NEWS: James Roy TAYLOR Writes Home, 1918, of Hollidaysburg, Blair County, PA

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HOLLIDAYSBURG SOLDIER SENDS CHEERING NEWS
Is Recovering from Gas Wound  -  Tells of German Boy Prisoner Crying
URGES HELPING THE RED CROSS

  Mr. and Mrs. Henry Taylor, of 213 Mulberry street, Hollidaysburg, have 
received an interesting letter from their son, Private James Roy Taylor, who 
is a member of Company D, 109 Infantry, but now in American Base Hospital in 
France recovering from effects of gas which he received on July 31.  The 
letter follows:
  American Base Hospital No. 27, Ward 85, August 8, 1918.
  Dear Father and Mother:
  I will write you a few lines to let you know I am getting along fine; hope 
these few lines find you all well and happy.  I am at American Base Hospital, 
I dare not say what city, for it is against the rules.  Do not think I am badly 
injured for I am not.  I only got some gas on July 31, not very bad; will 
soon be out fighting for Old Glory again (in about a month or six weeks.)
  Cheer up!  The way our boys are chasing those Huns is good to see and will 
stay right at it till the devils howl for mercy.  Some of them want mercy in 
the fight when we get the best of them.  But we usually give them a couple of 
inches of cold steel.
  A German is no good unless he is dead then he might make fertilizer and the 
Yanks are certainly placing them on the ground for that purpose.
  I saw the Huns start shelling a small village which had a Red Cross first 
aid hospital in it.  They sent the patients all to the rear.  Five minutes 
after last load left a large shell hit fairly in first aid house.  I do not 
think I shall show any mercy to any who shell hospitals.
  Help the Red Cross all you can for they are doing as great a work as the 
boys in the lines are doing.
  I took one prisoner.  He just looked like a boy of about 17 or 18 years of 
age.  When I knocked the gun out of his hands he began to cry.  Don't worry 
about me for I am in good hands in love with beautiful nurses and many of 
them.
  I will have to close for this time answer soon.
          Your Loving Son
            ROY.

Altoona Tribune, Monday, August 26, 1918, page 4