Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-11-28
ENGLAND IN ROLE
OF SANTA CLAUS
Steps to Distribute American
Christmas Gifts Are Dis
cussed at Luncheon.

| LONDON, Nov. 2S.-Arrangements for
J distributing England's share of the
millions of Christmas ship gifts have
been completed by the local govern
ment board charged with the task,
according to the American ambassa.
dor. Walter Hines Page.
The ambassadors announcement
was made to an enthusiastic audience
at luncheon given at the American
Luncheon club in honor of the Jason's
arrival.
The arrival of the gifts in London
will be celebrated by a reception, after
which the sorting of the presents will
be begun by the Drapers' guild.
The board expects to have complete
information of the number of orphans
and their location in the United King;
dom within a few days. 1t is the de-
termined purpose of the government
to see that the gifts reach those for
whom the children of America in
tended them.
The children of America were
warmly applauded at yesterdays
luncheon, at which many prominent
guests. including Lord Northcliffe Sir
George Ridell, Robert w. Skinner,
American consul general, and the
foremost members of the American
colony in London were present.
Lord Northcliffe made a happy
speech describing the marvellous re-
sponse of American children to the
appeal OF the Chicago Herald and
the many other newspapers through
out the United States.
John Callan OLaughlin was present
as the representative of the chill
dren's ship. The Jason is preparing
to leave Devonport today and her Of
ficers were unable to be present. Mr..
O'Laughlin described the organization
of the enterprise and the enthusiasm
of American women and children
which made so difficult an undertaking
possible.
Sir George Ride1l replied. paying
high tribute to the originality of
Americans and the vigor with which
they carry out unique ideas.
Ambassador Page. after explaining
the arrangements for distributing the
gifts in the United Kingdom, declared
that the British and Belgian relief
committee would cooperate in the
Work or delivery.
The Jason will sail today for Mar
seilles, where the consignment for
France will be landed.
Many applications are being receiv-
ed by the Panama-Pacific exposition
committee in London asking that the
Jason be directed to stop and take
aboard exhibits to be carried back on
her homeward voyage. Most of the
applicants for space are manufacture
ers or artists.
Mr.. O'Laughlin during his stay in
London arranged with the Servian
and Montenegrin ministers for the re-
ception of the Jason's gifts in those
countries Owing to the difficulties of
through Servia, it has
been decided to unload the Montene-
grin allotment at Genoa with that of
Austria and Germany. Thence the
presents will be sent to Cettinje over |
land, according to the original plan. !
The Servian allotment will be landed /
from the Jason at Salonika.
Mr.. O'Laughlin called on Sir Edward |
Grey. who in his conversation joined |
with all the other British officials in |
the nations gratitude to /
the Chicago Herald and other news |
papers through which the children OF |
America were able to send their gifts. /
Word has been sent to the German |
government through the embassy here
hat Mr.. O'Laughlin expects to reach
Berlin Dec. II. He will leave Genoa
'or Vienna Dec. IL and will stop in
Vienna until Dec. Is. At the next
stopping place. Marseilles, the Jason
will remain five days TO take on coal,
which she eventually will deposit in
he holds of the Tennessee and North
Carolina. which now are in the Med
terranean.