The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-15
Official Committee To Take
Charge of Christmas Doings.
Civilians and Relatives May
Correspond With Soldiers.
WANT BOX FOR EACH SOLDIER
This Means $4,000 Gifts Are
Necessary for This Camp.
Unique Bandit Plan of Distri-
button To Be Carried Out.

Camp Funston, Kan, Dec. 15.-The
commanding general at Camp Funston
has personally appointed an officiai
committee to take charge of all Christ
mas arrangements for that great camp.
The business of this committee is not
only to arrange for a program of
amusements, but also to receive and
answer all letters written by persons
desiring to know the names of soldiers
to whom they could send ChriStmai
boxes; to attend to the distribution of
Christmas boxes. and to make all
the necessary arrangements for the
sports program.
If you are interested in making
Christmas day happy one for some
unknown soldier at Camp Funston,
address your correspondence to THE
Christmas Committee, Camp Funston,
Kansas" This committee is composed
of representatives of every organiza-
ton in the camp. including the Red
Cross, Camp Activities and the Y. Nj.
c. A No camp entertainment could
be complete without the representa-
ton named The committee is direct
ed by field officer and the division
staff.
Many of the boys at Camp Funston
will be spending their first Christ
mas away from home, and it is the
desire of the commanding general that
the program of amusements be so
complete and of such an enjoyable
nature. that these men will spend the
day in such a state of cheerfulness
that the blues of Inconsistencies will
have poor chance.
Box for Each Soldier.
1t is hoped that there will be a
Christmas box for each soldier at the
camp; that means about 35, 900, which
in turn means a good deal of compli-
cation. as the facilities for receiving
mail and express at Camp Funston
hi
the Christmas committee hope that
this point will be realized by the kind
spirited persons who desire to cheer
on the soldiers. and that they will in
the cities endeavor to form some COM
mittee which will receive Christmas
boxes for the camp and send them out
in large packages-several boxes at a
time. 1t is believed that the local Y.
NJ. G. A, Red Cross or Camp Activi-
ties associations would be glad to as
sist in this matter and it is suggest
ed that persons sending boxes enclose
their cards or notes to the unknown
soldier who may receive it. that he
may know whom he may thank for
adding great deal of happiness and
good cheer to his Christmas day.
1t is manifest that if the packages
were sent one at a time to the indi-
vidual men. the mail and express to
Camp Funston would be very serious
ly handicapped, and in order that the
| manner of distributing gifts may be
| understood. we are informed it will be
! done as follows:
About 2:30 Christmas afternoon the
gifts will have been loaded into army
| escort wagons, forming a wagon train,
which will go out over the hills guard
ed by soldiers and cowboys, and as it
approaches Camp Funston it will be
attacked by Indians and bandits-it
will be rescued by the soldiers and
int Il.
artillery parade ground There the
wagons will be drawn up in a circle
around a huge bonfire and each or
ganization will go to its own wagon,
break out the load and distribute its
| gifts.
This will provide plenty of outlet
for the joyous spirit of the men of
the camp. who not many years ago
as small boys played at the game of
| wild west" show, and this wagon
train attack and defense approaches
that of a historic pageant for this
part of the country. The states from
which the men of Camp Funston come
have all played their part in the days
of the old cattle trails" and the i'm
migrant trails"
There is talk of a fireworks display
to cost $4,000. but there is much
opposition on the part of soldiers and
civilians to spending money to go up
in fire a few moments. the sugges-
| ton being made that this money be
expended for gifts. special clothing
and wear, candy or CONNECTIONS rather
than fireworks.
The Program.
The complete program, if it can be
carried out in the matter of fireworks.
will be as follows:
$50 a. m.-Sack race
S:45-Crab race
9:0O-Centipede race.
9:15-Tug of war.
9:30-Jousting contest.
9;45-Push ball game
$50 to 10;3O-Turkey shoot.
!O;30-Broncho busting contest.
1l;So-Roping and tying contest.
''oO p. m.-Ffreworks from the rim
rock and hilltops above Camp Funs-