The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-25
SANTA in CHARGE
American Forces in France
Capitulate to Him.
5 Everyone Stops Work and We'll
comes Saint Nick.
TUnIIcANnc nE PACKAGES
THOUSANDS OF PACKAGES
Truck Loads of Presents Sent
to Our SammieS.
Engineers on the British Front
Are Under Fire.


Monday. Dec 24.-(By the Associated
Press. 1.-The American expeditionary
force tonight capitulated to Santa
Claus. With a light snow falling
turnout the zone, every man in Cen
eral Pershing army-doughboyS
.valrymen, artillerymen, marine en-
gineers, mulesEinners-stoppe work
'~as the sun went down and started in
[ do the bidding of the jovial saint
temporarily in command.
First there was a rush to open the
Christmas packages from home, for
during the day mail truck after mall
truck had arrived in the various towns
where the troops are quartered, loaded
to the top with presents. The mail
arrived at the base port late, and eX-
traordinary efforts were made to get
it to the soldiers promptly. Many
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 cigars,
the men of the army then set to work
III earnest making it merry for the
children of France.
Engineers Under Fire.
At some distance from the Ameri-
can zone the railway engineers at the
British front and other engineers at
the French front were spending their
y
there the children of nearby neigh
bOrhOods were being cared for.
II was IN the headquarters town
of the first division to land on French
soil that the most elaborate entertairD
ment was held, however. Because the
church there was pretty small, the Y.
NJ c. A. hut was Communicated.
During the afternoon the American
officers and men worked hard erect
ing gigantic Christmas tree and dec
4
kept inquisitive youngsters at a safe
distance. Finally the doors were
opened and the procession filed in.
Each little French boy and girl dress
ed 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 women
who are caring for them.
There was a tense air of expectancy
until the lights were suddenly flashed
on the tree and Santa Claus revealed.
The revelation was the signal for a
chorus of shrill, joyful cries from the
assembled youngsters who were all
eyes for the tree with its glittered
tinsel set off here and there by the
customary red white and green and
purple lights. Crossed American and
French flags were numerously dis
played. From every branch there
hung boxes of candy, jumping jacks,
with candy sticks. drums and dolls
and other playthings and a plentiful
Sprinklng of apples and oranges.
Piled high at the base of the tree
there were many boxes containing
toy soldiers, guns, uniforms, tops
sewing SETS heavy wooden mittens,
mufflers, warm coats, dresses and
shoes.
Then the real live Santa Claus, who
b. in reality was none other than the
stepped out. His springing activity
called forth another appreciative
chorus from the youngsters and host
OF soldiers standing in the rear, some
of them still covered with the mud
OF the training grounds, grinned as
they heard the children shout.
Fruit and Toys.
The only reason any soldier of the
division was absent from the celebra-
ton was because there was not 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.
Each of these gifts had been intended
to fill as nearly as possible the hearts
desire of the individual child and as
quickly as the child's name was called
from the box containing the present,
the smiling bashful young children of
France walked up and received it.
r en- Santa Claus assistants who were
certain designated soldiers, distribut-
cd the canuys ITulI anu SLIldlI lOSS u
all.
There were entertainments of a SIM
liar nature thruout the army zone on
Christmas eve while the festivities
We're planned for Christmas day 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, while latter distributed
many newspapers in the United States.
Despite the fact that there was a tur-
key famine many of the units man
aged to purchase a number of these
birds in France, while others who
were less fortunate were provided
with chicken or goose.
The American army is spending a
real American Christmas in France
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