The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1918-01-03
LETTER FROM
CAMP DODGE

Camp Dodge, Dec. 31.-The holiday
season was full Of interest to those
who remained at the cantonment.
Two great Christmas trees illuminat-
ed with thousands of electric bulbs of
all colors we're erected at the ~juncture
Of Depot and Main streets in the cen
ter Of the great camp and around it
gathered hundreds Of men who lis
tened to Christmas carols rendered by
selected singers and brigade bands.
Christmas cheer was manifest in the
Y. M. C. A., the X. Of c., the Luth-
eran Brotherhood, and the Y. w. c..
A buildings Barracks were suitably
bedecked with holiday designs and
trees and there was a spirit of cheer
fitness throughout the camp Tons
and tons of turkey, vegetables and
fruits were served to all men in the
several mess houses and at the be-
nevolent headquarters were candies,
nuts, apples, pop corn and numer-
GUS other delicacies sent to the boys
by the home folks. Gifts of all kinds,
including articles of utility as well as
beauty were passed out to the men.
Some neighborhoods served entire
companies. The Red Cross served
each mar with some token of remem
brance and cheer. Furlough were
freely granted to men who could Wis
it the folks at home without going by
rail. Automobiles were supplied in
abundance. The 80 men from Mo-
line, Illinois were guests Of the Velie
Automobile Co., who sent 16 fine new
autos after them; taking them home
and returning them to camp. Keokuk
sent automobiles after its representa-
ton at the camp. Minneapolis men
to the number Of 2O7 chartered a
"feet"' Of big transfer BUSES, each
bus accommodating 30 soldiers, and
made the start at dusk, expecting to
travel all night and hen some. It
was argued that the big auto busses
would make better time running at
night when the ground was freezing
than taking chances with a thawy
day. Omaha sent a number of auto
mobiles to take its contingent home
and from about every community in
the states represented automobiles
either called for the men or brought
the home folks here. The negro
troops were by no means sighted
when it came to holiday remem-
brances. In q letter accompanying
gifts to all the Alabama soldiers at
Camp Dodge, Mrs. Booker T. WASH
ington wrote: r.
"Tuskegee Institute, Ala, Dec.
17.-Capt. c.. G. Kelly, Camp Dodge
Provisional Company, Three Hundred
Sixty-sixth Infantry. Des Moines, Ia,
Mr.. Dear Mr.. Kelly: We r think
ing of you at this Christmas time and
wishing for you and the Alabama
men all a happy and joyous Christ
mas.
We woman's. club was so glad to
hear you letter read and WI sent off
to you the other day a box of good
things so that you and your men
would know that we are thinking of
you. It is a great thing to be able
to fight for ones country. l sent the
box of cigars especially for you. The
students, both seniors and middle,
were most enthusiastic in helping US
to fill the box. Take the best of care
Of yourself and hurry back to US.
Yours most sincerely,
Mrs. Booker T. Washington"
The Captain Kelly to whom Mrs,
Washington sent her letter, was TO,
is years purchasing agent of the
great institution at Tuskegee, unde,
the late Booker T. Washington.
:. Hanson Now Secretary.
Fred Hanson, who has been in
charge of one of the Y. M. C. A.. units
at camp since the cantonment first
began to receive men, has been made
general secretary of the camp Y. M
c. A., succeeding A. B. Dale, who has
been transferred to Camp Sheridan