The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-07
.ALABAM|ANS WILL NOT LEAVE CAMP WHEELER CHRISTMAS
Chaplain Crosby's Address to People of Alabama Asks Aid for the
 Boys

] Nearly S000 Alabama boys are in the 123d infantry regiment now at Camp Wheeler and the officers of the regi- ment are planning great Christmas tree for the boys because they will be unable to get away and spend Christ mas at home.
 | Chaplain Samuel E. Crosby of the regi- ment has issued a statement to the peo- pie of Alabama asking their aid in as suring every man in the regiment gitt on the tree Some of the men will not receive gifts unless they are provided | in this way. Chaplain Crosby also urges those who have friends in the regiment | to send their gifts In care of the Christ mas tree committee. Gifts must reach the regimental headquarters by Decem- | Der 20
 1 Chaplain Crosby's address is as fol- | lows:
 Headquarters 123d Infantry, camp | Wheeler, Ga, December l, 1917. I It is through the kindness and co- operation of the editor of this newspaper that I am able to present this request to you and ask for your help In the matter presented below.
 The officers of the 123d infantry the oldsFirst Alabama Infantry are gong to give Christmas tree to the men of their command. and they wish for every man in the regiment to receive pres ent There are at present several hun dred men in the organization who VII receive no gifts unless outside aid ls lprocured, and it is to the end Of givins these men happy Christmas that tnl' letter is addressed to you
 Military necessity demands that tn' rtoco dII-inO nOl1dAVS stay in camp and keep up their rou tine of training. At the same time, 1 is for the benefit of the service tha the soldiers be kept smiling; for th' man who has a pleasant memory lurkini , in his mind can undergo great dea more than one who carries disappoint Iment with him into the field.
 The man who carries present ava. from this tree will smile, and every tim
 he looks at the token, he Will knov that the folks back home" believe il him not as a soldier of the United States, but as an individual who is vii Hing to give up his life that the caus
 of the United States might live It VII
 help preserve his individuality; hell him realize that he~-fs not one of { crowd, but a man, like whom there i
 no other on the face of the earth.
 Should you decide to contribute som lpresent for the tree, please address thu package to the Christmas Tree commit tee, 123d Infantry, Camp Wheeler, Ga.
 Do not send anything perishable. bu
 articles which will be of use to tn men in the trenches, such as handker chiefs knitted goods. pocket knives, ra zors, comb and brush, towels, unbreak
 able mirrors, soldiers repair kit, to bacco, writing material During the win ter season we do not need neckties. l Boxes containing things to eat are, II many cases, received in bad order, ant are not what the committee wants. Tn mess sergeants will see to it that tn men have as much Christmas dime | as they can accommodate.
 1 Persons having packages to send t friends or relatives will please send then to the person for whom they are in tended in care of the Christmas tre
 committee and those who wish pack ages distributed to the men who vii
 have nothing for Christmas except tha
 which is given by outside sources vii
 please send presents direct to the com
 mittee.
 All packages should be sent by De
 cember 20 1917.
 I knew that the people of the stat
 Tor Alabama will respond with thei
 usual heartiness. and thank them il
 behalf of the officers and men of thi
 regiment Very truly yours. | SAMUEE E. CROSBY. | Chaplain 123d Infantry. I