The Washington times., 1918-12-16
K. Of c. INDORSES
CHRISTMAS PLAN
tcontinued from First PagcJ

any gifts you send Will not De appre-
ciated."
'-Great stun" said Lieut.. Fred Halt
Thomas, physical director at the hos
pital, when he heard OF Mr.. Griniths
offer to supply the wounded lads
with baseball equipment. That's a
gift that they will. not only enjoy
but IL will do them a world or good!
Now. Lieutenant Thomas is man
who ought to know, for he st-none
other than Freddie .WelshY OF the
prize ring, an all-round athlete who
has been sent here to give the boys
in the hospital special physical train
ing suited to the peculiar needs OF
each
TYckIed To Death.
Freddie-teg pardon. Lieutenant
Thomas was tickled to death when he
found out about the baseball equip
ment coming to the boys for Christ
mas. The lieutenant thinks a lot OF
those lads with whom he is now
working.
This gift will work wonders for
these boys" he said, land IL will be
one OF the most appreciated presents
they will receive when Christmas
comes. That's what I call construc-
tive giving. It's something that will
really serve them. l wish we had
more people who wanted to give in
this way. I know a lot of things
around the gym and other athletic
equipment details that would come
in fine in just the same way.
For Three Teams. i
Il think that equipment for about
three teams would do for the present.
1 have that many teams in prospect
This will give them a great chance to
get in trim and keep in trim, and II
spells keen enthusiasm and good
games when the'weather is good. 1t
spells a whole lot Of happiness, too.
when next spring comes and the
warm, sunny weather gets here again,
when these boys who have come back
with the marks Of the sacrifices they
have made begin to recover little
more-why, then this gift will be OF
inestimable value.
Say for me that all OF us-me and
the boys and those who woSk with
me among the boys-are mighty
much obliged and that we appreciate
this more than We can tell
"It's wonderful to have a chance
like this to give to the boys. 1 know
how people feel about 1t. Everybody
Just naturally wants these lads to
know that they are thinking about
them Christmas. The Times is fur
nisbing a fine medium for the express
sion of this sort of Christmas spirit.
More strength to you old right init,
say t.
Christmas gifts suggested by the Red
Cross as most needful for the soldiers
continue to arrive at The Times today
in ever-iDcreasing numbers.
Cigarettes, tobacco. pipes, gloves.
books and other presents are already
stacked in the Santa Claus room" OF
The Times. And the pAes Of giftsta
ever growing.
Don't delay in sending additional
presents for the soldiers, because
there may be nearly 1000 men at Wal
ter Reed Hospital on Christmas, and
their gift needs will be numerous.
The Times is prepared to fit up a
Santa Claus room No. ." in case the
general mobilization OF presents con-
tinues.
When you bring your gifts for the
soldiers at Walter Reed Hospital to
The Times, give them to the cashier
on the main floor of the Munsey
building. The cashier will take the
gifts to the Santa Claus ROOM" and
from there they will be delivered to
the Red Cross officials at the hospital
Oh AhG hlBhN VI bcCGmOGE -.
City AnxiousIy Watched.
Washington is being anxiousIy
watched by many a mother and wife
cut in California and Texas and Wis
consin and other States right now.
because they have sons and husbands
in Walter Reed Hospital, and they eN-
pect the National Capital to act as
real hosts and hostesses for their
loved ones on Christmas Day. And
the soldiers themselves declare that a
Christmas package has as much joy
for them now as when they were just
youngsters. That is why The Times
il cooperating with the Red Cross to
give the wounded Yanks a real Christ
mas.
The tendency OF the givers Of pres.
ents is to send tobacco or cigarettes.
and The Times gift room already is
taking on the appearance OF a we'll
stocked tobacconists'. Since tobacco
is coming in such great supplies, ii is
suggested to those planning to send
gifts for the soldiers at Walter Reed
to send other gifts. too.
CANDY AND SOAP SHOULD NOT
BE SENT. according to the Red Cross.
as the men will be supplied with both
EOOhSs IIAHOlkNt -NfsN =" "ODi4
EN- GLOVES. ATHLETIC EQUIP-
MENT, PHONOGRAPHS AND PHON0
GRAPH RECORDS. MUSICAL IN
STRUMENTS. and other gifts suit
able to the needs of convalescent sol
diers are what the men want most.
Method of DIstrIbution.
The books. raZors. neckties. gloves,
tobacco. etc. will, OF course, be given
to the individuals. Photographs and
musical Instruments will be appor-
toned among the various wards. and
the musical instruments will be used
by the various orchestras and bands
organized by the men. The athletic
equipment will be divided among the
athletic teams formed at the hospital
The demand for athletic equipment is
especially great, as the soldiers need
exercise after weeks and months OF
inactivity on crutches or in bed.
The two DAYS from December -
until the morning OF Christmas Day
will be taken up in dividing the gifts
into individual packages for the sol
dier. On Christmas morning every
soldier in The hospital will receive his
present. The Red Cross headed by