Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-12-22
YIN. CA. TO GIVE
CHRISTMAS FETE
70 OVERSEE men
Plan Big Time for American
Soldiers and French Chill
dren; Each Hut is to
Have Tree.


French children is the great Yule-
tide project Of the American expedi-
tionary force, aided by the Young
Mems Christian association. Thou
ands of tinseled trees decked with
presents have been distributed in
readiness for the day, thousands of
red Santa Claus costumes accom-
panying white whiskers have been
provided and thousands of Chrict-
mas entertainments have been pre-
pared for presentation on Christmas
eve in the Red Triangle huts, his
home over there"
The Americans have shown the
French what they can do in the W; u
OF ~hghting, and now will present
their peculiar ideas in the way of
celebrating the day of universal
good will. the birthday of the Prince
of Peace. Last December, when
there were less then 100000 Amer
lean soldiers in France, and these
mostly busted training for the great
knockout which they delivered to
militarism this summer, the boys in
khaki and the "Y" workers managed
to show small sample of the
American Christmas idea to the
French. This year the 100000
Americans here will import Amer
ica's Yuletide bodily and set it down
on the sacred soil of France. where
the people have learned to expect
the Yanks o do everything on the
grand scale.
To Be Divided in Two Parts.
The celebration will divide into
two parts, the Christmas for the
American boys so far from their
own fresides and the gift day for
the youngsters of France, so long
denied real observation of their
beloved Noel.
To each of the 100000 soldiers
in the American expeditionary force
the Y. M. c. A. will present a
Christmas box containing two bars
Of chocolate, package of cream
candy. two packages of cigarettes
and tin of tobacco. In addition
each man will receive a Christm S
card.
The Red Triangle organization
has arranged for the Christmas eve
entertainments in the "Y" huts, 900
in number, as we'll as in the 500
Foyers du Scldat maintained with
The French army. A comedy sketch
written exclusively for the American
soldiers in France. has been in the
course of secret rehearsal for weeks
aud will be given the greatest
premier in theatrical history, hun,
ireds Of "frst nights" simultaneous
ly on the night of the oath, with
hundreds of original casts. The, en-
tertainment 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 makeup.
Will Put on Shows.
This same entertainment depart
ment also arranged to put on as
many professional vaudeville and
dramatic shows in as many huts as
the SO professional companies of
actors at its command could give
on Christmas eve and Christmas
lay and night. By using the fast
travelling motor transport of the
'Y," these actors. who were sent
over by the Red Triangle's enter
tainment department and Americas
Over There Theater league. will be
able to give from four to six shows
in day, bringing joy to thousands
Of men in Uniform.
Amateur talent, however. will be
the mainstay of the festivals en-
tertainment. Working on the theory
that young men enjoy most the en-
tertainment, which they get up
themselves, the "Y" secretaries have
arranged unlimited minstrel shows
at which plenty of local hits and
encore verses taking off the men,
bers of particular units will count
heavily in smashing the BLACK
beetles" back beyond their linden
aurg lines. 1
Trees in all Huts..
In every hut will glisten the
Christmas tree. Where the hut has
electric lighting, the greenery will
be illun1ined with little varicolored
incandescents. At the appropriate
time Santa Claus will make his in
itial bow in France. His first appear.
ance. For the familiar old saint of
England and America is not so wide
" known in France, although he will
be fixture from this year on if the
present arrangements for his debut
count for anything.
During the long, hot summer
months while the Germans were be-
ing forced back from Paris and the
Big Bertha missives were dropping ,
around, patient, unselfsh women
sewed away on Santa Claus cos
times at the Paris headquarters of
the Y. NJ. c. A. AS a result, there
are thousands of these i'll readiness
to be worn in the Christmas festivi-
ties. e... ..-
After the distributions to the SOL
diers at the huts, the duly selected !
impersonators of Santa will fare .
forth on Christmas day TO carry the
lighters gifts to the>Tchildren of
France. Toys had been provided in
abundance on the theory that the
boys in khaki, unable to celebrate ,
with their own families, would find
happiness in Frightening the lives
Of these little ones of another land. !
Soldiers to Sing.
Soldier choruses, drilled by song
directors, will sing carols III the
camps early Christmas morning.
Special religious services will fol-
low in the huts, with the chaplains
OF every denomination invited to
preside. Appropriate addresses will