The sub., 1945-11-21


 Now that the fighting has ended, the Christmas season for G. Is abroad will be a time for enjoy ment of pleasurable activities on a vastly wider scale than ever was possible in the days when winning battles was the major activity.
 Much of the Christmas activity on December g, 1945, is expected to center in company day rooms and in, the service clubs where Spe- ciaI services personnel and Army hoStesSeS will be on hand to plan and participate in special holiday festivities.
 Following VIE Day, General Eisenhower ordered an expansion of the Army hostess program for the redeployment and the occupa- tion areas. Approximately 100 American girls, sent to Europe by the Special Services Division, are now serving as hoStessses operat- ing a total of 65 service clubs and assisting with unit clubs and day room activities in France, Ger many, Austria, Belgium and in Denmark (Bremen leave area). By Christmas the number of clubs and the number of hostesses in their bright blue uniforms with the rainbow shoulder patch will have increased considerably &C., cording to the needs of the various theatre areas.
 One hundred Army librarians again American girls in the same natty blue uniformS-are now in the European theatre "maning" the Army's libraries and helping the G. I's who like to read make ap- propriate selections from the Ar my's vast supplies of books and magazines.
 In Europe, also, special services operates what are known as G. l. Tours. Enlisted men on furlough at Christmas time and officers on leave may spend their holidays travelling at Army expense to places of interest in France, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, England and Scotland, where they may have the opportunity to par ticipate in the native civilian Yule- tide festivities.
 In both the Pacific and European ! theatres the Christmas season IS
 expected to find a vastly accel- erated program of athletic, musical and dramatic events participated in by soldiers for their own amuse- ment and that of their buddies. Special athletic contests will be 1 planned. V-Discs-the Army,s own records-will bring Christmas mu- sic to the G. Is who may also en- gage their talents performing in orcheStras, dance bands and the like. Special services is now re- cruiting 70 young actresses, sing CTS, dancers and legitimate per formers, to go to the Pacific where they will play feminine roles in soldier shows. One hundred ac- tresses are similarly engaged at present with troops in Europe, Bel gium and Germany, where they will be active in this work through out the Christmas holidays. Hundreds of USO camp show performers will be in all foreign theatres of operation at Christmas time entertaining soldiers. A re- quest for more professional talent was recently made by General Douglas Macarthur, who pointed out that USO camp shows have contributed materially to the main- tenance of high morale among our troops.
 For the Pacific theatre alone, Major General Joseph w. Byron. director of Special Services Divi- sion, has asked for a total of 86 units of 1900 persons by Christmas or shortly thereafter. These will include 12 musical comedies, IS legitimate plays, 28 revues. 27 va- riety shows, 9 concert units. 6 Negro units, E hospital units and 3 sketch artists. In addition, many stars of stage. screen and radio will be touring overseas during the Christmas season.
 At present, there are 25S units E xEz