New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-12-28
UNCLE SANS BOYS
ENJOY CHRISTMAS
WHILE GUNS ROAR
SOLDIERS OF AMERICAN Elk.
PED1T1oNARY FORCE IN
FRANCE RECEIVE GIFTS
FROM HOME, THEN EN-.
TERRAIN CHILDREN

With the American Army in France,
Monday. Dec "a (By the Associated
Press)-The American expeditionary
force tonight capitulated to Santa
Claus. With light snow falling every
man in General Pershing's army
"doughboys." cavalrymen, artillery
men. marine engineers, "mule skin
ners"-stopped work as the sun went
down and started in to do the bid
ding of the jovial saint temporarily
in command.
First there was rush to open
the Christmas packages from home
for during the day mail truck
after mail truck had arrived in the
various towns where the troops are
quartered, loaded to the top with
presents.
Get Into New Finsry
With their new sweaters on, new
pipes in their teeth, some of them
smoking fragrant cigars, the men of
the army then set to work in earnest
making it merry for the children Of
France.
At some distance from the Ameri-
can zone the railway engineers at
the British front were spending their
Christmas eve under fire, but even
there the children of nearby neigh
borhoods were being cared for.
Commendeer Y. M. c. A. Hut
1t was in the headquarters of the
town of the first division to land on
French soil that the most elaborate
entertainment was held, however. Be-
cause the church there was pretty
small, the Y. NJ. c. A. hut was COM
mandeered. During the afternoon the
American officers and men worked
hand in hand erecting a gigantic
Christmas tree and decorating it
while sentries posted outside kept
inquisitive youngsters at a safe dis
tance. Finally the doors were open
ed and the procession filed in, each
little French boy and girl dressed
in his or her best, accompanied by
the mother or. in the cases of the
little refugees whose mothers and
fathers are missing, by the woman
who is caring for them.
Children Are Delighted
There was a tense air of expect
ancy until the lights we're suddenly
flashed on and the tree and Santa
Claus revealed. The revelation was
the signal for a chorus of shrill, joy
full cries from the assembled young
sters, who were all eyes for the tree
with its glitering tinsel set off here
and there by customary red. white
green and purple lights. Crossed
American and French flags were
numerous1y displayed and from every
branch there hung boxes of candy,
iumping-jacks with candy sticks,
drums, dolls and other playthings
and a plentiful sprinkling of apples
and oranges. Piled high at the base
of the tree there were many boxes
containing toy soldiers, guns, uni
forms. tops, sewing sets, heavy WOOL
en- mittens. mufflers, warm coats,
dresses and shoes.
Then the real, live, Santa Claus,
who in reality was none other than
the French interpreter at headquar-
tiers, stepped out. His springing ac-
tivity called forth another apprecia-
ton chorus from the youngsters and
host of khaki-clad soldiers.
Soldiers Finance Celebration
The only reason any soldier of
the division was absent from the
celebration was because there was
not room for him to crowd in. For
it was the men themselves who pro-
vided the bulk of the money and
they naturally were eager to see
the children being made happy by
the soldiers gift. Each of these
gifts had been intended to fill as
nearly as possible the hearts desire
of the individual child, and as quick
" as the child's name was called
from the box containing the pres
ent, the smiling, bashful young citi-