Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-12-24
BIG DINNER FOR
BOYS IN BLUE
ON CHRISTMAS

San Antonio, Texas, Dec. 2233-Spe-
cial.-Unclc Sans boys in blue at Fort
Sam Houston, the second largest army
post in the United States, will this
year sit down to a Christmas dinner
almost as elaborate as may be found
i'll the great majority of American
homes. In fact, both Christmas and
New Years dinners at the fort will be
very comnnplcte. This is evidenced by
the arrangements now being made by
tn con,mssory department.. At present
there are nearly 2,1h enlisted men at
Fort Sam Houston, and on this number
has been calculated the ra,ions for the
Christmas dinner.
On both holidays the men will have
served to them 2.5nn pounds of turkey.
800 gallons of oysters. :E'S gallons of
cranberricS. $500 pies Of all kinds, with
mlnce in the ascendancy. 2,:J'O oranges
2,j'"| apples, 500 pounds of candies, 500
pounds of nuts, 500 pounds of raisins,
200 cocoanutS, l3.:lon pounds of fish,
1000 olives, l7j gallons Of ice cream,
5000 cigars and quantities OF vegetables,
fruits and assorted cakes.
Although the every day menu of the
troops is of a far more palatablc nature
IMAM many persons suppose, It will be
seen that the Christmas spread is some
thing very extra. Each man is allowed
one pound of turkey in place of the
one pound day mra, ration, and the
cranberry sauce, and the frills of pie,
nuts. fruits, cigars and cakes will come
by. SPECIAL arrangement. Each company
OF the garrison will receive its pro
rata OF the Christmas provisions and
cooking department "i each will pre-
pare the dinner III its own individual
way AS is usual. the cocks of the Diff
fcrcnt companies will vie with each 9TH
cr III making the same things differ
rnt and to the liking of ALL"
MI drills, concerts and other work,
with the exception OF the necessary rou-
tine. such as revcilc. retreat. inspection,
etc., Is done away with on Christmas
uay. here is no music. for even the
bands are exempt from work. The
men q" not hing except enjoy themselves
and eat. Each company is served in
the dining hall OF it, own barracks
he hall is deliberately decorated. De-
tails &" to the government manv,1vcr
Ground, ," miles from San Antonio, at
con Springs, and bring in wagon loads
OF Christmas greens and mistctur, each
company having 4 large evergreen for
ITS Christmas tree Then there are
branches OF the aromatic cedar and the
rrd-bcrrlrd holly. These are used with
flags and stacks Of rifles and company
relics to turn int" a truly holiday at
the ordinarily severely plain
dining hall. 1t is the custom vi many
"f the companies to have a Christmas
tree Of their own, and the non-cu,mns-
stoned officers are asked to serve as
ii committee to decorate it with the
packages and parcels sent from home
to the far-off soldier son or brother
These gifts are distributed on Christ
mas morning.
This year an unusually large number
Of soldiers, especially those who have
recently come from the north, have ex-
pressed a longing to spend 4 Christ
mas Of the Old fashioned kind at their
ZONES, where the snow and ice make
LOUDLY joyful the cheer within the
1ouSc. The green Christmas. with its
'alny, flow er fragrant air OF San An
ONO. does not appeal to all men. and
perhaps this IS one reason why a ban
Iuct instead ui dinner will be served
he men on this Christmas dav. A
argc number Of fur1oughs are being
granted to the enlisted men from day
o day. however, and several hundred
rom Fort Sam Houston will be thou
ands of miles away. at home" when
he chimes FRI m old San Fernando cath
dral usher in the Day of Nativity