NEWS: Blair County Soldiers, August 1, 1918, Blair County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja 

Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/
_______________________________________________ 

TWELVE COLORED SOLDIERS

  This Saturday is the day for the next draft contingent to leave for army camp, 
and on this occasion it is twelve colored men who are to take their first step 
into induction into the American army.  They will leave Tyrone on train No. 15 
leaving here at 2:25 in the afternoon and their destination is Camp Custer, 
which is near Battle Creek, Mich.  Plans are being formulated whereby these 
young men will receive as hearty a send-off as has been given to their white 
brethren.  This is right, for dispatches from General Pershing fully corroborate 
the fact that the dusky members of the army are conducting themselves as bravely 
as the white members, and in fact some of them have been decorated for most 
conspicuous bravery under fire.  This is not a white man's war, but a battle for 
humanity, which includes all races and nationalities not tainted or impregnated 
with autocracy.  Hence the band is to be out to see these fellows off and all 
citizens are urged to give them the proper send off.  Those to go are
  Albert Slaughters, Tyrone.
  George Woodward, Tyrone.
  Hampton Newman, Altoona.
  Leonidas Woods, Philadelphia.
  Charles White, Detroit, Mich.
  Mack King, Tyrone.
  Willey Holloway, Juniata.
  Frank F. Taylor, Juniata
  Johnny Jones, Tyrone.
  Charles King, Philadelphia.
  Wesley Williams, Tyrone.
  George A Brode, Blandburg.
  These fellows all originally registered in Tyrone, but it will be seen from 
their addresses how they have been scattered over the country.  They have all 
been heard from and it is expected that they will be all here on time for the 
departure.
  Albert Slaughters, one of the most popular young colored men of the town, will 
be in charge of this contingent, and Rev. H. E. Newman of the A.M.E. church, 
will accompany them through to their destination.

Altoona Tribune, Thursday morning, August 1, 1918, page 4

COMPANY G, OF 110TH REGIMENT, NOT CUT UP

Blair County Boys Have Suffered but Few Casualties on Firing Line

  Many reports and rumors have been in circulation about the city during the 
past several days concerning Company G, 110th regiment now fighting the Hun west 
of Rheims.  One rumor was to the effect that the command had been cut to pieces 
and another that it had suffered heavy casualties.  These reports are untrue as 
General Peyton C. March, chief of staff of the United States army stamps them as 
such and says the casualties have been few.
  Mrs. John C. Milleisen, supervisor of music in the Altoona schools, and whose 
son, Alfred, is a member of company G, was among many others who heard of the 
reports and put it down as German propaganda.  To ascertain the facts she 
communicated with General March to obtain vital information.  Yesterday morning 
she received a letter from General March, written Monday, which stamps the 
reports and rumors as canards.  It follows:
  Mrs. Jean C. Milleisen,
    Altoona, Pa.
  My Dear Mrs. Milleisen:
  In reply to your letter of July 29, in which you request information as to 
whether or not Company G, One Hundred and Tenth infantry, of which your son is a 
member, has suffered severe casualties, permit me to inform you that the records 
of the war department show only a few casualties from this organization.  I am 
pleased to inform you that your son's name does not appear among the lists of 
casualties so far submitted to the war department.
  I am, very sincerely,\
    PEYTON C. MARCH,
      General, Chief of Staff.
  The letter will be a great relief to a number of mothers of boys in the 110th 
regiment, especially in Company G.  It has also been ascertained that similar 
rumors have been started in other cities and towns where a large number of boys 
have enlisted in some military unit.  It is regarded as propaganda and 
[in]tended to break the great confidence the people have in the boys to win the 
war.

Altoona Tribune, Thursday morning, August 1, 1918, page 9

COLORED SELECTED MEN ARE HONORED

Woman's War Relief, Unit 33, Give Them Farewell Reception Last Evening

  The forty young colored men that leave Altoona at 5:05 o'clock Saturday 
evening for Camp Custer, near Battle Creek, Mich., will depart knowing that they 
have the staunch backing of the colored population of this city, especially the 
women and girls that are affiliated with the Womans' War Relief unit No. 33, and 
Dorcas auxiliary to the Red Cross.
  Last evening a reception was tendered a goodly number of the young men at Zion 
Baptist church, Fifth avenue and Twenty-second street.  The edifice was crowded 
and the affair was one appropriate and in keeping with the occasion.  There were 
patriotic exercises and this was followed by a banquet to the boys in the festal 
hall of the church.  It was demonstrated by the two organizations that they will 
look to the comfort of the boys while they are away at war and that they will 
knit and perform other war tasks that they may know the folks at home are with 
them in heart and mind.
  Mr. White, chairman of the War Relief society, presided at the exercises, 
which opened with the members of the two organizations, accompanied by the 
selected men, marching into the church to the strains of "Onward Christian 
Soldiers."  After a prayer by Rev. Pittman, the "Star Spangled Banner" was sung 
with a patriotic fervor that had the true ring.  Rev. G. E. Ormers delivered a 
timely talk to the boys and urged each to take a Bible with him to the front.  
Miss Bolyar recited a selection, entitled "Men," and this was followed by 
remarks by Rev. J. Bell, Jordan Hicks and Mrs. Pittman.
  The spirit of the boys that go forth to war, the same that they have in going 
over the top and the same results in their making the best soldiers in the world 
was exemplified by the speech made by one of the selected men.  Waving a little 
starry emblem, he said that he was proud to lay bare his breast to defend its 
purity, to fight that it should never be stained by defeat and to die for it and 
his country.
  "America" was sung and the selected men were marched to the festal hall for a 
dinner.  A collection was lifted and a goodly sum was raised for tobacco and 
cigarettes for the boys to take away with them.
  There will be a celebration on the departure of the boys Saturday afternoon.  
The procession will be headed by the Middle Division band, Director Pearce 
having volunteered the services of the crack musical organization to escort the 
boys to the train.  The arrangements will be completed today.

NEWS OF SERVICE MEN AT HOME AT ABROAD

Dr. George W. Alleman, of U.S. Medical Corps, Promoted to Rank of Captain.

Dr. George W. Alleman, formerly one of this city's well known young physicians 
and who at the outbreak of the war with Germany answered to the call of the 
country for the service of medical men, has been promoted to the rank of 
captain.  He has been in France for several months and is stationed at one of 
the evacuation hospitals near the front line.  His promotion will be good news 
to a number of his friends in the city.
  Thomas Paul Dunn, a well known young man residing at 1701 Eighth avenue, has 
landed safely in France, according to a letter received by his mother yesterday.  
He is a member of the 313th Machine Gun company and was trained at Camp Lee.  
Since arriving in France he has won promotion to the rank of corporal and is now 
attending the non-commissioned officers' school.
  Charles Sanders, better known to his Altoona friends and shopmates as "Red," 
has arrived safely overseas, according to word received by his mother, Mrs. 
Jennie Sanders, of 1110 1/2 Sixteenth street, yesterday.  He was trained at 
Kelly field and also at Fairfield, O., and is in the aviation section.
  Francis R. Hoyer, son of ex-Mayor S. M. Hoyer, of 1900 Third avenue, has 
arrived Over There.  He enlisted as a motor mechanic and was assigned to 
Pittsburg for training.  He is now with the Sixth division of the field 
artillery.  Two other brothers are in the service, Harry Hoyer, in the aviation 
section and training at Little Silver, N.J., and Claude Hoyer, with an 
engineering regiment and on the way to France.
  Raymond K. Snyder, son of Samuel Snyder, of 2609 West Chestnut avenue, has 
arrived safely overseas with Battery D, of the Third Field artillery.  He 
enlisted several months ago.
  Lieutenant Kenneth Witherow, now in France, has sent his mother, Mrs. C. T. 
Witherow, the letter King George of England, extends to American soldiers 
arriving in England.  He states he is in good health and feeling fine.  He is in 
the aircraft armament section.
  Byron C. Miller, son of Mr. and Mrs. S. R. Miller, of 2531 Third avenue, has 
been promoted to the position of sergeant-major at the base hospital at Camp 
Bowie, Texas.  He was recently operated upon but has recovered and is back in 
the service.
  Howard A. Clare, son of Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Claire, of 1632 Twentieth avenue, 
left yesterday morning for Pittsburg, where he will enter the University of 
Pittsburg for training as a motor mechanic to serve in the United States army.  
He was formerly a passenger brakeman on the Pittsburg division.
  S. C. Walker returned yesterday morning from Atlanta, GA., where he spent 
several days visiting his son Claude, who is in the machine gun instruction 
school at Camp Hancock.  He reports the Altoona boys he had the pleasure of 
meeting as being in good spirits and looking well.  Among those he met was 
Kenneth Houck, Walter Ettleman and Walter Fay.  He also spent a very pleasant 
visit with J. E. Probyn, general secretary of the Augusta Y.M.C.A.

Altoona Tribune, Thursday morning, August 1, 1918, page 10