The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1918-11-13
TROOPS 70 HAVE
ELABORATE XMAS
WAR RELIEF AGENCIES rAks
vULErIpE INTO CAMPS N
FRANCE
SANTA CLAUS TO Be THERE
Funds Raised ~ United War Work
Campaign VIII Aid In Cheering
soldiers.
SANTA CLAUS TO Be THERE

that shakes when he laughs hks .
bowl full Of jelly II going T. pay his
nrst visit 70 France.
The, Frsnch childrsa havs never
known - real or lOvabls eAaraceer
~ Santa Claus. Their Christmas has
consisted Of leaving their httls sabcts
In the chimney corner whfls some Ind
spirit came in the night and isft . gin
there. But this Christmas VIII b vis
ualized for them in . manner thsy
can never forget
Inside the funny red suit and wear
fng the snowy beard and wig mag
be z. II. c. A. or knights Of Colum-
bus Secretary, . Jewish welfare q
Salvation Army man. for the service
organizations are going to take a.
American Christmas to France, the
last one ON the other side Of the At.
lAntic. oh. yes. II II too. the last war
tine Christmas
The organizations will be guided IN
their Christmas program by the one q
last year, except that It will be more
extensive and much moro elaborate.
When our boys were asked last sea-
son what they wanted most for Christ
mas. they replied with one voice
children"
Who could conceive of real Christ
mas without children? Not any NOM
Der of the A. e. r. certainly.
"You might just as well include the
children in whatever you plan" the
Canteen Girl warned the Christmas
Committee when IT met in Paris. III
you don't, the boys will make their
own Christmas. They miss the little
ones at home and will find substitutes
in the French babies" And the Can.
teen Girl knew because she spent the
previous Christmas in heavy artil
lery camp somewhere in France" So
this. year the French children are in
cluded In the festivities as a matter
of course
"The Flag"
The hut was as near dream a. one
could be with q mud floor, no glass
IN the windows, very little heat, and
many. many rats. But holly and mis-
tletoe were used without stint Bright
banners and posters adorned the walls,
and ths nag-"THE FLAG, the Brit
ish say we call Il, ~as II there we're
no other fiag'-was suspended over
the canteen counter In Q frame OF ivy,
while rays from an electric lamp cast
from Q reflector fell ON it, glittering
dtars. - 49,
Army trucks arrived loaded with
children gathered up for miles around.
The poilus came from the camp across
the way, and all the guests were there.
The Chaplain made an address of
welcome in his faltering. French, then
suddenly two hundred childish voices.
pitched high In their excitement. sang
all four verees Of the Marseillaise. In
stantly every cap was on, and three
thousand artillerymen stood stiRly At
attention. A burst Of applause. fol-
lowed by the singing Of The Star
9panglsd Banner!s
Then the real fun began.
This littls picture 10 painted from
last years celebration and IL q sam
pie Of q hut Christmas. -
Early In the morning of this great
holiday, the generals, colonies and ali
the other officers will be awakened nv
Christmas carols sung by khaki clad
choir boys. Then after they have all
gathered In the huts, the Religious
services will be held. First a Mass
will be said by Catholic Priest.
then. perhaps Rabbi will talk to his
boys. and later the Protestant minis
ter win hold worship.
In all the huts will be plenty 81
Xmas cards supplied by the agencies
for the boys to send the folks a.
home. And for soldiers in out OF tba
way places. cards will be issued.
with the compliments of the service
agencies, which will entitle them n
. certain amount Of smokes And eats
ut any hut canteen.
But the real Christmas gift from
the agencies will be q booklet com
tanning some of the wonders OF Am
erica. There will be picture Of tha
highest building IN New York. beauty
spots Of Yellow Stone Park ana I'm.
portant points In American history
The French believe everything the
Americans tell them but the EneIisb
are apt to be dubious at times.
Come now. said an English
Tommie, you cawn't expect me -
believe that stun about a iftxone
story building in New York. Won
know"
After they get this book the so,-
diers will be able to convince the..
doubling Thomases" II they have "a
make 'em count the stories.
Make your Christmas present to
him through the fifteen thousand man
and women wearing the service uni.
form by giving your ehara - A.