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Show FRANCE REMEMBERS HER SOHSAT FRONT Folks at Home Also Stint Themselves to Send Gifts to the Soldiers PARIS Der 4 11 a m Christmas at the fron w be as cheerful and as com fortable as h Vve and self denial of we nigh every faml y 1 France can make it The sp r t of thoie at home Is not to give presents to one another but to un te and give a to the son father or brotler serving v. h the flag Many a fa n y n France probably will dine meagcrly ton ght and tomorrow be cause of the packages of soft woolen h ngu ana boxes of delicacies which have gone to the kinsmen at the front. Than here ars field glasses wrist watches s eeping bags and an amaslng variety of campaign services. The military adminls tratlon has been most considerate ln providing transports so all vans loaded with packages were among the long sup ply trains back of the army Many a lone soldier without family has received various packages of things from societies, and from the government. The ministry of war among other th ngs is sending a bottle of champagne for every four soldiers at the front All the plum puddings In the shops of Paris have been taken by the French military to send to the British soldiers The Belgian refugees especially the chll dren are being eo overfed that the com mlttees ln charge have postponed various dinners and entertainments so as to ex tend them over the next ten dais King Albert of Belgium has sent a box of twenty five cigars to each of the Bel gtan soldiers. The hospitals have ax ranged concerts recitations and etere-optlcon etere-optlcon programmes The American hospital Is bright with hoUy lime Polncare wife of the presl dent of France has sent 3000 packages of toys candy and clothing to 3000 Alsace-Lorraine Alsace-Lorraine children who T ve ln the terrl toriea reconquered by France The French government is delivering great quantities of packages from Ger many to prisoners of war For the most part they are useful things like blankets, underwear and woo en socks Similar de liveries it Is understood will be made by the German authorltlea to French prisoners While the men actually ln the trenches will have to maintain the same strained alertness that they observe every day and while there doubtless will be fierce fighting at certain points on Tie front, yet from 1500 to 2000 yards back of the infantry firing line arrangements have been made for plenty of Jollity which will include a chicken dinner and champagne to drink with it- New Tear's day is a greater holiday in France than is Christ mas and It the ml itary situation permits 1 General Joffre the French commander in chief wi 1 give orders that so diers serving in the trenches tomorrow will not have to be there for the first day of the new year Where the French and German trenches are close together there may be brief un official agreements for short periods of Ime. These understand ngs have no been unknown on other days and they maj be more frequent on Christmas daj It is like y that at midnight open air masses will be ce ebrated at many places back of the lines upon rough altars In Paris the gay midnight supper party will not; be seen Instead the people will be in 'church at m dnight mass. The churches never before have been so full within the memory of the city Nowa days at every service early or late the sacred edlf ces are crowded |