Newspaper Page Text
PAGE FOUR
The Summerville News
Official Organ of Chattooga County
Summerville, Ga.
O. J. Espy, Editor-Manager, 1911-38
D. T. Espy Editor and Manager
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
One Year $1.50
Six Months -75
Published Every Thursday by
THE NEWS PUBLISHING CO.
Entered at the Postoffice at Sum
merville, Ga., as Second-Class
Mail Matter
CARD OF THANKS, IN MEMORIAM OK
ANY NOTICE WHERE THERE IS AN
ADMISSION PRICE WILL BE CHARGED
FOB AT THE RATE OF A CENT A WORD
MENLO NEWS
Mr. H. J. Searels, of Trion, filled
his regular appointment at the
Church of Christ Sunday. His son,
Wayne, and a friend; also Mrs. Al
bert Landers and son accompanied
him.
Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Piper were in
Gore Sunday. He filled his appoint
ment at Baptist church. Mrs. J.
W. Tucker accompanied them and
spent the day with her daughter,
Mrs. Chas. Lowry, and Mr. Lowry.
Mr. and Mrs. Fay Pledger were
guests of his parents, Mr. and Mrs.
J. D. Pledger, in Summerville Sun
daThe Presbyterian Business Wom
en’s Circle met Monday night with
Miss Olene Watson.
Miss Mildred Lawrence visited
relatives in Chattanooga last week.
Her sister, Mrs. E. E. Emerson, of
Spring Garden. Ala., is here on a
few days visit.
Mrs. R. A. Canada and son, Larry,
left Tuesday to join her husband
in Miami, Fla., who’s serving with
the navy.
Mesdames J. E. Thomas and Nora
Wilson, of Chattanooga, spent Sun
day with Misses Georgia and Mar
gie Thomas. Miss Georgia accom
panied them home for a brief visit.
Mrs. W. J. Hogg is able to be out
again after 5 weeks’ illness and was
luncheon guest of Miss Lena Baker
Monday.
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Simmons and
children were guests of the Lawless
family Sunday.
Miss Edna Perry spent several
days last week with Mr. and Mrs.
George Baker in Atlanta.
Miss Hughie Majors spent last
week at Lake Rabun.
Several Menlo teachers are at
tending the summer work shop in
Summerville.
Mrs. W. J. Hammond visited her
sister, Mrs. Ethel Clarkson, in Sum
merville last week.
Misses Cleo, Evelyn and Louise
Cook returned from a week’s visit
in New York and Canada last
Wednesday. Jack Harris also re
turned with them and will be lo
cated in Macon for the summer.
Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Hartline and
children, of Laurens, S. C._ have
been visiting his sisters the past
week. Mesdames J. A. Nelson in
Trion: Robert Hurley, Perennial;
W. D. Longley, Menlo; A. S. Payton,
Jamestown. They had a house
gathering Sunday with Mr. and
Mrs. A. S. Payton.
Miss Lucille Styles, of LaFayette,
spent the week-end with Miss Ev
elyn Cook.
Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Cook received
news Friday their son, Sgt. Herman
G. Cook, has arrived back in the
states, having served 16 months
overseas. .
Mr. S. K. Dodson filled his ap
pointment at Presbyterian church
Sunday.
Mrs. Leon Gamble and son. Nor
ris, of Rome, and Mrs. O. J. Espy,
of Summerville, spent Thursday
with Mr. and Mrs. Rob King, also
Mrs. Coker Maffett and daughter,
Joann, of Chickamauga, and Mrs.
Emma Parris and little Patsy Snow,
of Pennville, spent Saturday with
them. ..x , ,
Miss Margie Thomas visited rel
atives in Alabama Tuesday.
Mrs. W. F. Nelson and daughter,
Foy of Loop, Ala., accompanied the
Hurley family to Chattanooga Sun
day. . . ...
Mrs. P. W. Alexander is visiting
in Rome this week. While she’s
away Mrs. J. A. Kennedy xs visiting
with her son. J. E. Kennedy, and
wife; Mrs. Melvin Striplin and chil
dren, of Gadsden, are also their
visitors this week.
Pvt. Roscoe P. McClung, of Camp
Polk, La., spent Tuesday with his
wife and children.
(Last Week’s Letter)
Mr. Eugene Gilreath, of LaFay
ette, filled his regular appointment
Sunday at the Methodist church.
He and wife were luncheon guests
of Miss Ada Wyatt, Mr. and Mrs. C.
L. Hale.
Mr. and Mrs. Albert Dodd and
Miss Hugh Belle Dodd, of Atlanta;
Mrs. J. O. Bowman and daughter,
Miss Irene, of Tallahassee, Fla., are
visiting Mrs. S. G. Dodd and Fred.
Miss June Wyatt has returned
home for the summer.
Mrs. John K. Kennedy and chil
dren. of Lyerly, are spending a few
weeks with Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Ken
nedy.
Mrs. H. C. Copeland and Miss
Lena Baker visited relatives and
friends at Jamestown Sunday aft
ernoon.
The Vacation Bible school opened
Monday at the Presbyterian church.
Miss Ella Wyatt returned to
Darlington school Monday.
Mr. C. T. Wilson died Thursday
p.m. after several weeks illness. He
is survived by his widow, one
brother and one sister. Several from
Rome, Chattanooga and Summer i
ville attended the funeral service |
here Saturday p.m. Interment was '
at Camp Ground near Holland.
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Jett, of Vai I
dosta, spent last week with Mr. and i
Mrs. J. W. Murphy and his mother ■!
Mrs. H. L. Jett, Harold left Monday
for Atlanta, where he accepted a
position. His wife remained for a
longer visit.
Mrs. J. A. Kennedy spent Sun
day with Misses Effie and Maggie
Leath.
Mr. and Mrs. D. A. Hogg and
children visited relatives in Ala
bama Sunday.
Mrs. R. R. Harris spent the week
end at Dallas, Ga., with Mr. and
Mrs. Oliver Harris.
Mr. C. L. Hale is visiting in La-
Fayette this week.
Mrs. A. L. Glasure and children,
of Marietta, visited her parents,
Mr. and Mrs. O. L. Cleckler a few
days last week.
Miss Betty Gamble, of Rome,
spent a few days last week with
| Sue and Joann King.
THE EXPENSE ALLOWANCE OF
THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
BY WILSON J. CULPEPPER
The bill that was passed recently
by the congress of the United States
providing for a further non-tax
able expense allowance of $2,500.00
for each member seems to be a hit
at the public below the belt. The
members of the congress already
have considerable expense allow
ances. If they need more money,
why do they not come clean with
the' matter and in a straightfor
ward way raise their salaries?
Perhaps there are many other
persons in the United States who
are financially cro.wded by the war
emergency situation, and would
not object to receiving from some
where a non-taxable expense al
lowance. Where is the virtue and
honesty and true statesmanship in
ary by indirection? Should it be re
plied that, if the salaries of these
plied that, if the salares of these
officers are raised directly the in
come tax would lop off too much
of the amount, such argument may
be answered by the fact that this
“lopping off” process happens to
all other citizens with taxable in
comes when these incomes are in
creased.
Why should the members of con
gress discriminate in favor of them
selves against the public? Why-not
face this problem like every con
stituent must face it? Each citizen
must of necessity economize in his
personal expenditures and many of
them are required to practice self
denial in order to pay their income
tax obligations. Is a congressman
in a preferred position in respect
to this matter?
A TRIBUTE TO OUR GREATEST
PRESIDENT
(To the Memory of Frank Delano
Roosevelt)
What, death and the grave’s eter
nal darkness
For a champion of truth and right?
Who dares to predict his soul has
perished
Like the breath of a faltering can
dle light?
What though his voice may be
hushed forever.
Those who still live on must heed
the call.
His masterly plans, if wisely han
dled,
Shall lead to all tyrants’ speedy fall.
God governs our human destiny.
This fateful hour was meant to
be.
He loved and was loved by peace
ful nations,
Discord he ever tried to shun;
Undaunted he stood for law and
justice
In the face of the foreman’s tank
or gun.
And when the peace of the world
was threatened,
Our sacred rights having been as
sailed,
He vowed to exterminate evil forces,
Till the blessed tenets of Christ
prevailed.
But death which could not claim
his soul
Forbid his seeing the final goal.
With trust in his God and faith in
people,
How soon he mobilized industry!
He worked as the rest and never
faltered
In his aim to make his neighbors
free.
He hoped for a world free of all
aggression,
Without any self-styled master race.
He promised equality, too, and suc
cour
For the world’s long-fettered popu
lace.
God knew his task on earth was
done,
When the militant foe was on the
run.
Humanity’s Moses, stalwart leader,
Your devotion transcends all hu
man praise,
Your worth shall endure through
time and distance
Like the cloud by day and the night
ablaze.
Yours, the unconquered will, the
vision;
Yours, the prayer for a peaceful
world!
God willing, your wish shall be soon
accomplished,
The conquering banner of love un
furled.
Farewell, comrade and president.
Yours be the rest-of-death, God
sent.
DR. V. A. AVAKIAN.
Chattanooga, Tenn., May 25.
SUBSCRIBE TO
The Summerville News
THE SUMMERVILLE NEWS, THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 1945.
Commander Who Damned
Tanks Finds Them Useful
In Three-Day Rat Race
Lt.-Col. John C. Cavin, of Menlo
(then major), 48th Tank Battalion,
played a leading role in the three
day battle of the Sinn River.
(From Armoured News)
With the 14th Armored Division
Seventh Army, Germany.—This is
the story of Combat Command A,
14th Armored Division, command
ed by Col. Charles H. Karlstadt. of
Washington, D. C., and its three
dav fight of the Sinn.
the Sinn River is a tributary of
the Main. It was spring when the
command went through, the fields
were green and the farmers were
out plowing. But che nest of little
villages were not always peaceful—
and sometimes they were not so
neat, either, after the command
went through.
“Tanks,” said a regimental com
mander on the first day. “We’re
had ’em before. They clog the roads,
they tear up the turns, they draw
fire, and they don’t dp a damned
i thing.”
Maj. Cavin, who comes from Men
lo, Ga. said nothing. The Combat
Command was made up of his 48th
Tank Battalion, the 68th Armored
Infantry, the 500th Field Artillery
and Engineers from Company C of
the 125th Engineers.
The Third Division Infantry was
to follow the Combat Command,
cleaning up what the command had
passed through.
Finally Maj. Cavin said:
“How many tank battalions have
you worked with before, sir?”
“No battalions,” the regimental
commander answered. “But we’ve
had a few tanks attached to us.
They tear up the roads—”
“You give me the okeh to start
through this town and I’ll clear it
in five minutes.”
“Fifty tanks in five minutes?”
“I’ll do it.”
He Dood It.
Cavin cleared the town in five
minutes.
Three days and 115 miles later,
the same regimental commander
told Maj. Cavin that he had the
best tank battalion in the army.
Ahead was Aura, a big town —
and promising to be a nasty one.
“How do I get to Aura?” Cavin
asked a civilian.
“Well, there’s a good road—”
The 48th had had experiences on
good roads before —and those ex
periences included fighting two
hours to get by a road block.
“How about this backroad?” Ca
vin asked, and the natives looked
at the tanks and shook their
Ficsids
The backroad wound up along
the sides of the hills and mounted
the hill behind Aura, then dropped
sharply into the town.
When the 48th topped the rise,
there were in the town below an
estimated 500 Germans running
over the fields, turning Volkswag
ens around, hitching horsey to ar
tillery pieces.
They had got word of the ad
vance and were trying to retreat.
The battalion deployed along the
ridge and the 76-mm. guns began
to fire down into the Germans.
With their base of fire established,
the tanks suddenly roared north,
down the slope and into the city.
Almost immediately, the white
flags began to fly; and the Ger
man soldiers —those who hadn’t
been killed —surrendered by the
score. Some tried to run for the
woods; tanks took out after them
and they surrendered and marched
back in platoons.
At dawn, the Combat Command
started up the valley, and within
an hour had arrived at Roosbach
Served Breakfast
The tanks ground into town with
out firing a shot —and there was
the German garrison just getting
ready to sit down to breakfast be
ing served by Italian prisoners. Ger
man soldiers —and women.
Ninetv prisoners were taken, and
20 women; and the Italians asked
the men of the battalion if they
wouldn’t liKe to eat the German
breakfast. Also, the Italians, over
joyed at being freed and trying to
kiss every one, wanted to know if
they couldn’t get into the tanks
and fight.
Told that they could not. they
took up German rifles and joined
the 68th.
That morning, Rupbodan, up the
valley, f ell to the combat command.
White flags were flying and the ci
vilians crowded the sidewalks to
watch the tanks.
As the unit moved out, a tame
commander looked back and saw a
German running down the street,
urging the civilians to pull down
the white flags. The tank com
mander swung his turret and cut
the man down with his machine
gun. The column moved on.
Bad Breuckenau fell without fir
ing a shot.
There they picked up two pris
oners of war who told them they
came from Romershag—the next
town—and that this town wanted
to surrender.
Maj. Cavin went up to the town
In a tank with a white flag, but
the tank was fired on and he turned
back.
Romershag was taken that night.
The ruins of Romershag are a
monument to the SS treatment of
the German people.
It was not all a drive from town
to town.
The 500th Field Artillery, so anx
ious to keep up with the fast-mov
ing column that at one time its
artillery pieces got up into the
point and its forward observers
were behind it—would go into po
sition and the 105 s would bark.
The tanks would deploy and the
76s would speak with their sharp
cracks; and the walls of the neat
little villa would erupt geysers of
smoke and rubble.
The tanks would roll forward,
and there would be anti-tank guns
and, bozookas and snipers and sol
diers would die.
From the newspaper, it sounded
like a country fair. But to the men
in the tanks and the man in the
infantry, in the artillery fire and
the small arms fire, it was no
country fair. And the tankers and
the infantrymen lying dead along
side the road didn’t know that the
war was almost over, and that this
gas a glorious victory.
That was the second night of the
breakthrough.
By the third day a neat little
system for marking roads had
come into use.
The maintenance vehicles and
kitchens and other battalion ad
ministrative vehicles following the
tanks and half-tracks were finding
it a little difficult to follow the
lighting troops, and it was no place
to get lost.
All the combat troops were clean
ing out was the road they followed.
The other roads were not good.
So, every time the tanks came
to a turn, they simply marked a
“V” with machine gun bullets in
the side of the house to show which
way they had gone. No one got
lost.
Oberbach was taken easily. The
task force was ordered to bypass
Wildflecken and to head straight,
northeast to Bischofsheim, but
Wildflecken wouldn’t have it that
way.
Nasty Fight
As the column started to pass
east of Wildflecken, it was fired
upon from its flanks, so it turned
and went into the city. It turned
out to be a nasty little fight to get
in there.
Three hundred prisoners were
taken. There were three German
military camps there and hospitals
And there were some 300 railroad
cars the command took.
In Wildflecken an hour, the 48th
was notified that the 3rd Division
was going to attack the city, and
that as a" preliminary it was going
to drop a TOT in Artillery—“ Time
on Target”—whereby all artillery
pieces are timed to fire on the same
target at the same time.
“No. no. no,” said Maj. Cavin,
and the artillery was stopped.
The 3rd’s infantry, however, did
not all receive the notice for one
battalion appeared over the ridge,
neatly deployed, and began to ad
vance down on the city, the scouts
well in front, as they should have
been, diving from gully to gully.
The 48th waited for them to ar
rive. and as one scout finally
reached the city and peered out
from behind a building, a tanker
said to him:
“Whatcha doing, sonny 7 ”
More White Flags
From Wildflecken, the column
went to Bischofsheim and again
the white flags were out. From
Bischofsheim it turned south to'
Neustadt.
There were tanks, medium and
light, moving m column at 15 miles
an hour. There were half-tracks
with men of the 68th and men of
the 125th. And the whole combat
command was smashing through
completely disorganized resistance.
There was German infantry, try
ing to retreat before them, break
ing rank and running for the woods
when the tanks caught up with
them. There was artillery, German
horses galloping fast as they could
and finally leaping crazily and
crumpling as American mobile ar
tillery caught them on the road.
There were knots of resistance in
the houses where soldiers and Volk
sturm tried to hold the column, and
did —till the tanks deployed and
the artillery fired, and the resist
ance was broken.
Lt. John R. Scott, of Evanston,
111. led the column into Neustadt
in a light tank. He ran through the
streets into the main part of town,
through the sniper’s fire and the
bazookas, turned around and said
into his microphone:
“Gentlemen, the rat race is over.”
DEAR MOM
I wish 1 had the power to write
The thoughts within my heart to
night.
I sit and watch a lonely star
And wonder how and where you
are.
You know, Mom it’s a funny thing,
How close a war’a son can bring;
And how for many months I tried
To keep emotions deep inside.
I told you brave men never cried.
I’m sorry, Mom, I guess I lied;
For if we stood here to embrace,
You’d find a tearstain* on my face.
I’m sorry if, when I was home,
I left you standing all alone,
For it was you who shared my tears
And soothed my hurt and dried my
tears;
Yes, if I had the power to write
The thoughts within my heart to
night,
The words would ring out dear and
true:
I’m proud to say, Mom. I love you.
This poem was sent from Pfc.
Hugh W. Willingham to his mother,
Mrs. W. O. Willingham, of Menlo,
Ga. Pfc. Willingham is now in Ger
many.
James Roy Stephenson Promoted
James Roy Stephenson, with the
12th Infantry 4th Division. Schein
feld. Germany, was recently award
ed the Combat Infantry Badge and
promoted to private first class. Pfc.
Stephenson is the son of the late
• Its Different!
• It's Liquid!!
. It's Quick!!! fSJSf
Uso only as directed.
... by all means stop in to see us.
You’re always welcome at our bank.
But, if you postpone a trip in order to
save gas, tires, and wear and
tear on your car, we invite you
to do your banking conveniently ( d
by mail. Ask us for details.
Farmers & Merchants Bank
SUMMERVILLE, GA.
Member Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Letters From Boys
Burma, May 8. 1945.
Hello, Mother —It’s now 9:05 p.m.
and I have just listened to the lat
est news. At 7:30 p.m., our time,
about 50 of us boys" gathered at
the radio in the kitchen to listen
to President Truman speak and the
recording of Winston Churchill’s
V-E-Day speech that followed.
We had been hearing since yes
terday that an armistice had been
siigned by the Allied generals with
German generals, but it had not
been confirmed by the governments
of the three great powers.
We had eagerly devoured every
single item of the news and were
waiting for 7:30 to come, for the
radio had already announced the
time of the speaking to be at 7:30,
our time. At that time I guess most
of the world was listening, the
same as we were.
At 7 p.m. a friend and. I were
very busy skinning a small deer
that we killed just about 6:30 or
just before dark. We were in a
great rush to finish before the
president started speaking. We were
not quite fast enough, for we could
hear his voice coming from the
mess hall already. Hurrying in
we sat on the benches we have for
eating tables, with about 40 or 50
other fellows. Every one were lis
teniing very closely, but there was
so much static you could hardlv
understand what he said. Only now
and then could you hear a clear
word or sentence. Some were sit
ting with hands clasped around
their knees, staring into the radio.
Others were reclining on an elbow
or using their chin, with a far
away look in their eyes. No doubt,
they were thinking of the wife and
babies, their mother, or maybe a
brother or cousin over there. Manv
eyes expressed a desire to be home
to help celebrate in the good old
U. S. A.
This, being your birthday, has
been one great day to me—not just
because I’m thinking of you, but
because there are so many other
mothers that are so happy tonight,
and know that at last the bloody
war is over, or at least in Europe,
and that their boys will not be dy
ing and killing another mother’s
son this night. You must be ter
ribly happy that Harold is safe at
last. But in the Pacific and China
also here in Burma, there are many
more to die before the Japs are de
feated. How happy their mother’s
would be if it were ending here the
same as in Europe. I really think
our little war with the Japs here
is nearly finished, as the British
have Rangoon and still driving the
sons of heaven back into Siam.
I started to go to bed, but
changed my mind and began writ
ing. Thought you might like to
know what I was doing and where
I am while you were listening to
the good news. I will try to tell
you what happened from 7 p.m.
our time, until I started writing
this at 9:05.
The mess hall is also a recreation
room, so there were those who was
not interested in the speaking, and
they were playing cards at a nearby
table. Then there were the fev
who had to celebrate by drinking
(bambo juice) native whisky, and
were voicing their feelings in a
loud shout of “Hurrah, the war’s
over and I’m going home.” After
the recording of Churchill’s speech
we listened to a general speaking
from the Pacific, after which I
came to my tent, and thd trucks
were still going by on this Lido-
Burma road just as nothing had
happened, and the jungles still
gave forth their inky black dark
ness filled with weird sounds.
I’m going to call it quits, for it’s
almost time for me to put out the
lights. The other boys in my tent
are asleep already. Again “Happy
birthday.” This has been a day
to remember. Good night, mother.
Love, Wilburn.
A drummer traveling for an Al
berdeen firm was caught up in the
Orkneys by a bad storm. He wired
to his boss, “‘Marooned by bad
storm; wire instructions.” The re
ply came swift. “Start vacation as
from yesterday.”
A CARD OF THANKS
Dear Editor —We wish to thank
all our friends through the columns
of The News who were so faithful to
minister to my dear husband, James
David Wigley, who died on May 28
after a lingering illness. We thank
all who visited him and tried to
cheer his lonely hours. We appre
piate every prayer and each and
every one who was interested in us
and helped us in so many ways; also
to those who brought so many nice
fruits and flowers, and helped us
in so very many ways. We thank
Dr. Little and Dr. Brown for their
untiring efforts to save his life.
Especially do we thank the Paul
Weems Funeral Home for their
prompt and kind service, and we
thank each and every one who
sent the lovely flowers and all who
furnished cars. And thank Miss
Cora Jackson for arranging the
beautiful music and also for those
comforting words by the Rev. B.
L. Betts, which was as true and
beautiful in sentiment as the love
ly flowers which covered his casket.
We thank the choir, who sang the
sweet songs, especially do we thank
the pallbearers and those who
helped prepare his grave and
those who spoke comforting words
in this our darkest hour. While our
over the death of our dearest one.
We feel so thankful for those
friends who were so faithful and we
pray God’s richest blessing on each
and every one, and when trouble
comes to you, we trust you will have
just such kind friends to help you,
and may God mingle His love with
your grief and sorrow. May God
bless you every one is my prayer.—
Mrs. James D. Wigley, Lyerly, Ga.
The world today is seething with
unrest, torn with war, the greatest
war the world has ever known. Our
boys are fighting and dying on for
eign battlefields. How the world
needs God today? How we need
God. How we need to trust Him?
Why can’t we trust him? We have
His holy word. Why can’t we take
more time to read and study God’s
word? Teach our children in our
homes of God; teach them that Na
ture is God’s love. We celebrate
Christmas as Christ’s birthday. How
many of us stop to think of what
a holy occasion it should be; of
what it stands for; the birth of the
Saviour, the only son of God? He
gave his only son in atonement for
the world. Then the sad occasion
of Easter Sunday. Do we ever stop
to think of how He suffered and
died on that terrible cross of Cal
vary for the sins of this sinful
world. Why can’t we stop and
think today of the heavenly Fa
ther, that has done so much for us?
Let us look at the world today—
at the sin the sorrow, the suffer
ing and still the world will not turn
to God. There are more people go
to the moving picture shows on the
Sabbath and never go to church.
When man and woman are joined
in the holy bonds of matrimony, it
is a sacred bond in the sight of
God. They should be true to this
holy bond, and take God into this
marriage with them. And if God
is good enough to give them chil
dren to rear, please stop and think,
fathers and mothers, that you are
responsible for these children’s
care; teach them of God, of His
great love for mankind. God help
us to see. to realize that we must
live our life for God.
T see bright rosy red across the
eastern sky.
The sun is peeping through,
The ground is white with frost;
It is all beauty to me, the love of
the Father on high.
—Mary Goodson Crawford.
Fort Mill, S. C.
CARELESS BOY
Father—Why were you kept in
at school?
Mike—l didn’t know where the
Azores were.
Father—ln the future, just re
member where you put things.
RELIEVED NOW
Mrs. Peck—Henry, did you ever
have more money than you knew
what to do with? '
Henry—l must have had or I
never would have got married.