The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-25
DAY AT FUNSTON PLAN new CAMPS
Soldiers All Kinds of Government viii Continue To
Cheer. Train Line Officers
Something Doing Every Min $4,000 Lieutenants To Be
ute at Big Camp Turned Out in Spring.
TURKEY DINNER FOR ALL ALL WILL GET CHANGE
Sport Held Every Apply
Morning. fer Admission.
Fireworks TOnghts Few Camps Will Be Established
Headline Feature. in the South.
Soldiers Have All Kinds of
Xmas Cheer.
Something Doing Every Min
ute at Big Camp.
TURKEY DINNER FOR ALL
Games and Sport Contests Held
This Morning.
Fireworks Will Be TOnight's
Headline Feature.

Camp Funston, Kan, Dec. 25.-A
thrilling rescue of an army wagon
train, loaded with Christmas gifts, at
tackled by Indians and bandits as 1t |
nears Camp Funston, national army
is a feature of today's
Christmas celebration by men of the
S9th national army division. The at
tack and rescue will occur this after
noon, following which the loaded
wagons will be brought to the parade
grounds of the cantonment, where,
drawn up around huge bonfire.
each organization will take charge OF
its own wagon and distribute the
gifts with which it is loaded.
There is not be an an idle moment
at Camp Funston on Christmas day.
No time is to be given in which
young men spending their first
Christmas away from home-and
there are many of them here-may
become homesick. The committee in
charge of the celebration has made
plans to fill every minute of the day
with some sort OF sport, game or
amusement. Turkey shoots, sack
races, a broncho busting contest and
a roping and tying contest, with real"
cowboys and bad" steers. took up the
morning. The afternoon will be given
over to the attack on and rescue of
the wagon train and distribution of
coming to Camp Funston from mid
die west states for the last ten days.
The days festivities will close with
display of fireworks from the hills
around the camp.
Races This Morning.
When the nearly 10000 soldiers
arose this morning to greet each other
with wishes for a happy Christmas, 1t
was to face a full day of play and en-
joyments, instead of one of rigorous
drill. AT $3.50 o'clock the opening
event-a sack race-went off on
schedule time. This was followed at
S:45 o'clock with a crab race. A CEN
tipede race was scheduled for 9
O'Clock and a tug of war for 9:15. At
$3.50 there was to be a jousting con-
test and at 9:45 a push ball game.
The turkey shoot was open until
1920 o'clock.
At 1890 o'clock the thousands of
soldiers gathered to see the broncho
bucking contest which was in charge
of Capt. Chauncey Dewey. Wild
boys from nearby cattle ranches add
ed the wild west touches to the
scene. which was one familiar to the
men from Arizona and New Mexico.
Following this was the roping and ty-
ing contest.
When the men returned from, the
open country where the contests We're
held. their appetites whetted for a
Christmas dinner just like mother
would make, they were not to be dis
appointed. The mess halls bore their
touches of Christmas decorations and
when the men filed into dinner it was
to such feast as only wealthy of the
nation will sit down to today. Thou
sands of pounds of turkey had been
provided for the Christmas dinner by
Capt. F. T. Windle, head of the sub
sistence branch of the camp quarter
masters department. The choice of
the country's birds arrived at the camp
last Saturday and Immediately were
placed in cold storage. The turkeys
were issued to the mess officers yes
terday afternoon.
Fine Eats Galore.
Along with the turkey were pre-
served fruits, vegetables, sweets, nuts
and cigars, which complete a Christ
mas dinner. Boxes of apples, sent by
fathers who have large orchards, fur
nished the boys with fruit. Even
printed menus were used by some
mess sergeants. 1t was dinner long
to be remembered by the boys of the
Eighty-ninth division.
Great interest has been manifested
for weeks in this afternoons wild
west show, in which soldiers, an army
wagon train loaded with Christmas
gifts, Indians and cowboys will par
ticipate. The attack" on the train
will occur in the open country near
Camp Funston. and with the rescue by
the soldiers, is expected to provide an
outlet for much of the joyous spirit of
the men. A huge bonfire will be built
on the parade grounds and around this
the men will gather in circle and dis
tribute Christmas gifts sent by those
who have taken it upon themselves to
see that each soldier shall have a
Christmas present.
When night falls and the men wit
ness the display of fireworks from the
rim rock and hilltops above the camp,
it will be the close of the first Christ
mas day in camp, and one which the
men will never forget
Camp Funston was a cheerful
place on Christmas day." will be the
universal comment of the men.