The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-15
SANTA SHIP SAILS
LADEN WITH GIFTS
Giant Collier Jason OFF With
Christmas Cheer for the
War Zone.
TO BRING FAIR EXHIBITS

A ship left this port yesterday which
carried IONS OF women's clothes and chill
dren's clothes and all sorts OF useful and
pretty things which must be In Germany
by December 20. and yet this particular
ship could walk right up to the British
cruiser Suffolk. or any other British man
of-war. and not be in the slightest danger
OF detention or capture. Why. do you
ask? Because she carries also similar
necessary things which are going to Eng
land. to France. to Belgium, to Austria,
to Servia and to Montenegro. She Is A
Christmas ship. the flagship OF the Jolly
old sea dog Commodore S. Claus, and her
cargo ls 100 carloads of Christmas
presents contributed by the children Of
the United States for children and mothers
in the countries devastated by war
The enterprise was inaugurated by the
Chicago Herald and associated news
papers and was taken UP sympathetically
and theoretically pretty much all over
the country. The War Department AS
signed the collier Jason to carry the gifts
to Europe, and the Navy Department
designated Lieutenant Commander c. f..
Courtney to look after the diplomatic
problems that will be found on the other
side.
Irving T. Bush donated n pier of the
Bush Terminal. the dock used by Norton,
Lilly Co, and the railroads transported
free OF charge packages collected in All
parts OF the United States. Major f. H.
Lawton, u. S A., Quartermaster's De-
partment. supervised the immense under
taking of sorting and packing the gifts
and was assisted by Mrs. Leonard
Wood the wife OF the commander OF the
Department Of the East. and a company
of officers wives from Governors Island
The work was finished yesterday morning
and the Jason sailed little before noon.
The first stop will be at Falmouth,
England. on November rs, where the gifts
for the English and Belgians will be un-
loaded Then she will 10 to Marseilles
on December to leave the presents for
the French. on December 10 she will ar
rive at Genoa, where the presents for the
Germans and Austrlans will be left and
on December 16 she will reach Salonica
with the presents for the Servans and
Montenegrins. The presents for Russia
Will be sent on the Russia American liner
Korsk, which leaves here next Wednes-
day
George McAneny. President of the
Board OF Aldermen. and the Mayors sec
rotary. Theodore Rousseau. acting for Mr..
Mitchell, visited the ship just before she
sailed yesterday, wished her officers and
crew pleasant journey and thanked
James Kelley. publisher OF the Chicag go
Herald, and others who had started the
Most OF the cargo Ia made up of cloth
ing for women and children, but there
are several carloads of toys which may
make Christmas more nearly what /.
ought to be to many thousand children in
war distressed countries
While the Jason crosses the seas thu
hrst Santa Claus ship on record she will
return modern treasure ship. Instead
of war reminders she will bring back ex-
hibits Tor the Panama Pacific Interna-
tional Exposition showing what the
Old World has achieved In art and in
dustry In time OF peace
The Jason will unload her last batch
or Christmas goods at Sslonica about De-
cember 10 The itinerary transmitted by
the state Department ca Lieutenant
Commander Courtney then will include
stops at ports 1T which exhibits will
be. embarked as follows Salonica. from
Greece. Bulgaria. Servla and Monte
negro; Piraus. from Ottoman Empire
Gerroa, from Germany. Austria and Italy