Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-30
CAMP LEE STAGES BIG FETE
FOR THANKSGIVING DAY
Dinner Sumptuous aud Pleasing to
Thousands OF Soldiers Who
Couldn't Go Home.
MANY ATHLETIC ATTRACTIONS
Ammunition Train Defeats Truck
Company. Artillery Defeats Sani-
tary Train and Infantry Defeats
Bethany College at Football.
MANY ATHLETIC ATTRACTIONS
Especial by Stan c,orrcsnond.n,

Il
CAMP LEE. VA. November 2a.-Mess
scrgeants and cooks are the idols of
the men OF Camp Lee tonight. All the
afternoon they have been made to feel
their high place in the minds of the
troops. and practically every minute OF
the time they have been receiving the
homage of the men. They occupy prom
inent places in the rounds of enter
tatnmcnt that are being held in hum
dredS or barracks. In Il single day
they have made a place for themselves.
1t is because OF the Thanksgiving
dinner that they Manned and served
| to-day. For several wscks the men
knew In vague sort OF way that they
were going to get something extra
They heard this would largely he in
the way of turkey, n specified quantity
of which would be furnished each man
by the governments. They knew also
| that they would naturally get cram
berry sauce with that holiday bird and
they under stood that other nxinGs
would also be prepar I'd But not one
of them expected anything like that
which he received
While the men drilled. Gug bitches.
threw grenades and became expert with
the hayonet. back in the barracks
kitchens the mess sergeants and cooks
put their heads together" and the
surprise to-day was the result Of much
thought, of much scheming. and con-
siderable ngLring as how to make the
money available go the greatest dis
tance. Tonight every man in the camp
| is telling his friends about the dinner
they had, and is willing to stake
part OF his thirty per" that similar
one cannot be bought in Petersburg or
elsewhere for .css than $3.50 Il plate
The Thanksgiving dinner at Camp Lee
was in all respects a banquet.
MESS HALLS DECORATED
WITH HOLIDAY FOLIAGE
| That served by the headquarters
troops OF the division can l., taken as
a sample. First OF all. the mess hall
was prepared for the feast by the men
who worked almost all night in decor
atinG II. Evergrecns were tastefully
! arranged, and the national colors pre-
| dominated. Along the walls cross guns
had been arranged with American flags.
| and also those Of Ems land and France.
| The tables were covered with crepe
paper Of Thanksgiving designs, and
everywhere the cmb.>ms OF the United
states. England anl France were dis
| played.
Then. as to the food II was like
| this. and the-H were mountains Of it:
oyster cocktaiis. olives. celery. pickles.
saltcd nuts. oxtaii soup. SmithGeld
ham asparagus cauiflowcr, roast
turkey. candicd sweet potatoes shrimp
salad. mincc pie. plum pudding, oump-
kin pic. caramel layer cake, cocorut
layer cake. pound ca.c assorted fruit.
/ =;
| ifouuefnrt cncasc. crackers. mints. Gig
arcttes and cigars. All OF this was
served in true banquet style. with all
| the dainty touches. and method OF ar
ranSemcHt that will he found in the
most exclusive hotel. At tho hca 'lruar-
ters troops. Moss Sergeant Philip T..
Strausc. Of Richmond. and Chef Jean
! lIancs We're responsible for the dinner.
| They did not slecr any last night be-
cause OF being busy with tho prep
araticns. and there was not Il et-up
until the great event was over
After the dinner. dancing was held
| in the recreation room OF the head
! quarters troop. whcrc the women who
| were guests OF tho mon at dinner add
ed another touch to make it the real
| holiday the soldiers would have had
at home. This afternoon and then to :
| night in all ot the barracks entertain
mcnts. both Of tn" programmed and m-
| promptu varieties. we're held hy tho
| men. and there wIs much joy and han
| pincs3 In camp. One occasion of the
day which addeG further to the IN
joymcnt OF troops was that the officers;
Of the various companies had .hc!r
| dinner with the troops.
I GlJI.tsnS InIf nI,ISTfI,IsS
ny SATISFIED MEN
The rain which fell al day did not
dampcn the spirits Of tho men. They
we're determined that II should he a
real holiday. and such they madc il.
One OF :hc favorite methods adopted
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