Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-12-24

Twelve short months ago scores
of young soldiers from this city
gathered their overcoats 60. d.
profiteered, thin) about them and
wondered how soon it would be be-
fore they hit the docks at Brest or
81. Nazaire. For the war was over
ana nobody had thing to do ex-
cept argue which division won the
war, and how much cognac they
could consume per evening.
The Twenty eighth Division, Penn
sylvania's own, and the Seventy
ninth Division, also made up largely
of Pennsylvania soldiers, didn't
, spend the worlds best Christmas
last year The Twenty-eighth was
still practically in the same place
N line southeast of Verdun, and the
| SeVenty-ninth was occupying No
MANS Land north of that same
famous citadel.
At Damvillers the S15th Infantry,
| Seventy-ninth Division, did it's best
to remember a little bit of the old
christmas. Major Samuel w. Flem-
| ing, Jr., at that time commanding
the second battalion of the regi-
ment, assisted other officers in send
ing to Barbecue for turkeys and
other food. When Christmas Day
| dawned there was no fatigue, no
drill, and only the necessary feeding
of animals and guard. The tired
out and homesick doughboys of the
| outfit sat down Cor at least stood
around) and were fed on a good,
honest to goodness American meal.
The company funds were recruited
| and filled out by popular subscrip-
ton to buy their Christmas cheers.
| The enlisted men gave the officers
n vaudeville show in the officers
mess, decorated with pine trees for
the occasion.
Some Wine Too
According to Major Fleming there
was no official issue of rum, as with
| the British, but according to popu-
lar report, n great deal of the best
stuff made in France was consumed,
the resulting hilarity surprising the
| best efforts of the vaudeville enter
| tainers.
Back at Seventy-ninth headquar-
! ters in Vaucherville, the staff Off
GERS sat down to their lowly meal of
turkey, spuds, haricots verts, vim
| rouge and blanc, and all other things
which appertain particularly to di-
visional P. C.'s.
The Twenty-eighth had a pretty
good time, all things considered.
Drawn hack a little from the line
which they occupied on the west
branch of the former st. Mihiel
salient, the headquarters at Heudi-
court had a royal time. Per order
from G.. H. @, A. E. F., a large
cross about fifteen feet high, lighted
by electricity, was mounted on the
top of the headquarters, situated in
the Marie at Heudicourt. At night
the cross cleaned brightly and could
be seen by practically every ele-
ment of the division, from their d 3
outs in the hills to the north and
from Buxerlles and BuXieres, the
little towns to the southeast.
Band Concerts Help
A big Christmas tree was set up,
too, with electric lights decorating
it. Christmas Eve the orchestra
from the 112th Infantry came
around and serenaded General Hay
with carols. On the Day of days
there was a special dinner in every
regimental mess, with turkeys pre-
dominating. Later band concerts
helped to while away the time for
the Pennsylvanians who would much
rather have been within the con-
fines of their own Keystone State.
Captain John M. Smith, of the
104th Sanitary Train, Twenty-ninth
Division, was enjoying the enter
tainment put on by the 116th Am
bulance Train and the Sanitary out
fit, at Bourbonnes-les-Ba -Bains. Other
elements of the division entertained
q huge crowd of French children
from the town of Voisey, a COM
munity Christmas tree with gifts OF
food, clothing, and every imaginable
present. A band concert too, help
ed to enliven their day.
UP in Luxembourg, where an ar,
tillery outfit of the Thirtieth divi
sion was attached to the Thirty
third division. the homes of man!
Luxembourgois were made bright b!
; the Yanks. Soldiers from Nortf
and South Carolina rode many mile
to get toys and food for the littl,
,, youngsters who had won thei
hearts. Christmas trees were Sc
up in many homes. and when tn
kids piled downstairs in the earl,
morning, the wagon soldiers wer
all ready to play Santa Claus an,
, hand out the presents. Fortunate1
for the outfit, too, the Christina
packages from the States came il
+ just the day before Christmas, an
, nothing in the entire service 1
France caused so much joy.
Officers Gave Dance
: The officers of the 18th Field Al
tillery gave q dance to the peopl
of one little town in Luxembourg
: and after the dance was over an
the rcgimental band had been file
with schnapps and sent home t
: , bed, the party adjourned on invita-