Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-12-28
Soldiers in France Play San
ia Claus to Children at
Headquarters Town; Gifts
From Home Reach the
Fighters.
YANKEE ENGINEERS
REMAIN AT FRONT
TBy Associated Press STAFF
C@rrocror1onf

cXpcO1IlOndTy lOICo CAplluIdIcO W oar
ia Claus tonight. With light snow
falling every man in General Per
shing's army-"dough boys, cavalry
men, artillery men, marine engineers,
'mule skinners" stopped work as the
sun went down and started in to do,
the bidding of the jovial saint, tenn
porarily in command.
There was q 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 quar-
tered, loaded to the top with presents.
The mail arrived at the base port late
and extraordinary efforts were made
TO get it to the soldiers promptly.
ENGINEERS UNDER FIRE.
Many a lonely American fighter who
had about come to the conclusion that
his friends at home had forgotten him
had cause to rejoice. With their new
sweaters on, new pipes in their teeth,
some of them smoking fragrant CT
CARS, the men of the army then set
to work in earnest making it merry
for the children of France.
Some distance from the American
zone the railway engineers at the
British front and other engineers at
the French front were spending their
Christmas eve under fire, but even
there the children of nearby neigh
borhoods were being cared for.
FRENCH KlDDlES THERE.
II was in the headquarters town OF
the first division to land on French
soil that the most elaborate enter
tainment was held. Because the
church there was small. the Y. M. Z.
A. hut was Communicated; During
tSs4 afternoon the American officers
Tt men erected a gigantic tree and
n iu)rated it while sentries kept in
! ed,itive youngsters at a safe dis
hin lie. Finally the doors were opened
-s.,A.. the procession filed in. each little
French boy and girl dressed in his or
her best and 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.
FLAGS DECK BIG TREE.
The lights were suddenly flashed on
and the tree and Santa Claus revealed.
There was a chorus Of shrill. joyful
cries 1TOIH IuS dSSSllUlc youAS,oSSA'
who were all eyes for the tree with
Ms glittering tinsel. set off here and
there by the customary red, white,
green and purple lights. Crossed
American and French flags were nu-
merously displayed and from every
branch there hung boxes of candy,
jumping jacks with candy sticks,
drums, dolls and other playthings and
plentiful sprinkling of apples and
oranges. Piled high at the base OF
the tree were many boxes containing
toy soldiers, guns. uniforms, tops,
sewing sets. heavy wooden mittens.
mufflers, warm coats, dresses and
shoes.
SOLDIERS ARE HOSTS.
Then the real live Santa Claus, the
French Interpreter at headquarters,
stepped out. Another appreciative
chorus came from the youngsters and
4 host of khaki-clad soldiers standing
n the rear. some of them still cov-
cred with the mud of the training
grounds, grinned as they heard the
children shout.
The only reason any soldier of the
division was absent from the celebra-
ton was because there wasn't room
for him to crowd in. For it was the
men themselves who provided the
bulk of the money and they naturally
we're eager to see the children being
made happy by the soldiers gifts. AS
quickly as the child's name was called
from the box containing the present.
he smiling, bashful young citizen OF
oance walked up and received it,
Then Santa Claus assistants distrib-
uted the candy, fruits and small toys
to all.
"sMokEs" ARE DISTRIBUTED.
There were entertainments Of a
similar nature throughout the army
zone on Christmas eve, while the fes-
tivities were planned for today at
some places.
The men themselves. in addition to
the presents they received from rela-
tives and friends, got many from other
sources, such as the Red Cross and
the tobacco fund. which latter distrib-
uted quantities of smokes" obtained
BY many newspapers in the United
States. Despite the fact that there
was a turkey famine, many Of the
units managed to purchase number
of these birds in France, while
others were provided with chicken or
goose.
Taken all in all the American army
is spending real American Christ
mas in France.
PARIS LOOKS LIKE HOME.
Paris. Dec "a (Delayed) For its
fourth war Christmas Paris has taken
on decided American color. In adj
-. cnldinrS