Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-25
GENERAL OFFICERS
STUDY WAR FRONTS
Preparations for Airmen.
Message Home for Sol
diers in France.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press
WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY IN
FRANCE. Monday, December 24.-Sev-
Ienteen general officers have arrived in
France from the United States for a
flour of the American zone and the Brit
ish and French and, probably, Italian
fronts. When they complete their
studies they will return to the United
States better equipped, 1t is believed.
to direct the training activities Of the
National Army.
| Extensive training quarters will be
established in England and France for
a corps of several thousand mechanics
to repair and care for the machines Of
American airmen. Washington mas been
asked to send to England $4,000 brick
layers and carpenters and also a large
number of laborers for construction
work at the training quarters. When
1.-THE work in England is completed
the construction men will come to
France to build quarters here
For Americas Success in Air.
| 1t is inadvisable to mention the num-
Der of men who will be trained in Eng
land. 1t Is sufficient that the Army is
determined to have more than enough
| efficient men available, for Americas
success in the air will depend primarily
upon this corps of mechanics.
| Flying schools for Italian aviators
| are to be established in the United
States for two purposes. First, the con.
ditions in certain sections of the United
States are better than in Italy, and, sec
| ond, the utilization OF training air
planes and equipment in the United
States will save the tonnage involved IN
transportation to this side. Expedition
- rke~ \ Nod a
the American government provide for
the construction of schools. the manu-
facture Of airplanes and engines on
Italian models and the feeding and
The expense is to be met by Italy at
price to be determined later. It is
planned to have the program become
| effective in the middle Of 1918.
"a Word to Those at Home,
Under the heading "a Word to
Those at Home" the Christmas number
Of the Oolala Times. newspaper writ
| ten and edited by the soldiers of GER
tain unit, prints the following:
we are sorry we can't be with you
| in America this Christmas We miss
you. We appreciate the blessings Of our
own families and our own country as
never before.
Yet, since to insure the safety Of us
all and help In the cause of right we
must stay until the work is done, you
should be glad to the bottom of your
hearts that we can have so good and SO
Christian Christmas.
| Most of us have helped to brighten
your lives on other Christmas DAYS
possibly by our gifts and our presence.
Few this year can give what they de-
: sire; none can be with you.
Cheer for French Children.
| However. you may find some cause
to rejoice in the fact that we are do
ing everything we can to brighten the
lives Of our friends, the French chill
dren."
! In the same column the paper SAYS:
ITO all right-feeling men the presence
OF children, especially when in holiday
mood. is q pleasant thing, and. apart
from any spirit OF benevolence q la
Santa Claus. we are glad to welcome
the youngsters for their own cheerful
selves and they should feel that they
are comforting a favor upon us lonely
soldiers by coming to share our Christ
mas tree.
Some OF US have had the good for
tune to be received on such terms with
I the families here that q stranger might
mistake US for sons or brothers. not
newly arrived foreigners. These cor
dial relations will be still further pro-
noted by the Christmas entertain
ments"