Evening star., 1917-12-25
Gen. Pershing's Army Capitu-
Iates to Santa Claus, Who
Takes Over Camps.
HEARTS ARE MADE GLAD
BY GIFT DISTRIBUTION
Children of French Residents Are
Made Participants in the
Festivities.
By the Associated Press.

BY tbe hsSoci1ted Prebs.
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE. Monday. December 24-The
American expeditionary force tonight
capitulated to Santa Claus. With light
snow falling throughout the zone every
man in Gen. Pershing's army-"dough-
boys" cavalrymen, artillerymen, marine
engineers, mule -skinners" stopped
work as the sun went down and started
in to do the bidding of the jovial saint
temporarily in command.
First there was a rush to open the
Christmas packages from home. for dur
ing the day mail truck after mail truck
had arrived in the various towns where
the troops are duartered, loaded to the
top with presents. The mail arrived at
the base port late. and extraordinary ef-
forts were made to get it to the soldiers
promptly. So many a lonely American
fighter who had about come to the con-
clusion that his friends at home had for
gotten 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 in earnest making it merry for the
children of France.
Under Fire Christmas Eve.
At some distance from the American
zone the railway engineers at the Brit
ish front and other engineers at the
French front were spending their
Christmas eve under fire. but even
there the children of nearby neighbor-
hoods were being cared for. 1t was in
the headquarters town of the first d.
vision to land on French son that the
most elaborate entertainment was held.
however. Because the church there
was pretty small, the Y. NJ. c. A. hut
was Communicated. During the after
worked hard erecting gigantic
Christmas tree and decorating it. while
sentries posted outside kept inquisi-
tive youngsters at safe distance. FL
nally the doors were opened and 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
mohers and fathers are missing, by
the woman who is caring for them.
There was q tense air Of expectancy
E.latit t!as llahta ~ ~ Eeaeniy hssaed
fer ! I .enarus. % of shrilIs iuyfui erie. IRON
f1le a4k6fnbfed young Ssters, who were all
eyes for the tree, with Its glittefina
tinsel set OF here and there by the
customary red. Write. green and pur-
pie lights.
Liberal Display of Flags.
Crossed American and French hags
every branch there hung boxes of
candy, jumping jacks. 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, uniforms, tops, sew
ing sets, heavy wooien mittens, muf-
fiers. warm coats, dresses and shoes
Then the real, live Santa Claus, who
in reality was none other than the
French Interpreter at headquarters,
stepped out. His springins activity cali
ed forth another appreciative chorus
from. the youngsters, and the host OF
aki-olad soldiers standing IN the
rear. some of them still covered with
the mud of the training ground, grinned
as they heard the children shout
The only reason any soldier of the
division was absent from the ceieora :
ton was because there wasn't room for
him to crowd in. For it was the men
the money and they naturally were
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 smil.
ing, bashful young citizen of France
walked up and received it. Then Santa
Claus assistants who were certain
designated soldiers. distributed the
candy, fruit and small toys to all.
Similar Entertainments Elsewhere.
There were entertainments of a SINH
lar nature throughout the Army zone
on Christmas eve while the festivities
were planned for Christmas day at some
places. The men themselves, in addition
to the presents they received from
relatives and friends. got many from
other sources. such as the Red Cross
and the tobacco fund which latter dis
tributed quantities of smokes" on be-
half of many newspapers of 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 who
were less fortunate were provided with
chicken or goose, so that Christmas s
promised day of ''bif eats in the zone.
Taken all in all, the American Army
is spending q real American Christmas