The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-13

and they will be interpreted as gen
erously as possible, an effort will be
made to deliver to every man tho
Christmas gifts that are sent to him
a hint has been given that after choc-
olates warm clothing. such as shirts.
mittens. gloves and body belts will be
acceptable. Socks are not wanted, for
very often the kind knitted by the
well meaning but inexperienced WON
en- at home are not the best kind to
march In.
All gifts are to be sent to the FOR
warding officer at Southampton, which
for the time being is to be turned into
Santa Claus depot in England. Each
parcel must be marked with the Dama
of the man for whom II Is intended.
his regiment, company. and, IL pos
sible, his reglmental number The send
point in France at which the recipient
is serving. for that il a secret known
only to the military authorities. Sol
diers In their letters home are not even
allowed to say where they are. In any
case It would be of little use for COR
respondence purposes, for by TIE anse
the letter was received at home the
writer might be miles away in an
other part of the country Tho for
warding officer. however. will have a
fun list of the whereabouts of every
regiment and he will see that the par
From Southampton the Christmas
ships will sail, laden with presents and
comforts for the troops. to tho various
base ports In France. Boulogne, Havre
DunkirlS. st. Nazaire and so on. When
they arrive at the ports the cargoes
will be unloaded and sorted out for.
dispatch by rail to the nearest station
10 the regiment for which they ere In
tended There they win be takon In
charge by the quartermaster's depart
ment and loaded ON motor lorrles. many
of them commandeered from the big
stores at home and which bring tho
Christmas presents in ordinary times
These vans. still bearing the names
of their original owners. viii undoubt-
eddy lend touch of verisimllitude ~
Christmas in the camps and bases. They
VIII not. OF course, reach the trenches.
The duty of bringing the presents ac-
tually into the firing line VIII fall OH
the quartermaster and his men. and
in some cases if the fire Is hot or the
position exposed Santa Claus may have
to arrive day or two late. The sat
isfactory thing is that he is sure to
come anyway.
When the wagons have approached
as close as is considered safe for them.
they Will be met by details from the
quartermaster department who win
take the presents in sacks on their
backs and make the best of their way
TO the trenches 1heN may nave to
crawl good part of the way and they
may have to wait until it is dark be-
fore beginning the journey. but they
Will get there if II is humanity pos
sib1e. And when they get there IL is
intended that the officer or senior non
commissioned officer i'm each unit shall
play Santa Claus and distribute the
presents. IF the plum buildings and
cakes arrive in time they will form
welcome change TO the bully beef and
marmalade which form the staple diet
of the men actually In the trenches. Z
Arrangements are being made at the
camps and bases to give the men a
real old fashioned Christmas dinner.
Provided the Germans don't interfere
they will sit down to a meal of roast
beef and plum pudding, and il there
isn't any English beer to wash it down
there will be plenty of the wine OF
France. Commissariat officers have
been given the tip that they need not
stick too strictly TO the army ration
regulations on that day.
An effort is being made also to secure
permission to invite wives and sweet
hearts and mothers to enjoy these en-
ject to the condition of the patients, 1t 10
likely to be granted News of the won-
derfu things to come has spread through
out the hospitals and there are lot OF
'"Tommies'' who are divided between their
desire to get well quickly for another
whack at the Kaiser and their wish not
to miss the great doings in hospitals e.
Christmas Day.