Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-12-24
SANTA CLAUS
 GIVES SICK
 NOVEL FITS

Returning Sick Soldiers Are
 Presented With Honor
 able Discharges and Gig
 arettes for Christmas.
 New York, Dec. 23.-The Unit 2d States transport George Washingt T, rhich took President Wilson to France, and the steamship Cedric, ar- lived here today, bringing COPS men from overseas in time to celebrate rhristmas in the United States.
 The Cedric from Liverpo3l with 8 ffeers and 2.16S enlisted men. dociz- sd first and was accorded a rousin y nception. but the welcome to the George Washington, which arrived an hour later from Brest. was perhaps fine most enthusiastic, the city has vet given a returning transport. The troops comprise Winchester casual companies No. 1862 (colored), 1865. lO6 and 1077: Liverpool casual com panies 1902 lcolored, 1903, 1904, lO05 1OO6, 1907; the 32nd aero squad ron and 14 officers and 424 men; sic,s and wounded. Of the latter "A are bedrdden cases, two mental and two tubercular.
 The big liner had on board 331 of fcers and 3,461 men, more than half of them members of the Cyclone di- vision made up of Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia National Guard troops
 The George Washington, which left Brest December 15. had 331 officers and 3461 men, including the 139th field artillery, complete, 63 officers and 1,4S4 men, batteries A B D E and headquarters company 137th field artillery, B officers and 324 men; 18th field artillery, 35 officers; ad- vance school detachment, eleventh di- vision, 49 officers and S2 men; sick and wounded 96S, of whom 75 are bed ridden.
 The sick included B men suffering from humps. There were no deaths lon the voyage across.
 The George Washington's 96S sic'> and wounded, contrary to custom, were in possession of their honorable discharge papers when the transport landed. They received them last night with cigarettes and candy, at a novel Christmas celebration, arrang- ed by Chaplain P. F. B!oomhardt, of the George Washington.
 As the men were dozing off for their last sleep aboard the transport, the smips quartette entered the sick bay and aroused them by singing Christ mas carols and "Home. Sweet home" The lights then were flashed on and a member of the crew aatired as Santa Claus, distributed the discharges which had been approved by General pershing before the George Washing ton left Brest, and by the war de- partment, by wireless.
 According to Major w. H. Unver sau. the Indiana men were ''keenly Disappointed" in not getting into the hshting. There were at an American framing camp for almost a year be- lore they sailed. but when the armis- tee was signed, they were all ready Tor action and expected daily orders 10 entrain for the front.
 Lieutenant George w. Buryear, of Memphis, Tenn, who escaped from Cermany by swimming the Rhine af- Ter being in five German camps, was mother passenger. Lieutenant Bur year was captured when he descend after German aviator had shot gown and landed, to his surprise be- And the German lines.
 Lieutenant Edgar Boligey, of New Vfleans, aviator, who. enlisted with me foreign legion in August. 1914, ana later was transferred to the american service, was another pas ~nger. Lieutenant Boligney's plane vas shot down in Albania last July no ma height of 1000 feet. he said oat he managed to land an descaped Slthout a scratch.
 Washington, Dec. 23.-Sailing from rance of the transport Riindam on lecember 19, with about 5000 off yrs and men, was announced today " the War department. The vessel grooably will dock at Newport News January 1.
 on board the Riindam are casue tompanies II and 404, thirty secono oIgade headquarters, coast artillery erps, ninth and 18th anti-aircraft .Nse:slons; 114th ammunition train nn!tty-one casual officers, including Sngadier General Charles Zimmer man.
 word reached here today that the ug Dutch iner Nieu Amsterdam lef1 aItterdam Saturday for Cologne tt