The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-14
HOME-LIKE XMAS
Boys at DOniphan To Get Best
Camp Can Give.
Folks Back Home Asked TO
Make Contributions.
GIFT SUGGESTIONS MADE
FIashlight Always Is Useful to
Soldier.
Olive Drab and Grey Handker-
Olive Drab and Grey Handker-
chiefs Are Appreciated.

CanD Doniphan Ok, Dec II
ron rho the boys of the Thirty
fifth division won't have chance TO
go home for the Christmas holidays
thew will have just as homel1ke
Christmas as is possible in an army
camp Mai. Gen William M Wrlshl,
who has returned this week from
France. has formulated plans Ior , ,ns
celebration. and he wants the ldst
Christmas many of them will spend
at home to be one they will remember.
The division hasn't funds to spend
on a Christmas celebration ana Will
have to depend on the generosity OF
the folks in Missouri and Kansas. peo-
pie who are being represented py the
Is 500 men in the division In all
uroba ability no funds will be needed,
but there are many young men IN tne
division who haven't fathers or motn-
ers Or any close relatives, and Unless
someone comes to their rescue Santa
Claus may whip up his reindeer and
drive by their tents Christmas morn
ing.
Contributions Desired
Anything sent in care of regimental
commanders will be distributed IN
places where it will do the most good
Most of the regimental commanders
and nearly every one of the captains
| in camp are familiar with the past
history of their men, for most of them
and associated with them before the
war So anything sent in care OF
regimentaI commanders cannot go
| astray The statistical office at diyl-
| sion headquarters has canEassed the
/ division for the names OF boys VINO
haven't relatives. Persons wishing to
send remernbrances personally to the
/ boys can get their names from the
statistical officer.
General Wright is planning an en-
4
one for Christmas eve, and a big tur-
key dinner. He wants to have some
| thing doing all day long, for Christ
mas day on the oklahoma prairies,
hundreds of miles fromN home, and
probably the last one on American
| dreary for the boys. The more there
| is going on the less time they will
have to think about what might be
/ doing back home
| Gifts for Boys.
| The most practical gifts, things
that will come in handy when the
bows are on the other side living in
! with the boches, are suggested by the
| commanding general For instance,
one of the most handy things a SOL
der can have is a pocket fIashlight-
At night everything is dark all along
| the front No lights are allowed and
no fires 1t is very difficult to find
ones way about because of the many
sntanglements, craters. shell holes and
other things, and a GashIisht with an
entra battery or two and an extra bulb
is almost as essential as electricity to
a street car.
| WristIets and heavy wooden socks,
| knitted ones like grandmother used to
! make, If possible. are also very useful
! Fighting in the trenches isn't like liv-
I ing in camp. In the trenches when
ones feet get damp and cold they
/ have to stay that way. for there is no
! place to get them warm. So woolens
| are a necessity in the trenches and
very hard to get.
| No White Handkerchiefs.
Olive drab or gray handkerchief
are very acceptable, because white
/ ones are not allowed in the trenches.
/ Some of the communities that sent
| companies here are clubbing together
and arranging things for every mem
/ Der Of the company. Some organiza-
| tons have signified their intention of
/ doing something for the boys and in a
| few cases individuals have said they
| would dc something, but unless the
/ folks back home take the matter in
/ hand Santa Claus may forget some
/ one at Camp Doniphan.