Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-01-27
"DELAWARE'S own
PLAYS SANTA CLAUS
Christmas Dinner Featured by
Gifts 70 Children of
French Town.

How the doughboys of Delaware
Own" the 59th Pioneers, spent Christ
mas on the other side of the Atlantic and
n lot of other interesting things are toid
i'm n letter Mayor lawson has received
from the regiments commander, toloncl
] Warner Reed, written only four days
after the celebration.
Col Reeds communication hrst answers
some questions the mayor propounded
regarding the location of the command.
as follows
"Thc 59th Pioneer Infantry is known MS
"army troops These are not attached To
any division or corps Previous TO the
signing Of the arInistice the American
troors in the 4 4, + were organized INTO
two armies the First and Second. Thus
regiment had troops III both.
"Chrstmas has come and gone and we
celebrated il over here IN the good, old
Delaware way. We had large Christ
mas tree decorated with colored electric
lights Nearby was large platform Tor
the sneakers and entertainers who par
ticpatcd IN the celebration.
We had invited all the French children
of town and they were delighted hevt nj
bounds when Santa Claus appeared and
distributed to everyone ot them pound
of candy and Christmas souvenir.
Captain Bush acted the part oi Santa IN
great stylc Our celebration was n big
SURPRISE to the French. who make very
httlc-to-do over Christmas.
souvenirs were distributed To every
officer and g listed man. such as pen
knives. MATCHBOX holders, cIgar and
cigarette lighters. hcidcrs. Scs, and the
tact that they were purcl ed IN Metz
added 10 their value rs souvenirs.
81 - Dcr pound oranges 10 cents each
and figs 10 cents pound We had orr
Cbrletnn., di"rrr inst the tn1c.
1--WE assembled together hv hattalions
within 4 radius of ten miles 81 each other
The men are hlletcd IN houses or barns
and arc aS COMFORTABLE n circumstances
will permit. ggttlng plenty Of good food
and smoking land chewing tobacco and
candy with then ratlons, and that helps.
w received our FIRST issue Of candy he
dav before Christmas and as We had hccn
waiting FOR II month and half, that
gave each man a pOuhd, the allowance
being Il quarter pound every ten days.
we arc still marking time, NJ there IS
nothing to do but drill now that all
construction has ceased
II am enclosing folder containing our
! Christmas program and 4 menu Of one
| of tho companies which IS tNucal ot all.
/ 50 YOU can SOC for yourself how everybody
/ Jared and h. kind of entertainment We
| had Although tho day was very cloudy
! and there was some ram and snow, It dri
/ not dampCn our spirits one but. for We arc
I from Delaware.
The program referred to is typewriter,
/ On three half sheets Of unrIled paper,
/ folded once. anil is thus twelve pages
| Tho master Of ceremonies was Sergt
Harry Dawson. musical director. Band
I Leader Harry Brubakcr. and vocal
director Musician Edwin ]. Hos ED. The
ceremonies began At , r. m. and included
"S,ar-Spanglcd Banner Band and Choru.
"MarSellal~c
Band and Children : Choru,
Invocation Chaplain Howard Davis
\ddrcss .... Col J ". Reed
Band and instrumental selections, song
Monoogue Private James louns
The menu ii tile headquarters com
panv included roast turkey, maShcc
potatoes. rice pudding, pumpkin PIE
cocoa. figs dates, nuts and ralsns-
The general committee included Ileut-
/ Col. } Austin Ellison, Col. J. Warnc
Reed and Howard Davis, chaplain.