Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-26
REAL XMAS FOR
CAMP DIX men
Welfare Organizations Make Sure
That No Soldier is
Overlooked.

Camp Dix, Wrightstown, n. j., Dec.
26.-Lterally showered with Christmas
gifts, and feasted, fetcd and entertained
through the auspices of the various wei
fare societies, returned overseas soldiers,
the majority of them still under treat
ment for wounds or in convalescent bat
talions, found symbol in yesterday s
Yuetide celebration of nations esteem
and appreciation for their heroic sacrl-
fees. Not dull moment was permitted
10 creep into the Christmas observance,
as scores of prominent New Jersey, New
York and Pennsylvania women and some
of the countrv's foremost public enter
tanners gave up their own holiday to
bring happiness to the soldiers.
Every ward in the base hospital, where
nearly 900 wounded or sick soldiers
are under treatment, had christmas
tree and decorations, erected by the Red
Cross. Red Cross Santas, Y. NJ. G. A.
Santas, X. of C.. Santas and IN many
cases Santas from the sick soldiers own
family, were busy in the wards all day
distributing gifts packages and spreading
good cheer Trenton members of the
Women's Motor Corps assisted the Red
Cross in the hospital work and made pos
sible by their generosity one of the most
notable gifts of the day-the presentation
of fountain pen, filled with ink and
ready To use, to each of GOO returned over
seas veterans.
RED CROSS ADVANCES FARES
The Red Cross here also made it pos
sible for scores of overseas men 10 get to
their homes for Christmas by advancing
the money for their expenses. Most OF
these wounded fighters have been unpaid
e. L., Il alfh
camp officers are now working overtime,
under authority from Washington, to give
them their back pay on the face of af'i-
davits as to the amount due them, the
affidavit serving in lieu of lost service
record or pay card In numerous other
cases during the last few days the Red
Cross has made it real Christmas for
destiture families of soldiers whose allow
ances and allotments are long overdue and
who, facing n hungry holiday, had ap-
pealed direct to the camp for relief.
Several hundred hospital patients were
entertained last evening at the Red Cross
convalescent home, where the comic
opera, '"The Pirates of Penzanoe, was
presented by prominent Philadelphia
talent. Ice cream and refreshments were
served TO all soldiers visiting the building
during the day.
Although IS per cent of the conva-
lescents in the development battalions
along New Jersey avenue received Christ
mas furloughs, the unexpected arrival of
big detachment Of New Jersey and Penn
sylvania convalescents Tuesday night
made this section lively centre yesterday.
Through arrangements made by Chaplain
J. Warren Kaufman these new arrivals
enjoyed a happy holiday. An old
fashioned Christmas party was held for
them in ~" Hut No. 2 Chaplain kauff-
man also had special lot of gifts to dis
tribute among them at O. clock yesterday
afternoon A Christmas reception and dance
was attended by fair guests from nearby
towns, including many relatives Of the re-
turned soldiers, who rushed to camp yes
terday upon receipt OF messages telling OF
the arrival Of the convaleScents.