Born, this morning, at Davis hospital, to Private James H. Echerd, and Mrs.

Echerd, a son, James Connolly Echerd. Private Echerd, U. S. army air corps, is spending a few days here en route from Amarillo, Texas, to Fresno, Calif. there be no triumphs.

If there, were no difficulties the resolutions was taken up, and there were spontaneous expressions by various church leaders, representing the different departments of the church and Sunday school. Those makshort talks were all of one accord--in perfect agreement as to the worthiness of every recommendation included in the resolutions presented by the board of deacons. The church and Sunday school leaders were not unmindful of the splendid part played by the pastor's family' Mrs. Gamble coming in for equal honors in the fine work being accomplished by her gifted husband. When the chairman of the board of deacons called for a vote on the resolutions, members of the big congregation rose quickly to their feet.

The spontaneous response was overwhelming. It was a red letter day in the history of the church. PRESS MAKING A TOUR OF CAMPS Mrs. M. R.

Long Representing The Daily On Week's Trip Five posts of the army service forces in North Carolina will be tives of the state press visited this week by representa, gather material for news stories featuring the job of the army ser vice forces in feeding, clothing, equipping and supplying the Amertrade The party press soldiers. as they learn the representatives, guests of Major General Frederick E. Uhl, com manding general of the Fourth Service command left Charlotte this morning for a week's tour of army installations in North Carolina. Mrs. M.

R. Long is on the tour as a representative of The Statesville Daily. Today the press party will visit the quartermaster depot in Charlotte and from there will take the following itinerary: Tuesday at Camp Sutton; Wednesday at Camp Mackall; Thursday at Fort Bragg; and Friday at Camp Butner. tour was arranged by the public relations office of the fourth service command in Atlanta to offer press men and their newspaper readers a special review of the work being done by the army installations in North Carolina. Major Harold A.

Tyler, public relations officer of the fourth command, is in charge. Davie P.T.A. To Elect Officers The Parent-Teacher Association of Davie Avenue school will elect officers for the coming year at the April meeting this evening at 7:30 in the school auditorium. Program will be by the third grade rhythm band and the fourth grade tonette band, under the direction of Miss Mildred Wallace, supervisor of music in the elementary schools. Miss Lena Davis, director of Christian education at Broad Street Methodist church, will give readings.

Parents are urged to attend the meeting. MARRIAGE LICENSE sued for a couple, John Marriage license, has been Willie Browner and Mary Bell Davis. It takes about 45 gallons of water to fill a bathtub of average size. Japs Suffer Heavy Casualties And Reverses In Fighting In India Kandy, Ceylon, April 17- Very heavy casualties have been inflicted on the enemy and important positions captured north of Imphal in counter operations against the Japanese invasion of India, Admiral Lord Lois Mountbatten announced today in a communique issued from his new operation headquarters here. The British also improved their positions in the hills northeast of Imphal beyond the ten mile rice paddy belt proteeting the vital Allied storehouse and supply base.

Meanwhile official silence fell over the operations of the glider born Chindits whose newfound strategy of infiltration by air was reported in yesterday's communique appeared to have promised a new turn to BALKAN CAPITALS ARE TARGETS OF STRONG FORCE blinding rainstorm was in progress. Sheriff Bowden, called Dr. S. A. Harding, coroner, who impaneled a jury to investigate wreck.

The jury found that the men came to their deaths when the automobile driven by Taylor crashed into the rear of a transfer truck which was parkby the right side of the road. The jury found that the truck was surrounded by flares. The truck, owned by a Kannapolis firm, had been parked for mechanical repairs and the driver was in the truck at the time. He was not hurt. William Otis Taylor, driver of the automobile, was discharged from the army recently, after having seen extensive service in the South Pacific area.

Funeral services for the Taylor brothers were held from Union chapel Methodist church in Davie county at 3 o'clock this afternoon. The service was conducted by the Rev. Ray McClam- Avon Alexander Is Lodged In Jail For Hit-Run Driving Avon Alexander, colored, was arrested by local police officers and lodged in the county jail Saturday afternoon on charges of hit-and-run driving following a wreck on South Center street about 4:45 So o'clock Saturday afternoon. The police report is that Avon Alexander, colored, who lives on Drake street, ran into the side of a car belonging to Ralph Hall, Route 4, at the intersection of South Center and Sharpe streets. Alexander remained in jail, awaiting a hearing in the Mayor's court tonight.

He is charged with driving without an operator's license, as well as run driving. WAYNE LONERGAN GIVEN 35 YEARS Convicted Of Brutal Slaying Of His Wife (By. The Associated Press) New York, April 17. Wayne Lonergan was sentenced today to 35 years to life in prison for the bludgeon strangulation slaying, last October 24 of his 23-year-old wife, Patricia Burton Lonergan. The 26-year-old former R.C.A.F.

aircraftsman and society playboy, stood impassively in general sessions court as Judge James Wallace imposed the sentence. The entire proceedings took less than a minute. Lonergan was convicted of second degree murder March 31 after sensational trial before a special jury. The tall prisoner's attorney, cuward Broderick, announced immediately the conviction and sentence would be appealed. Before pronouncing the sentence Judge Wallace denied a motion by Broderick that the verdict be set aside as "contrary to weight of creditable or reasonabie evidence." Greene To Speak Tuesday Night Fred W.

Greene, of Raleigh, secretary of the North Carolina Education Association, is to be the speaker for the annual public relations dinner of the Statesville unit of the North Carolina Education Association at Refreshment Hall Tuesday evening at 7:30. Miss Bernice Turner, president of the Statesville unit, will preside. The dinner, planned by public relations committee of the local unit, Mr. L. S.

Weaver, chairman, and the teacher welfare committee, Miss, Sarah Rutledge, chairman, held each year. A school-related people are to be special guests, and a number of the teachers will have individual guests. Automobile Stolen In Mooresville Is Abandoned Here A car, found abandoned on Kelly street last Saturday morning, was later identified as the property of Paul Mayhew, of Mooresville. The owner came for his car late Saturday afternoon. There was no evidence as to identitty of the thief, who apparently left the vehicle in Statesville, after the gasoline supply had been exhausted.

SORORITY TO MEET Beta Sigma Phi sorority will meet with Mrs. Reuben R. Cowles at her home on North Center street Tuesday evening at 7:45. roch and the Rev. F.

A. Wright, and burial was in the church cemetery. The service for John Robert Ijames was held at 3 o'clock this afternoon from New Union Methodist church, Davie county. Rev. Ralph McClamroch was charge, and interment was in the church cemetery.

The Taylor brothers are survived by their parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Oscar Taylor, of Davie county; two sisters, Mrs. James Smith and Mrs. Norman Leach, both of Mocksville; and two brothers, Clyde Taylor, with the United States Army overseas, and Roy Taylor of the home.

John Robert Ijames, who was born in Davie county on August 6, 1924. is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. D. N.

Ijames; a sister, Miss Lena May Ijames, at home; his grandfather, Mr. R. N. Smith, and his paternal grandmother, Mrs. Mary Ijames, of Davie county.

THINKS GENERAL CAN BE DRAFTED Miller Still Talking After Rebuke By MacArthur (By The Associated Press) Washington, April 17. Rep. Miller, whose political correspondence with General MacArthur formed the prelude a flat disavowal by the general that he had sought or is seeking the presidency said today the exchange left the southwest Pacific commander still available for a Republican draft. "I still think the general is available and can be drafted," Miller said. His interpretation of General MacArthur's work agreed with that of both party leaders as they headed for a pre-convention meetins, in Miller Chicago.

described MacArthur's remarks clarifies as a the very fine atmosphere." statement never felt that General MaeArthur was attacking the new deal although he agreed with some of my thoughts, the Nebraska legislator said in connection with the general's repudiation of what he called the "sinister interpretation that his earlier letter to Miller included criticism of the administration. Miller said he believed MacArthur is "the one man who could provide experienced military leadership in the White House, shorten the war and bring the boys back home." Bigamy Case On Second Round Raleigh, April Carolina's celebrated Williams-Hendrix divorce case, in which the state Supreme court twice has held Nevada divorces invalid when obtained by parties who remain domiciled in North Carolina, may again be submitted to the United States Supreme court in Washington. Adrian Newton, clerk of the state Supreme court, said that W. H. Strickland, attorney for the defendants whose convictions for bigamy because they married following Nevada divorces was upheld for the second time by the state Supreme court yesterday, had asked him to certify the case to the U.

S. high tribunal for review. The second argument of the case in the state Supreme court followed reversal by the Uniten. States Supreme court of the North Carolina court's refusal tu recognize the legality of Nevada divorces obtained by the defendants. NEW SHOE STAMP EFFECTIVE IN MAY Washington, April 14.

Airplane stamp No. 2 in ration book three will be good for the purchase of one pair of rationed shoes beginning May 1 for an indefinite period, the office of price administration announced tonight. Airplane stamp No. 1, currentvalid, also may be used indefinitely. Stamp 18 in ration book one will expire April 30.

OPA revealed that distribution of rationed shoes during 1943 exceded production by more than 53,000,000 pairs. "This heavy drain on inventories." it said. "clearly demonstrates why it has been necessary to decrease the rate of shoe rationing to civilians." Overall production last year totaled 469,044,000 pairs, of which 46,647,000 were allocated to the military, exempt government agencies and for export. Railroad Yards Both Places Are Blasted FIRST ASSAULT OF WAR ON BELGRADI Naples, April 17-United State heavy bombers hit Sofia and Be grade today. Railroad yards in both Balka capitals were, targets of forces" of Fortresses Liberators, a headquarters nouncement said.

In addition component The attack on Belgrade was factories near Belgrade, were hi first assault of the war by allie bombers on the Yugoslav capiti itself although nearby airdrome and aircraft factories were a tacked yesterday by Liberator and Fortresses. First reports from returnin fliers said some enemy plane were encountered and several (CONTINUED ON PAGE 5) REV. S. L. CATHEY GRANTED LEAVI Richards, Arrowoo And Gamble Will Be Heard Rev.

S. L. Cathey, whose healt has been under par recently Sunday was granted an indef nite leave of absence from th pulpit by the session of Concor Presbyterian church. Mr. Cathey, after a few weel resting at home, expects to spe sometime in Florida, on advice his physician, recuperating fros a si.ge of influenza he contracte during the past winter.

One committee of elders named to make arrangements fe the pastoral work of the chure and another committee author ized to secure a supply for pulpit during the next 60 to days. Next Sunday morning Rev. C. M. Richards, of Davidson, wi speak in the interest of the ne Presbyterian church at Davids college for which funds are bein sought from the church at larg Friday and Saturday night May 5th and 6th, Rev.

Harry Gamble, pastor of the First Ba tist church of Statesville speak in services held prepare tory to communion. On the following Sunday mori ing Rev. R. S. Arrowood, pres dent of Mitchell college, will cupy the pulpit and preside the Lord's Supper, Arrangements for the fift Sunday in April are not definil 83 yet.

Dr. Weaver Heads Elkin Hospital Charlotte, April 14-Dr. L. Abernethy, chairman of the exec tive committee of the trustees Hush Chatham Memorial hospit! at Elkin, said yesterday Dr. Weaver, superintendent of Winston-Salem district of tend Methodist the hospital's church, would operations superit the end of the current conferend year November 1.

Dr. Abernethy said Dr. E. Rice, chief surgeon, would assil Dr. Weaver.

The superintendent, Rev. W. Smith, died last week. Swiss Shoot Down Bomber (By The Associated Press) the entire Burma-Indian campaign. The Sunday communique said "medium bombers of the air commando the tactical air force continued the offensive against enemy communications and support of ground positions, the in Yeu, daylight Shwedo on April and Mawly areas.

Yeu and Shwebo are approximately 60 miles north of Mandalay where the ChinditsBritish and Indians formerly commanded by the late Major General Orde Wingate, -would be in position to cut the enemy's supply lines to the north including those to the Indian invasion front. Today, however, an official expianation said this section of the communique had referred "erroneously and inadvertently" to ground positions in the Yeu and Shwebo areas. Army Liberators from Aleutians swept across the Japanese Kurile islands Friday night to strike Matsuwa island for the fifth time in as many days, while at the same time bombers in the central Pacific five targets the Carblasted, islands, Adm. Chester Nimitz announced. Oroluk, Pakin, Ulul, Ponape and Ant islands in the Carolines were attacked Friday in raids by navy and army bombers, while four objectives in the Marshalls were pounded again.

Nauru, important phosphate producing island south of the Marshalls, also was bombed. Matsuwa island, 480 miles from the Japanese mainland, was hit for the fifth time sinee 11th AAF bombers unleashed their offensive against the Kuriles Monday. Bern, Switzerland, April 14.4 Thirteen American bombers flyin over Swiss territory were orderd to land yesterday and one, whid failed to heed the instructions, we shot down by Swiss fighter plane The big bomber fell into app Lake Zurich. Several members the plane's crew parachuted: safety before the erash. Swiss fighter planes into the air and herded the Ante ican bambers to landing: field while antiaireraft gunners up a barrage of fire.

Ten American planes lands the Dubendorf airfield, One down at Altenrhein and another CALL ISSUED FOR BANK STATEMENT Washington, April 15. Com troller of currency today insure call for statement of condition all national banks at close al bra ness April 13..