New-York tribune., 1918-12-24
Marie Dressler
Is SantaClaus
To General Shanks
Red Cross Initiates Big
Novelty in Introducing
Feminine Kris Kringle in
Celebration for Soldiers

Marie Dressler, wearing white wig
and garbed in Santa Claus hood and
suit, walked up to Major General David
{. Shanks, commanding the Port of
Embarkation, on the upper grade of
Pier 4, Hoboken, yesterday afternoon,
and, thrusting her hand into a great
bag she carried over her back, pulled
out long pair of socks filled with
candies and other goodies, which she
Put into his hand.
you've helped lot to get all our
lighting men over to Europe" she said.
Then she walked up to little girl and
presented her with a cornucopia and
told her the same thing.
The idea is that yesterday afternoon
the Red Cross gave a Christmas party
to the army and navy forces attached
to the Port of Embarkation, who helped
to send 100000 American fighters to
Franco and arc now welcoming them
home again.
Soldiers of the medical detachment,
the Motor Transport Corps, the En-
glneer Corps, the Signal and Aviation
corps, the Ordnance Corps, the fire and
guard companies, men and women of
the quartermaster corps, field clerks,
civilian employees and sailors from the
transports joined in the froic, to the
number of 5000.
Hot Coffee Served by Women
The pier was brilliant with flags of
America and OF the Allies and the en-
sign OF the Army Transport Service.
At the extreme east end of the pier a
big Christmas tree loomed alp. and high
above 1T was great electrically lighted
Santa Claus. AS the various units
marched onto the pier from the en-
barkation Offices adjoining they we're
served with hot coffee and doughnuts
by women OF the Emergency Canteen
ter of the American Red Cross. Port
of Embarkation Band No. 2 plaved con-
tinuously.
Brief speeches were made by Vice
Admiral Albert Geaves, of the cruiser
and transport force; Major General
Shanks and Mrs. Santa Claus, none
other than the famous Marie. You see.
when the Red Cross thought the thing
out 1t saw no reason why there
shouldn't be woman Santa Claus,
there being women nearly everything
else.
A real Christmassy package contain
and package of cigarettes went to the
men. The women got the cornucopia.
after all" said Mrs. G. f. Watson,
director of personnel of the New York
County Red Cross, who was in charge
Of the Red Gross part. "the gifts were
simply an expression of the real thing.
Jor we have appreciated SO much what
every one at the port has done to trv
to make things comfortable and cheer
full the last few moments ashore of
our men,"
Girls and Boys Sing
The girls Of the Quartermaster's
Corps, led by Miss Cora l.. Busson, sang
Christmas carol and the boy choir
Of the Paulst Fathers, led by Father
Finn, sang several selections. There
was also a recital by the American
Saxaphone Quartet.
The arrangements werc under the
general direction of the chaplain of the
port, Major John T. Axton. and com
mittee comprising Chaplains l.. L..
Burkhalter, A. j. Catterlin and C. D.
Cox. Not long ago they went out and
chopped down the decorations that
graced the pier in the JERSEY woods.
They got a thirtyfour foot tree from
the estate of Professor William C.
Clark, of Columbia University, and a
steam winch was borrowed from the
U. S. S. Leviathan to hoist it to it's
proper place.
Commander George S. Stoddard,
executive officer of the u S. S. Kroon-
land, represented the navy at the
party. The decorations were under the
of
Heely and the electric lighting was
managed by w. H. Stevens. Mrs.
Watson, of the Red Cross, was assisted
by Mrs. Palmer Campbell, Mrs. D. C.
Shanks, wife of the general; Mrs. Nc
Lane van Ingen, Miss van Ingen and
Miss van Lennep, preparation of gifts;
Miss Gertrude Freeman, finance; Miss
X. Bache, decoration of the tree, and
Mrs. A. N. Hall and II. S. Haskins,
entertainment