Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-12-26
UNIQUE CHRISTMAS
IN PERSHING'S CAMP
Athletic Events Precede Light.
ing of Gigantic Christmas
Tree. $500 Presents.
BIG CHORUS, MANY BANDS

Field Headquarters, American Punt
tive Expedition, Mexico (By Wireless
to Columbus, N. N.Y., Dec. 25.--Every
man in the punitive expedition, from
mule driver to major general, received
present today, the 285th day the
troops have spent in Mexico. The
folks at home" forgot nobody and
Christmas was celebrated in fashion
that carried out General ]. J. Per-
shing's wish that the day might never
be forgotten by those held through
unimaginable hard,iips III pursuit Of
the Columbus raiders from FL Vale,
San Buenaventura on the extreme
southern point of the line to Column
bus, on the border.
AT every lonely water hole and pass
where troops are stationed, gifts were
presented and the day observed in
true holiday style. More than 10000
packages were distributed, their value
averaging, according to the Christmas
committee, between 81 and So each.
1t was at field headquarters, where
the greatest number Of troops are
camped, that the most elaborate cele-
bration was held from early morning,
when the bands played carols, instead
of the bugles sounding reveille, until
taps, when the throng about the
Christmas tree began to break up.
There was not moment wasted when
the men lacked for amusement. The
daylight program was given over to
athletic events and the troops, freed
from ordinary duties since Saturday,
gathered to witness the polo and foot
ball games, the pony express, slow
mule and shoe races, and the scramble
for an agile, creased pig. Dinner,
which the cooks had been preparing
for days, was feast not to be re-
garded lightly.
Giant Christmas Tree.
Around the Christmas tree. which
lowered sixty-hve feet in the air from
the center of the camp, the climax
of the celebration took place shortly
before 7 a. M, tonight. The various
organizations marched to assigned
places some distance from the tree
to be in readiness for signal that
would summon them to their stations
around the huge cone of green, there
was scarcely a sound save low
voiced commands and the sounds of
the chill mountain winds as the thou
sands of khaki clad men awaited the
signal.
Except for the stars that seemed
fairly to snap iii clear sky. no
CLEAN of light frightened the camp.
Suddenly there was dull boom,
stream Of sparks and the camp was
Illuminated by huge ball of FIRE
which seemed to fall from the sky,
while the trench fare blazed its way
toward earth and others struck on
standards around the tree and gave
a lustre like noon-day."
The regiments marched to points
around "the star of Bethlehem" that
surrounded the tree. When all had
reached their posts the fares faded
and the tree itself sprang into the
light, its branches dotted with hun
dreds of incandescent lamps and the
American flag waving twenty feet
above the topmost branch Illuminated
by rays from the headlights of a
score of motor trucks posted on ad-
jacent positions. The tree itself stood
in the center OF a six-pointed star
formed by a hedge Of fire branches.
Chorus Of Four Hundred.
At each cornor OF the star there
stood a small tree. When the troops
had assembled, chorus Of 400 which
had been practicing for weeks began
the program by singing Joy to the
World" to the accompaniment of the
massed bands. Chaplin J, M. Moor
of the Seventh cavalry then delivered
a brief soldierly prayer, the concourse
led by the band and chorus, chanted
the Lords prayer, the $500 voices
rising and falling in a great diapason
of sounds. the Battle Hymn of the
Republic, and America" i'll which
everybody joined with intense spirit,
then "Pancho Villa" the expedition
airy song describing the chaos OF the
bandit by the chorus, brought the
musical numbers to close.
Two dozen grotcsquely costumed
Santa Clauses then escorted the big
gest Saint Nick" of all into the clear
space under the tree and took their
places at tho corners of the star while
Sergeant Ole Larson OF the Thir-
teenth cavalry. noted for the quality
of his voice. presented the key of
Doberville. a six-foot, image to the
patron saint of the ceremony"
After completion of the sergeants
address distribution of the presents
was begun. Openings in the hedge
forming the star were made at six
points and the soldiers filed through
Those doubtcrs who had expected a
fimsy gift, were agreeably disap-
pointed. Each of the $500 big paper
bags distributed contained what many
at home would have been delighted
to receive.
The principal present generally was
one OF the thousands Of comfort bags
the various chapters Of the Red Cross
had sent. To this was added few
of the 4l,0O0 cigars and Some of the
1000 pounds Of candy and other
d,;ot;.s that had hean rereived For