Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-12-25


France, Monday, Dec. 24.-(By |
the Associated Press.) - The /
American expediti0nary force to- |
night capitulated to Santa Claus. |
With light snow falling, every
man in General Persiling's army /
dough boys" cavafrymen, artil-
lerymen. marine engineers, "mule !
skinners'-stopped work as the /
sun went down and started in TO
do the bidding of the i0viaI saint.
temporarily in command.
There was a rush to open the
Christteas packages from home, fer
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, The mail
arrived at the base port late and ex-
traordinary efforts were made to get
it to the soldiers promptly. Many a
/ lonely American fighter who had
about concluded 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
1 smoking fragrant cigars, the men Of
4 the army then set to work in earnest
making it merry for tie children of
France
Some at Front Under Fire.
At some distance from the Amer
lean zone the railway engineers at the
British front and other engineers at
I the French front were spending their
/ Christmas eve under fire, but even
| there the children of nearby neigh
| boFhoods were being cared for.
It was in the headquarters town of
4 the first division to land on French
soil that the most elaborate entertain
ment was held. however. Because
the church was small, the 7. NJ. c. A.
hut was Communicated. During the
afternoon the American officers and
men erected a gigantic Christmas tree
and decorated it while sentries kept
inquisitive youngsters at a safe dis
lance. Finally 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 mothers and fathers
are missing, by the woman who is
caring for them.
! Children See Santa Claus.
, The lights were suddenly flashed on
and the tree and Santa Claus revealed.
There was a chorus OF shrill. joyful
! cries from the assembled youngsters
who were all eyes for the tree with its
glittering tinsel, set off here and
. there by the customary red, white,
| green and purple lights.
| Crossed American and French flags
| were numerously displayed and from
every branch there hung boxes of
candy, iumpingiacks with candy
sticks, drums, dolls and other play
things and plentiful sprinkling of
apples and oranges. Piled high at the
. base Of the tree were many boxes con-
tanning toy soldiers, guns. uniforms,
tops, sewing sets. heavy wooden nit
E tens, mufflers, warm coats, dresses
and shoes.
Then the real live Santa Claus. q
= French interpreter from headquarters
stepped out. Appreciatiye chorus
, came from the youngsters and host
Of khaki clad hosts, still covered with
a mud Of the training ground, grinned
= as they heard the children shout.
Soldiers Provided Gifts.
q The only reason any soldier of the
= division was absent from the celebra-
8 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
+ were eager to Sc the children being
made happy by the soldiers gifts. As
n quickly as the child's name was
). called from the box containing tht
. present, the smiling, bashful young
Il citizen of France walked up and re
n ceiyed 1t. Then Santa Claus assist
9 ants distributed the candy, fruit ant
= small toys to all.
There were entertainments of {
q similar nature throughout the arm,
! zone on Christmas eve while the fes
i tivities- were planned for Christmas
8 day at some places
e Enjoyed Newspaper Smokes.
d The men themselves, in addition tt
e the presents they received from rela
tives and friends. got many othe,
Q sources, such as the Red Cross ans
II the tobacco fund. which latter dis
d tributed quantities of smokes" on be
e half OF many newspapers in tn
/ United States. Despite the fact tina
J. there was a turkey famine many O
d the units managed to purchase mum
Is Der OF these birds" in France, Will
others were provided with chicken o
Ia goose
i Taken all in all, the American arm
"a is snanAir,s rnal L.