Show START TALE AROUT FURLOUGH CHRISTMAS War Department Plans Making Camp Joyful at Holiday Time V WASHINGTON ASHINGTON D. D C. C D Dec c. c 1 There I.-There There I will be bo no general Christmas furlough I Ifor I for the boys in the cant cantonments and training camps Parents and soldiers should adjust their Christmas plans on this basis A story the source source of which the war department has Jias as been unable to locate has been widely circulated to the ef effect effect effect ef- ef that the camps would be virtually vacated during th the holidays The story said that both officers and men would be given general furlough furlough furlough fur fur- lough over Christmas week It is believed this story is part of deliberate pro-German pro propaganda circulated to boost hopes of both soldier soldie boys arid and their relatives and friends friend friend with the idea that discontent discontent discontent dis dis- dis- dis content and dissatisfaction would follow follow fol fol- fol- fol Ilow low when it developed there would be beI beno beno I no Christmas furlough I The war department will go the limit in attempting to make the Christmas holidays a bright period in training camp life Ufe Transportation is in itself t a barrier to any general general furlough plan as railroads railroads railroads rail rail- roads had the work of transporting men to the camps spread out over several several several sev sev- I eral weeks in order that the heavy traffic could be handled To attempt to handle this soldier traffic two ways from from camp to home and back to camp during camp during the crowded Christmas week would be impossible I Then to attempt a general Christmas Christmas Christmas Christ Christ- mas furlough would disrupt the en entire entire entire en- en tire schedule of training and of movements movements movements move move- ments of troops to France for at move least two weeks at a time when every day dayis I is valuable I On either of these counts the plan I is called wholly Impossible Commanders at the various camps I however will have authority to grant the greatest possible freedom to the themen themen I men during the holiday to period-to en enjoy enjoy enjoy en- en joy entertainments and Christmas festivities festivities fes fes- fes- fes that may be offered by the II communities near which the camps are located Soldiers s 's whose homes are near the camps in which they are training may mayb maybe maybo b bo be granted leave at the discretion of the camp commanders Within the camps themselves Christmas Christmas Christmas Christ Christ- mas will be observed by special amusements amusements amuse amuse- I ments and entertainments and facilities ties will be provided for prompt distribution distribution dis dis- dis I I of gifts gits and delicacies sent to the men II |