The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-01-24
POSTAGE STAMP
IS USED FOR
THE DEAD
Swiss Mail Service Adopts a
Mourning Stamp in Notify
ing Families of Deaths.

/ bchNf., SWllLCllhLus
There is one small postage stamp, with
black border and the single word:
"decede" dead; which represents
greater tragedy than any battle in the
present war. 1t is the stamp used by
the international mail service, con-
Quoted by the Swiss government, be-
tween the prisoners Of war Of all ma
tions and their families. on letters
directed 10 soldiers who have fallen at
the front or died in hospitals.
A large table is piled high with these
letters, each bearing the fatal stamp
decide" This is but one mail, and
each days mail piles the table again.
They are to families in England, Ger
many, France, Turkey, Austria, Japan
the entire range Of fighting countries
for Switzerland has taken over the
entire work Of administering this mail
service between families and their men
at the front
For small country II is an enor-
nous work that Switzerland has thus
assumed. bearing the entire expense
without a penny's charge to anyone.
Located right in the heart Of the car
mage, with the fighting nations on
every side, Switzerland is peculiarly
placed for effectively carrying on this
humanitarian work. 1t is like the
diplomatic work which the United
States assumed for the different coun-
tries, but the MAGNITUDE Of the work
is probably greater owing TO the vast
ness Of these daily mails between all
the fighting countries. And yet Switz-
erland does this work simply and
without noise, and few know Of the
extent of the undertaking.
Accompanied by Secretary Breny OF
the postofiice department, who is in
direct charge Of the work, the Assoc
lated Press representative saw its
many branches of activity in full oper-
alton. Even the big general postottice
of Switzerland was not adequate to
carry on this International work, and
the huge gymnasium was brought
into service. Here the
Trapezes and Flying Rings
have been looped to the side walls.
along with rows of Indian clubs and
dumb bells, giving free open space
for the enormous influx Of soldier mail.
Long trains Of mail-vans are at the
door, and some thirty to fifty wagon
loads of this mail are handled daily
letters to oBmbay for Turkish prison.
ers there by the English, or to Nagas-
aki, Japan, for German prisoners held
there by Japan, as well as the nearby
transmission between France, Ger
many, England. Austria, Italy. Bull
garia, Serbia, Belgium, etc.,
A great pile of German mail had just
come in, an dthe bags were stacked up
on the floor.
%Here Is something curious" said
one of the officials. turning to the Ger
man mail-bags, "you will notice they
are made of paper-yes. paper mail
lbags. Usually mail-bags are very
stout, Of leather or heavy canvas. But
lately we have noticed the Germans
arc using paper for their bags. 1t
means a big saving on their hemp.
and the bags are strong and service
able"
Taking a knife, one Of the paper
mail bags was cut, showing great re-
sistance. 1t appeared to be new
quality of paper. with fibre almost like
the mesh Of cloth, but Enthusiastically
paper.
ut is remarkable" said an onlook-
err, chow the Germans get up a SER
viceable substitute as soon as they
run out Of any article
Another Curious Fact.
Here is another curious and sig
niflcant fact" said the official in
charge of the gymnasium mails. He
held up large card, foot square,
on which he had placed twenty-one
samples Of rope and Irvine.
"Those show the ingenious substt-
tutes the Germans are now using for
ordinary rope and twine," said he.
The samples were from various mail
bundles from Germany. They ranged
in size from small-size rope, about
one-eighth inch thick to ordinary
string. None Of the twenty-one
4