The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1914-11-06

| Children OF America and Others to
Orphans Made by War. She Will
Visit England and France and Other
| Countries.
Not day passes without news of
more killings in the frightful strife in
which Europe is engaged and some
men have calculated that by next
Christmas 100000 children will be
fatherless because of the war
1t is to bring at least little Christ
mas joy to these orphans that Amer
icas Santa Claus ship will sail from
New York on Nov Is with cargo of
gifts from the children of America and
other well meaning persons to the chill
dren of the war stricken countries Of
Europe
The collier Jason has been designat-
ed by Secretary Daniels to carry the
Christmas presents The Jason is $3.50
feet long and Is feet wide. Her hold
is SO feet inches deep. She can carry
10.500 tons. She is made of steel
throughout. Her cost was 1851 900.
The commanding officer of the ship is
Henry 7 Merriwether. who ranks as
master in the naval auxiliary service.
Jason Is Uncle Sans Contribution.
With the assignment of the Jason
everything has been done that can be
done by the government to make the
children's Christmas movement a sue
cess.
The navy department has been work.
ing on the itinerary Of the Jason. 1t
Is expected that the first stop will be
made In England From there the COL
lier will cross the channel and prob
ably go to Havre. since that is the
nearest port to Paris, provided that
port is still an open port by the time
the Jason reaches the other side.
All the foreign countries have as
sured safe convoy to the Santa Claus
ship. France is going to give her a
reception, and so is England. and, as
for the other countries that will he
visited. everything points to a grand
welcome.
Interest In the Christmas ship
throughout the country has been slim.
ulated for several weeks by influential
newspapers in various large cities.
which have been urging their readers
to contribute gifts for the children of
Europe
Wilson Greatly Interested.
John Callan O'Laughlin, the Wash
ington correspondent Of the Chicago
Herald, wrote:
Think of IL, children of America!
president Wilson, your president. Is
very much interested In the plan to
send Christmas gifts to the fatherless
little ones of war ridden Europe
"The ambassadors of the countries at
war, the men who are ON duty at the
capital of the nation looking after the
interests of their respective nations,
say that your gifts will be received and
bring JOY and comfort and great thank
fathers are dead and for whom there
can be no Santa Claus unless you take
his place
Isn't It marvellous that you can so
stir the world; that you can get the
United States which is neutral. to totn |
with Great Britain, France and Russia
and Germany and Austria aud little
Belgium. all of which are beIligereuts |
that is Il mouthfulL in sending ray of |
light through the gloom that covers
What does all that meanf
ut means first OF all that through
the work of your brains and your
hands you are going to make little
girl or little boy smile through his
tears ON Christ's birthday
Isn't that worth working fort
'Then it means that war will pass
by the ship that carries your gift to
the poor, fatherless child; the ship
with the stars and stripes. your coun,
try's flag, and the streamer of white
with the star of hope. Christ's Tag,
and the single word 'lDasmuch