Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-12-23
Santa Claus to Is.
Visit Yank Camps


cream Christmas for American soldiers
and for French children is the great
Yuletide project Of the American ex-
dictionary force, aided by the Young
Men's Christian Association. Thous-
ands of tinselled trees decked with
presents have been distributed in
readiness for the day, thousands of ret,
Santa Claus costume with accompany
ing white whiskers have been pro-
rided and thousands OF Christmas
entertainments have been prepared for
Presentation on Christmas eve in the
Rcd Triangle huts,-"his home over
there
The Anne ricans have shown the
French what they can do in the way
of lighting. and now will present their
peculiar ideas in the way of-celebrat-
ing the day Of universal good will. the
birthday of the Prince OF Peace Last
December, when there were less than
100000 American soldiers in France.
s,d these mostly busted training for
the great Knockout which they de-
livered to militarism this summer. the
bows In khaki and the "Y' workers
managed to show small sample Of
the American Christmas idea to the
French. This year the 100000 AM
erica3s here will import Americas
Sacred soil Of France where the people
have learned to expect the Yanks to
do everything on the grand scale.
The celebration will divide into two
parts. the Ch 1stmas for the American
boys SO. far from their own hresides
ard the gift day for the youngsters of
France. so long denied, real observ-
alton OF their beloved Noel
To each OF the 100000 soldiers in
the American. expeditionary force the
VI NJ. G. A. will presen. Christmas
hos containing two bars Of chocolate
package Of cream candy, two pack
ares of cigarsts and a tin of tobacco
In addition each man will receive a
Z Christmas carl. %
The Red Triangle organization has
arranged for the Christmas eve enter
taiEments in the Y. NJ. G. A. huts.
1890 in mum Der, as we'll as in the !, sol
Foyers du Soidat maintained with the
French army. A comedy sketch writ
ten exclusively for the American SOL
diers in France, has been in the course
OF secret rehearsal for weeks and will
be given the greatest premier in theat-
ricaI history.-hundreds Of "fls. night
simultaneously on the night Of tho
cath with hundreds Of original casts.
The entertainment department Of the
Y. NJ. c. A. sent out the dramatic
coaches who rehearsed the soldier
\ actors in their parts and furnished the
necessary costumes and make-up
This same entertainment department
also arranged to put on a. many pro-
fessional vaudeville and dramatic
shows in as many huts as the eighty
rihe professional companies OF actors
at its command could give on Christ
mas eve and Christmas day and night
BY using the fast travelling motor
(, transport Of he "Y'', these actors. who
were sent over by the Red Triangle's
entertainment department and Am
erica's over There Theatre League
viii be able, to give Afronl~fonr to SIX
shows in day, bringing JOY to thous-
ands Of men IN uniform. Z
Amateur talent, however, will be the
mainstay of the festivals entertain
ment. Working On the theory that
young men enjoy most the entertain.
ment which they get up themselves,
the 'Y'' secretaries have arranged UNI
limited minstrel shows at which plenty
OF local hits and encore verses tax
ing OF the members Of the particular
units will: count heavily in smashing
the ..blatk beetles back beyond their
Hindenburg line. ~,
In very hut will glisten the Christ
h mas tree. Where the hut has electric
4 lighting. the greenery will be illumned
with little vari-colored incandescenes
All the appropriate time Santa Claus
I viii make his initial bow in France.
His first appearance For the familiar
/, Sid saint Of England and America isn't
% widely known in France although
he will be a fixture from this year on
II the tpreser,t arrangement. for his de-
BUT count for anything.
During the long! hot summer months
while the Germans were being forced
back from Parts and the Big Bertha
nl,ssiyes were dropping around. pa
sient, unselash women sewed away on
n $1,000 y n . ~ N n