New-York tribune., 1918-12-25
Red Cross to Bring
Christmas Cheer to
Wounded Soldiers
In Hospitals, Both Here and
Abroad, ,Bedridden Heroes
Will Get Tokens From
Their Friends at Home

5. Claus will be assisted bv hun
dreds of Red Cross workers to-dav in
bringing good Christmas cheer to the
10000 soldiers, sailors and marines
who are recuperating from illness or
wounds in the military hospitals located
IN and near New York City.
Each convalescent, when he wakes
up, will find large sock, bulging with
packages and bags and bundles and
draped with holly and seasonal fes
toonngs, hanging over his bed. The
Red Cross, which provided the socks
and their contents, would not divulge
the gifts yesterday, but it is known
that candy, cigarettes, pipes, folding
mirrors, fountain pens and, in the case
OF officers, canes will be included in the
assortment of presents.
Christmas Trees Galore
Each hospital ward will be decked
with Christmas trees, greens and
lights, and from early morning until
night every effort will be made to pro-
vide Christmas to compare with anv
IT,. a
rations have been going on for weeks.
so that nothing of the traditional holi-
day festivity should be omitted.
The best entertainment has been
provided for the wounded men by the
Bureau of Entertainment of the De-
partment of Military Relief of the Red
Cross, of which Major Abraham Gil
lette is head. At the embarlation hos
pital in the Grand Central Palace, for
example, the Stage Womens War Re-
lief Will put on one of the best bills
to be witnessed in the city to-day
Bert Williams to Entertain
Bert Williams will head the list of
entertainers, and Maclyn Arbuckle will
be second "headliner." Then there will
be BESSIE Wynn, Constance Farber. of
the WINTER Garden, and a host of sinv-
ers and dancers, under the direction of
Mrs. William P. Carleton.
A large, healthy slice of good cheer
is in store for the men at the hospital
at Fox Hills, Staten Island, for Marie
Dressler will be her inimitabe self for
them She will lead the JOY bringers
IN the afternoon, while an overseas
unit of the Over There Theatre League
VIII bring complete vaudeville enter
tainment to the men in the evening.
Iroupes of equal excellence will be
sent to Camp Mills, Camp Raritan,
camp Dix and Camp Upton, for the
occupants of the base hospitals there.
AT Camp Dix there will be a perform
ance of the Gilbert and Sullivan
operetta, "The Pirates of Penzance. .
while at the convalescent home at
Mitchell Field, ten acts, sent out bv
the United Booking Offices. will pro-
vide the entertainments
Wounded Americans in HOSPITALS
overseas will find to-day lust as
CHEEKY as if they had been at home.
Details of arrangements for their en-
tertalnment, as received by cable to
the Atlantic Division of the Red Cross,
were made public yesterday.
Remember Boys in France
'In every ward there will be Christ
mas trees, with special trees also for
the nursing staff and other personnel ~
says the announcement each wound
ed man, at daybreak, will find at hand a
brand new kit, in which will be five
Christmas cards, two packages of chew
candy (molasses $sffy in tin or candy
packed in France), two packages Gig
arettes, one small glass folding mir
ror, one cake toilet soap, one package
tooth powder or paste, and one pair of
socks.
"There will also be a choice of any
of the following: A jack knife, a pipe
with pipe cleaners, q brquette, a
leather cigarette case or leather case
for papers and money; likewise either
pair of knitted wristlets, helmet
or trench cap
"On his bed there will be pair of
Red Cross socks, tied together with
holly or mistletoe and green and red
ribbons oranges, figs find candy, as
well as new song book, will fiji the
socks to overflowing
"The 'dainties' department. has
planned delightful feast for the bows
Turkeys, pies, doughnuts, cakes, Gus
tards and puddings are all on the bill
of fare"