Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-10-20

to depart for European ports has beer
fixed. That date is November 10.
| 1t was first expected that the vessel
would depart some time between NO
vember 20 and IS. This would have
given at least ten days more in which
10 10 coliect the gifts that are to be sent
nouncement has been made several
times In The Star. and hundreds of per-
dates.
Now; however, it is positively known
.hat the Jason is to sail November TO-
from brooklyn. The date has been
nxed, and it will not be postponed-no
not even for the sake of completing the
cargo of Christmas remembrances
Only an accident to the ship itself
such as would make it Impossible for
the vessel to start on it's voyage, would
be sufficient cause in the eyes of naval
authorities for postponement of the
sailing date.
Urgent Need of Haste.
That this moving forward of the date
on which the Christmas ship has been
expected to sail is going to cause a
great deal of inconvenience goes with
out saying. But it cannot be helped.
The plans of the Navy Department,
even in case such as this, cannot be
altered to suit the convenience of any
one
So. children of Washington and the
District of Columbia and of all the re-
glon about the National Capital. there
is urgent need of haste.
All the gifts of clothing for the boys
and girls of the war-torn countries
and for their widowed mothers will
nave to be packed in such a manner
that they may be safely slowed away
beneath the decks of the Christmas
ship for the voyage across the Allan
tic. All the toys--the dolls. picture
DOCKS. playthings of every description
which the boys and girls of the Unit
ed States are sending to the orphaned
children of Europe must be properly
and securely packed for shipment And
then all must be sent to Brooklyn, to
the Bush terminal, in ample time for
them to be slowed away in the Christ
mas ships hold.
Only One Christmas Ship.
This will take time. 1t will take a
good deal of time, at the very best. AL
lowing one week in which to get the
gifts of Washington kiddies from this
city to Brooklyn and on board the
Jason-and a week is very little time
for this task-leaves just two weeks
in which to make ready your gifts and
forward them to The Star.
This means that many entertainments
that have been planned for the benefit
of the Christmas ship must be hurried
ahead. The Christmas ship editor
knows of a great many such entertain
ments which have been planned to be
given on dates after that which has
been set by the Secretary OF the Navy
for the departure of the christmas
ship.
OF course, gifts, which are contributed
after the ship departs Will not reach
the war orphans. There will be only
one Christmas ship, and gifts that are
not slowed away in the 10,00O-ton holds
of the Jason when that vessel sails
will be too late.
Move Up Dates of Entertainments.
So, to those who have planned enter
tainments to be given on dates later
than November 3, the Christmas ship
editor says:
Change the date of your entertain
ment; move it forward, so that your
contribution of clothing. of toys. ETC..
or of cash may be in hand not day
later than November 8. The Secretary
of the Navy has set a date ten days
earlier than was originally anticipated
for the departure of the Christmas
ship. The sailing date will not be post
poned. therefore, thoSe VINO plan u
help in the movement will have to give
that help sooner than they had ex-
pected. 1t will doubtless work many
Inconvenience, but it can not be
helped. So hurry, hurry. hurry. If your
Christmas membranes for Europe's
war orphans are to be in time"
James Kelley, editor of the Chicago
Herald, who was the originator of the
Christmas ship idea-which now has
the cooperation of nearly 100 big
newspapers throughout the country
telegraphed to The Star today, asking
that all who are going to give to the
ships cargo be urged to do so at once.
Mr.. Kelley says all shipments should
be at the Bush terminal. in Brooklyn,
by the night of November 3.
So from now on the word is haste.