Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1917-12-19
news NOTES FROM
CAMP DODGE
Interesting Information From the
Place Where Our Boys
Are Training,

Division Headquarters, Camp Dodge,
Des Moines, Dec. Is, 1917.
Christmas won't be like it has been
for the boys at Camp Dodge; it won't
be home. It sort of took the starch
out of them when Secretary Baker
raised the bars against Yuletide fur
loughs. The boys had been told they |
would get home for the holidays,
either Christmas or New Years, all
Of them. They had planned on it.
Mother and dad had been planning
too. There's mist in the perspec-
tive of the future that cannot be
penetrated just now. 1t might be the
last Christmas at home.
But the boys are not going to let it
get on their nerves. They're going
to turn on all the bright lights they
can reach in the great cantonment
Christmas Day. The only thing that
will be missing will be the "folks."
But maybe that can be arranged for
lot Of them. Christmas will be a |
camp holiday and perhaps mother
and dad can come to Camp Dodge.
Anyhow, here is a picture of what
the day will be like.
On Christmas Eve, barracks will
be decorated with bells and holly and
crepe paper. That will take the place
Of hanging up the kid brothers
stocking. When reveille greets the
dawn Of the new day, there'l be a
real Christmasy atmosphere every
where.
Then the mail man will come with
gifts. It's going to be a wonderful
sight that morning when the boys OPP
en- up the packages they were to have
received at home. And there will be
carloads of such packages. Post
master George Hoffman is preparing
to add scores of men to his postofice
staff to insure prompt delivery. "The
soldiers first" he said, land on
Christmas Day."
Next will be dinner, a regular sew
\ en- course banquet with everything
, from soup to nuts. The oommissary
, department has ordered 10000
\ pounds Of turkey, $4,000 pounds II
2 potatoes, $4,000 pounds Of cranber-
ries, 1000 pies, pumpkin pies, hun
/ dreds Of pounds of celery, nuts, can
n dy, oysters everything including
p pudding. Uncle Sam leaves out moth.
ing in the menu Of his Christmas
mess. Many Of the companies will
1 have printed and hand decorated
i menu cards, the pride Of the com.
y pany chefs.
Here's surprise. There'l be {
Christmas tree in every Y. NJ. C. A
81 building in Camp Dodge. And on al
Ill Of them will be presents for ever,
man. 1t will be the gift Of the mer
nj chants Of Des MONIES and elsewhere
IL thir Yuletide contribution to soldie,
pleasure. There'u be a program il
every building over the door of which
~ the Red Triangle is FURNISHED, spec
ial Christmas services.
be A Christmas tree will be illuminay
h, ed in every ward Of the big hospital
o. that the sick, too, may not be with
n, out Yuletide cheer. There will o.
y popcorn to pop and make popcor,
balls. There will be dancing. Scores
re Of girls who have taken so kindly t,
~ the soldiers will visit the camp t.
carry Christmas as near home o.
el possible. There will be music. Man,
in companies have their own pianos
And there are scores of monograph
1e/ turnout the camp.
Boys of the quartermaster's corp
he will be entertained by the entir
n. troupe playing the Orpheum vaude
~ vile theatre. Other theatres prob
ably will send their talent to tn
re cantonment.
All these things will 90 to pla,
K. their parts in making the boys forge
,r- the picture of Christmas at home, tn
special trains they had ordered t,
= carry them, the presents they ha,
b bought to carry home and give tn
X folks themselves, and all the pleas
y ures they had anticipated when the,
y landed once more in the old town.
\ WAR, THE GREAT LEVELLER
n Christmas has come already TO-
y those colored boys from Alabama
y They never knew Santa Claus coul,
be so good. He went to them befoi,
y he took care Of the white folks. TIL
D colored boys needed him more-ant
, this is war.
When the second consignment O.
5 sweaters, socks, helmets, wristlet.
\ and mufflers, knitted by the thous
, ands of patriotic women, reached tn
\ c4nt0nment from Red Cross head
y quarters, the first men to be caret
y for were the negroes. Every man O.
them secured either sweater, a pai1
| of socks, helmet, a muller o,
wristlets. Those left went to tn,
\ white folks.
, The negroes came from Alabama
- l. n