The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1914-11-11
SANTA'S SHIP
IS FITTING OUT
Will Take Message Of Good
Will to Europe.
COLLIER JASON The 8EARER.

Laden With Christmas Gifts From
Children of America and Others to
Orphans Made by War, She viii
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 IA little Christ
mas joy to these orphans that Amer
ica's Santa Claus ship will sail from
New York on Nov - With a 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 536
feet long and 65 feet wide. Her hold
Is SO feet 3 inches deep She can carry
10000 tons. She Is made of steel
throughout Her cost was S951.000.
The commanding officer of the ship is
Henry Il. Merriwether. who ranks as
q 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 sue
cess
The navy department has been work.
ing on the itinerary of the Jason. Ii
is expected that the first stop will be
made in England From there the col
lier will cross the channel and prob
ably 20 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 n grand
welcome.
Interest in the Christmas ship
throughout the country has been slim
ulatcd 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 OLaughlin. 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 fatheress
little ones of war ridden Europe
"The ambassadors of the countries al
war. the men who are on duty ut the
capital of the nation looking after the
interests of their respective nations,
say that your gifts will he received and
bring JOY and comfort and great thank
fulness to those boys and girls whose
fathers are dead and for whom there
can be no Santa Claus unless you take
his place.
"lsnt It marvellous that you can SO
stir the world; that you can get the
United States. which is neutral, to join
with Great Britain. France and Russia
and Germany and Austria and little
Belgium. all of which are belligerealts
that is mouthfulI. in sending ray Of
light through the gloom that covers
Europel
"What does all that meani
at 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.
"lsn't that worth working fort
Then 1t means that war will pass
by the ship that carries your gift to
the poor. fatheress 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 'Inasmuch.'