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Page 16
POSTMASTER EDWARDS
DOES BIG BUSINESS
Special Arrangements Made to
Handle Christmas Rush. Forty
Men on the Jump.
If your Christmas mail is delayed, do
not blame Camp Postmaster J. J. Ed
wards.
Probably the busiest spot in all Camp
Hancock—and there are many of them—is
at the long building on Pennsylvania ave
nue, near the old cavalry infirmary.
Just across the street from the post of
fice is a large tent and Saturday after
noon a large force of men were singing
and hammering at the same time, build
ing a floor for the accommodation of
surplus mail. This is but proof of Mr.
Edwards' foresight and his desire tp get
the Christmas mail into the hands of the
soldiers as promptly as possible. It is an
emergency tent and if the main building is
overcrowded with* packages from home,
the new tent will be used.
Under normal conditions, there are
twenty-nine civilian employees at the
camp postoffice. Ten extra men will be
added for the Christmas rush and as
many more as may be neccessary.
On Thank-giving Day, there were more,
than 3,000 sacks of mail received at the
camp postoffice and Mr. Edwards expects
this record will be exceeded greatly when
the bulk of the Christmas packages ar
rive. Nineteen trucks of 160 sacks each
nude their way from the Augusta post
office to the camp postoffice on Thanks
giving Dav. and this will give some con
ception of' the enormous quantity of let
ters, post cards, packages, special deliv
ery letters to be sorted and placed in
the proper regimental pouches.
There will be no holiday at the camp
postoffice. The windows will be open for
all forms of business from 8 o'clock to
!> in the evening. Six boys are. employed
for the despatch of special deb very let
ters, four with automobiles, one with a
motorcycle and one on foot, the latter
trklrg the nearer letters.
One man does nothing but care for the
poorly directed mail —a rd there is plenty
of it,' although Mr. Edwards says cond’-
tlmys have improved greatly since the
first month of the camp. The loss of
perlshab'e goods has been reduced more
th in 75 ner cent because of better wrap
ping ard more expeditious delivery. This
lias been made possible by the Statistical
Department of Division Headquarters,
which has a special room in the postoffice
building, in which eight to ten orderlies
are employed constantly. The depart
ment is in charge of Lieutenant Charles
E Sohl and whenever the address or
name of a soldier is in doubt, reference
is made to the card index of the division,
where every man’s name is kept for quick
reference. , ... „
Each month, the camp re
ceives ard forwards from $250,000 to $300,-
000 in money orders. This is in addition
to the thousands of dollars sent home
through the Y. M. C. A. and other
agencies in the camp. At the present
time, the postoffice is receiving money
for the bovs in camp, the folks back home
giving the r sons cash instead Os presents
in many cases. .
Recently; there have.been annoying de
lays in receiving the mail, all the trains
beirg from seven to ten hours late. Ihe
Atlantic Coast Line is the principal car
rier and the two trains daily are away
behind time. An Augustan returned from
New York a few days ago and his tram
was eighteen hours late. This abnormal
condition is due to the congestion on the
roads and the influx of travel at this
season of the year.
Mails are despatched from the camp
postoffice twice daily—at 1:30 a. m., for
the 2:15 train, and at 1:30 p. m„ for the
2:45 -train.
CHRISTMASEVE
IN AUGUSTA
Camp Hancock soldiers who go to Au
gusta on Christmas Eve will be deeply
interested in the program arranged, for
the community Christmas tree celebra
tion The band of the 107th Field Ar
tillery. which lias made quite a hit in
Augusta, will play several selections and
Christmas carols will be sung from a
screen erected against the Abion hotel.
Mr. Tebbs, the Army Y. M. C. A. chorus
director, will have charge of the singing.
It is quite probable that Mrs. Riheldaffer,
a noted soloist of Pittsburg, who is tour
ing the camps for the Fosdick Commis
sion and was at Camp Hancock last
week, will be heard in a solo. The men
of the camp are invited cordially to at
tend the exercise-j*vhich will take place
at the Monument Broad street,
DON’T SWEAR
Please don’t swear; there may be a
gentleman present.
This motto is to be found at several
places in the camp,> and some men have
cards bearing the same, which they pass
to a fellow who uses improper language.
A similar sentiment is attributed to Gen
eral Grant, who was sitting in His tent
with his staff present when an officer
entered and. after glancing around, said:
“There are no ladies present and 1 have
a good story to tell."
General Grant interrupted, saying “But
there are some gentlemen present."
The story was not told.
A few davs ago a young soldier in re
buking another for profanity, said to him:
“There are a lot of fellows in this camp
that cannot cuss without swearing." This
seems to be a truism.
There are many of us who thoughtless
ly use blasphemous language and swear
and cuss without meaning it, who would
be much surprised if our language were
reproduced on. a phonograph record and
played for our benefit. “Clean Sport,
Clean Speech and Clean Habits” is a good
motto for any’ of us.
MARRIED.
Lieutenant Kirtland Adams of Bat
tery C, 109th Field Artillery, of Nan
ticoke, Pa., and Miss Jessie Arnold, one
of Lebanon’s charming young 4vomen,
were married last August. The ro
mance began during the summer en
campment of the regiment at Mt. Gret
na during the summer of 1915. Favors,
please, lieutenant. Thank you!
TRENCH AND CAMP
A CHRISTMAS HYMN
! I
I hi
llj Ji |ji I' ww- '•
Si ' HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS
! SING.
nffigraHi Hark! The Herald angels sing w R
UmwßH "Glory to the new-born King”;
|®j||| 1 Peace on earth and mercy mild; ||| & ||||
I ’ffl||lis|| God and sinners reconciled.
!i jllm Joyful all ye nations rise, P 111
Wffllfi Join the triurn in the skies; | I
With angelic hosts proclaim: I I
“Christ is born in Bethlehem.” • ji
It!f1 Hark! the herald angels sing; II th
IIIIHII’IM “Glory to the new-born King.”
11l i»jJ " lit®
l||n|||fi Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace; ’HI
MbIhIIII Hail the Son of Righteousness, I |i l|
i ||!||| 1 J" Light and life to all He brings,
L jl' ylgr Risen with healing in His wings,
lh I ’ Mild He lays His glory by, . I
Hili hl I* Born that men no more may die; ill
l|(li ill! Bojti to raise the sons of earth, | |
|ll| EXI | Born to give them second birth. j| JR
Ujfjil I Hark! the herald angels sing;
hWpk fi "Glory to the new-born King.” jl|y
111 ii ‘ IS
SAMMIES WILL NOT
EXCHANGE GREETINGS
Christmas With the American
Troops in France. Holiday if
Germans Don’t Get Excited.
There will be no holiday trench fra
ternizing between Fritz and Sammy
op the American front this Christmas.
Fritz may try it, but he won’t get far.
This came officiary from the war de
partment.
When Fritz pokes his seductive little
Yuletide trees up over the trench to
pin the American section they will get
the same dose the Tommies and Poilus
gaev them last year when they shot
them to pieces as fast as they ap
peared.
There 'will be no American reply to
Fritz’s bellowed greetings, either.
Guns Wilt Answer.
"When he roars his gutterals across
No Man’s Land, the Sammies will let
their guns answer him. With the pic
ture of their first killed and wounded
fresh in mind, it is considered unlikely
by war department officials that the
American boys will so much as counte
nance a lull in the firing Christmas
eve or Christmas day-
With broad hints of a peace offer
trickling through from Amsterdam, it
is considered cei’tain the Boche will
evince a desire to be friendly during
the holidays. But the only present
Sammy has for Fritz is a lot of nice.
Christmas explosives, which will not
only be delivered to the Teuton via
gunpowder, but also opened up and
scattered around among him lavishly.
Sammy’s only Christmas greeting to
him will be “fight” and all his Christ
mas visits will be paid with the point
of his bayonet preceding him.
Then efor Business.
“Primarily.” said the official decla
ration at the war department today,
“there is no spirit of fraternization
among our troops. They are there for
business, not pleasure.
“Then, too, our command in France
is in very close touch with the French.
They understand that situation thor
oughly and know precisely how to deal
with it.
“If it is found advisable to make it
clear to the American troops that no
tinge of comradeship is to be shown
in the holiday week fighting. General
Pershing might issue a general order,
but it is not believed this will be ne
cessary.”
General Pershing has proclaimed
Christmas and New’ Year’s Day holi
days. The orders said that no work is
to b eperformed on the two holidays
that is not absolutely essential.
DR. HESSBECOMES '
OFFICIAL LECTURER
Rev. William Milton Hess, Ph. D.,
who for several months was building
secretary at Hut No. 79, and who went
to New York City a few days ago, has
been assigned to the Eastern depart
ment and will visit all the camps for
the purpose of lecturing among the
men on why we are at war. Dr. Hess
contributed some articles to Trench
and Camp recently, in which he set
forth his views, and these will be the
basis of his instructional talks <•£»-
where.
HANCOCK RED CROSS
DOES NOT CHARGE
Field Director Makes Emphatic
Denial. Submits Division Me
morandum As Proof.
In reply to a statement that a rumor
was being circulated in Augusta that
the Red Crosfi society in the camps
was charging the soldiers for sweaters
and other woolen garments, Field Di
rector William C. Denny of the Camp
Hancock branch, most emphatically
declared such statement to be untrue,
and in proof of his assertion, submit
ted the following memorandum, issued
in October, when Brigadier General
Price ‘was in command:
Headquarters Twenty-eighth Division,
Camp Hancock, Augusta, Georgia.
October 15, 1917.
MEMORANDUM.
The following is published for the
information and guidance of all Com
manding Officers:
It having been charged that Red
Cross supplies, to-wit: sweaters and
other woolen garments, have been il
legally sold to soldiers of the 28th Di
vision—all Company Commanders will
make diligent inquiry and immediately
report to Division Headquarters or
William C. Denny, Field Director Camp
Service, American Red Cross. Camp
Hancock, the name of any soldier who
has purchased a sweater or any other
woolen garment or any Red Cross sup
plies from any person representing
himself or herself to be a representa
tive or agent of the American Red
Cross, together with the name of such
person selling such article, the price
paid therefor, and the time and place
of such Scilc
Red Cross supplies ARE NOT SOLD
to soldiers, but will be GIVEN to them
upon proper requisition, approved by
Division Headquarters, and all soldiers
are required to report to their Com
pany Commanders any attempt to sell
them such supplies.
By command of Brigadier General
Price:
David J. Davis, Lieut. Col., Division
Adjutant.
New Director
For Camp Theatre
With the arrival of G. H. Thomas in
camp last week, there is a new man
ager at the tent of the Fosdick Com
mission, known familiarly as the Red
path tent. Heheafter the amusement
tent on the Wrightsboro Road will be
known as "Liberty Tent.” This is the
official name to be used in all . the
camps and cantonments for the thea
ters, tents and auditoriums.
Mr. Thomas is an experienced man
ager in the theatrical profession and
succeeds W. G. Holden, who returns to
his duties with the Redpath Bureau as
contract manager. It is the intention
to have attractions in Liberty Tent
three to four nights each week and Mr.
Hhomas is planning to make the tent
more comfortable by installing two ad
ditional stoves.
On Thursday night, the Navy Girls
will be the attraction and "will remain
for a few days. They were stars with
Gilbert & Sullivan’s Mikado Company
land present a mixed program.
Dec. 24, 1917.
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS :
DISTRIBUTE PACKAGES
Services Christmas Morning’.
Building Being Painted. Fine
Band Concert.
BY R. J .McGREEVY, JR.
The advent of the Christmas season
has reflected it’s accompanying in
crease of correspondence ct Knights
of Columbus building at Camp Han
cock in a realistic fashion. The de
luge of packages containing every
thing from souvenirs of the Southland
to jewelry and precious stones has
steadily increased with the approach
ing festival. On Thursday of last
week, over 3,000 pieces of mail were
left at the building for mailing. Nor
is the remembrance of the occasion
restricted to the soldiers themselves.
Over 200 packages have been mailed
in care of the Knights of Columbus for
distribution to various parts of the
camp. Some apparently are filled with
6 .od things to eat; others contain
some articles of comfort, and still
others represent merely the inter
change of presents which is custo
mary under usual conditions. Volun
teer help has assisted in the distri
bution of the packages, and has great
ly lessened the labor which the hand
ling of this work would otherwise 1
entail.
Extensive preparations are being made
for the entertainment of the soldiers
during the coming Christmas week,
and no effort is being spared that
would tend to produce this result.
Elaborate programs have been arrang
ed for each evening of-the week; the
hall has been decorated to comfort
with the spirit of the feast in as much
as it is possible, and the atmosphere of
“home” has been cultivated in every
phase of the arrangements. Services
will be held practically every half hour
Christmas morning, and if present
plans are passible a midnight mass
will be celebrated on Christmas eve.
The weekly program of ■ entertain
ment was carried through without ex
ception. On Monday evening, the 112th
Infantry Band, rendered a much ap
preciated concert to a large attendance.
It seems that no matter how much of
it he may hear, the average soldier
never loses his liking for music, and
the brand of music, which the 112th
Band, under Leader Miller puts forth,
only tends to accentuate his appre
ciation of music in general.
On Tuesday evening, entertainers
from Augusta gave a concert which
received continued applause from the
men. Several soloists of merit; mu
sicians of exceptional talent, and the
spirit which marks such entertain
ments, all made to the success of this
evening production. In response to
encores, the vocalists led the men in
the singing of popular songs.
On ’Thursday evening the weekly
boxing contests were held, and some
interesting bouts were staged. Jackie
Clark made his first ring appearance
in tbe building in an exhibition bout.
Jackie has arranged a novelty bout for
the near future, in which he is to box
five men. one after the other. He has
challenged any men in the camp to
avail themselves of this offer. Matt
Gorman officiated as referee.
During the week painting on the
building was begun and it will soon
appear in its new imitation brick garb.
Work on the building in the artillery
section is also being pushed forward,
and it is hoped will soon be completed.
GIFTS FOR SOLDIERS
We have received at the Y. M. C._A. a
number of tokens for soldiers at Camp
Hancock and these will be distributed
from our various buildings, as the donors
suggest. Most of the packages are
marked, “For Friendless Soldiers,’ and so
far as possible, they will be sent to this
class of men.
4mong the gifts was an attractive scrap
book compiled by the eighth grade
school children of Donora, fa. The book
contains a well arranged and very com
prehensive array of poems and articles on
the war. besides a number of clever draw- ,
ings. It reflects great credit on the teach
er and her pupils.
One of the appreciated gifts was a box
containing twenty Christmas fruit cakes,
done up in unusually neat packages.- The
cakes were made by the girlsl do
mestic science department of the hittn
Avenue High School. Pittsburg, and were
addressed to friendless soldiers. It is tne
intention to have these cakes sent to the
men in quarantine?
NEW FRENCH INSTRUCTOR.
Prof. W. T. Turk of Athens. Ga., has
assumed supervision of French instruc
tion for the Y. M. C. A. at Camp Han
cock and is on the job making a sur
vey of conditions and setting up seve
ral new classes.
Professor Turkis a graduate of the
University of Georgia, where he later
taught French and Spanish for several
vears. and last year took a special
course in those languages at Columbia
University. He has lived in France,
where he made a critical study of the
language and is well qualified to super
vise the work at Camp Hancock.
At the present time his assistants
are Mme. PtEhaud and Miss Hill, who
have given a great deal of time to the
work. Professor Turk would like the
assistance o' additional instructors.
The warm wave arrived just in time.
! Wood ard coal supplies, so far as the
I fellows were ednesmed, were nearly ex-
J hausted.