(Graphic: the grip — influenza — gripped the nation in 1918)
75 Years Ago •
May 10, 1945 •
Kenneth Haire of Raeford was a member of a squad that captured 19 Germans recently. After a miniature close range fire fight that occurred intermittently all night, the squad rounded up the German soldiers as dawn was breaking. “It was an eerie situation,” squad members aid. “We were billeted in an old house and 20 feet across the alley was a barn which we had just previously checked and found OK. One of our boys had to report to the CP, and stepping out the door was greeted with a volley of shots. He dashed back in again unharmed. It was pitch dark and we couldn’t tell what was what.
“From the cover of our building we fired a few rounds in the direction of the barn. The fire was returned and this kept up spasmodically all night..
“Finally we sent a man for help. With the aid of the first platoon and a TD we routed the Jerries out. They were equipped with all types of arms including bazookas.”
Even though barred of news privileges Edward Kennedy, European AP chief, broke the story of German’s surrender in authentic detail and the story America heard over its radios Monday morning and soon read in special editions of its papers was true.
The Kennedy account of the signing of the surrender papers in the big red school house at Reims, France, was phoned from Paris to London and cabled to America. “Germany surrendered unconditionally to the western Allies and Russia at 2:41 a.m. French time. (This was 8:41 p.m. eastern war time Sunday.) The surrender took place at a little red school house which is the headquarters of General Eisenhower. The surrender which brought war in Europe to a formal end after five years, eight months and six days of bloodshed and destruction was signed for Germany By Co. Gen. Gustav Jodl.”
From Poole’s Medley, by D. Scott Poole: “’In ten years, the world will know Germany,’ so said Adolph Hitler in 1938. From the news we read, Hitler was right, for once. Berlin, once one of the most beautiful cities in the world, lies in rubble. It is said the Russians have dynamited the city, building by building.
In a brief radio address Tuesday morning at 9 o’clock, President Harry S. Truman declared the war in Europe to have ended with complete and unconditional surrender of Germany’s forces.
The President did not name Tuesday as V-E Day, but instead called upon the people of the nation to join together on Sunday, May 13, in a day of prayer and thanksgiving.
The United States will have a ‘sizeable force’ of army troops in the Pacific within three to four months after V-E-day to speed realization of V-J day, says Lt. Gen. Robert C. Richardson Jr. Troops will be shifted into the Pacific Ocean areas.
House military committee members in Washington have disclosed that tentative army plans are to send 6 million picked troops against Nippon. “It is the policy of the war department,” said the general, “to prosecute the war against Japan with utmost celerity.”
• 47 Years Ago •
• March 10, 1973 •
Failing to score in only two events, Hoke High amassed 61 points Saturday to easily capture the Eastern Sectional Girls track meet.
New Bern finished second, collecting 21 points.
Debbie Little led the Hoke girls with two firsts and two second place finishes. Barbara Lide also grabbed two firsts and added a second and a third. Kathy Little took two first places and added a fifth place finish.
A representative of the State Library Board estimated the cost of equipping the new Hoke County Library at $380,000 to $480,000. Library board member Palmer Willcox reported the state recommended a building between 11,000 and 12,000 square feet to be constructed at the corner of East Donaldson Avenue and Main Street.
The national energy crisis has had some effect on Hoke County and will probably have more local impact in coming months. Already affected are consumers of heating fuels. Clyde Teal of Teal Oil reports receiving ample supply of gasoline for motor vehicle use at the present time bus say, “June, July and August could be the worst three months for gasoline consumption.”
Write columnist Sam Morris, “With the (Edinborough) shopping center almost completed I think that other parts of Raeford will be going to work and do some face lifting. No business can stand still; it must move either forward or backward and from rumors the Main Street merchants are not going to be caught sleeping.”
He also writes, “I am still in favor of a one-way street on Elwood Avenue. The traffic was again bad last week and I think this is the only solution to the problem.
And, “The Bicentennial Committee will meet Thursday morning at ten o’clock in the Board of Education Building according to Mrs. Ruth McEachern, chairman.”
• 25 Years Ago •
• May 10, 1995 •
A joint city-county committee has recommended the county communications department be moved from control of the sheriff. The committee also recommended hiring a communications director.
Dickson Press has begun publishing a new newspaper. The Fort Bragg Post will be “the new voice of Fort Bragg.” Knight Chamberlain, former managing editor of the Robesonian in Lumberton, will be editor. Dickson Press publishes and prints The News-Journal.
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