Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-03-23
Red Cross Sent
Yule Gifts to
Men at Buna
Field Director Tells
Hoe Presents We're
FI0wn to Jungles
Bv Gretchen Smith.


How Christmas came to the
fighting men on Buna" would be an
appropriate title for the story told
yesterday by James Stewart, Red
Cross field director, in stirring
report of activities of the American
Red Cross on the fighting fronts in
the Pacific.
Speaking before the Woman's Ma
tional Democratic Club at its weekly
luncheon meeting, Mr. Stewart told
how Red Cross presents were flown
across the Owen Stanley Mountains
three months ago, assuring every
man in the fox holes and jungles
of New Guinea of Christmas gift
on December Is.
Last July the Red Cross started
to prepare Christmas boxes for the
men throughout the Pacific" he
explained. I'VE knew well that
many Christmas gifts from home
would never arrive in time. Ladies
of the Red Cross in Australia packed
boxes for the Yanks' night and
day" he continued purchases
were made in Australia and in
every box there were American Gig
arettes, chewing gum, candy, sta
tlonery, pipe tobacco, books and a
sewing kit. 1t was the hope of the
American Red Cross that every
American soldier would have a
Christmas box
Mr. Stewart told how boxes were
sent throughout the Pacific area
previous to Christmas until every
one was taken care of except those
actually in the jungles and fox
holes of Buna."
"Buna was campaign of the
air" he explained, and everything
used was flown over the mountains
tanks, bulldozers, jeeps. food and
men. We did not see how we could
get the Christmas presents over
when a word from the right man
decided there was No. l priority
for the boys in the foxholes.
BY jeeps and by native carriers,
presents filtered through to where
there was nothing but jungle and
Japs' he continued
Finally every man had received a
present except a detachment on the
front line which seemed impossible
to reach, Mr. Stewart said. He
told how word filtered through to
the detachment by means of the
Coconut telegraph" that the other
men had received Christmas boxes
and how they sent back greetings
like good sports. realizing they
were too isolated to be able to get
their gifts by Christmas. The field
director said he expressed his re-
greet over the situation to a quar-
tremaster colonel, who, after listen
ing, quietly asked, Can you be
ready to leave by $50 tomorrow
morning? If so will have a cordu-
roy bridge built tonight and send
you over the swamps to the front"
Mr.. Stewart explained how the
next morning he left with four
ieeps laden with gifts and crossed
the corduroy bridge built a few
hours before until they came to
great river. There we were met
by young Australian officer and
270 native bearers, who took the
presents to the boys under fire"
You may wonder what the pres
ents meant to those boys" he con-
tinued." Well, when I saw them
brought out on stretchers a little
while later, some with arms gone,
some with great chunks out of
thpIy loco hlj,,GoI
in rough Australian blankets, they
were still clinging to their Christ
mas presents
Mr.. Stewart told how he returned
from the Buna front bearing 1000
messages from servicemen to loved
ones back home.
we had been instructed to
accept only messages in triplicate
with so cents paid in advance"
he said. Il took messages scrubbed
only on cigarette paper and not
cent pald-the men had no money
in the jungles. When I got back
to headquarters the Red Cross
made out the required triplicate
forms and advanced the money on
the messages" he added. They all
got through
Serving as means of communica-
tions between men of the armed
forces and their families is one of
the most important functions of
the Red Cross, the speaker empha-
sized
The Red Cross picks up a mans
troubles in the jungles and settles
them in his home back in the
States he commented.
Enumcratlng problems which