Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-17
EARLY HOLIDAY BUYING
BY AMERICAN SOLDIERS
Members OF Forces in Franco Do
Christmas Shopping in Time to
Get Presents Across.
rosT.oTFICE TACKLES BIG JoR
Orercomcs Almost lnsurmountab,c
Obstacles In Efforts to Provide
Quick and Efficient Delivery or
Huge Quantity Of Mail Matter.

lCorrespondenc of the Associated Press,
PARlS. November l1.-.American sol,
diers and sailors in France did ,b.;.
CHRISTMAS shopping carly Thousands,
CT packages containing Christmas gin.
many OF them with the admonition
Please do not open before Christmas"
nave poured into the army post Offices
in France for delivery in America. .rha
SIZE and shape OF the packages indi.
cate that the gifts included cverythinr
from women's hats to- childrcn's TOYS
BESIDES handling this vast OUTGOING
business. the United States Army most
once In France, with Headquarters In
faris. made arrangements for tho re-
ccipt and delivery OF the great bu,k
or gifts and mall matter to be sent
TO tho members OF the American or
pcditionary forces during the holiday
season. An effort was made 10 deliver
not later than Christmas morning all
mall matter received In France bcfor.
Christmas Day. Attempts will even he
made TO send Christmas boxes to ,ha
boys in the front line.
Inc army post-oflicc overcamc alnoa,
insurmountable obstacles in its effort.
TO provide a quick and efficient do.
livery Of mail matter. When war va.
declared tho Post-Onice Department in
washington immediately formulated
plans for establishing American post
Offices In Franco. Specially selected
clerks from the railway mall scryic.
and tho Post-Ofice Department were
sent across with the first troops. There
arc at present eleven branches OF tho
army post-ofiices in France, and tho
number will be increased as necessity
requires
MAIL TO FRANCE IS SLOW;
FOURTEEN DAYS IN TRANSIT
Mail cannot be delivered in France
with the speed and accuracy to which
tho public is accustomed in tho United
States. Sailing dates are frequently
postponed one. two or three days and
the mail must walt The average time
for crossing the Atlantic is from ten
TO fourteen days and mail forwarded
by transports takes even longer.
Army mail from tho United States
Is sorted by regiments ard companies
i'll New York and Chicago Offices. where
the sacks are scaled and forwarded to
France. Mail arriving in France.
properly addressed is in the hands of
the addresses within three days after
its arrival at port
When mail is Incorrectly or illegibly
addressed. every effort IS made to To-
cate the person for whom II il intend
ed. 1t Is sent first TO the headquarters
o! the branch OF the service to which
the addrcssee belongs and il returned
as unknown" II Is incorporated In tho
list OF advertised letters" The army
is preparing a list showing the name
and location of every soldier in France.
and this list will be placed AT the d.a-
posal Of the Post-Ofice Department as
soon as /. is completed.
The army postal service is supplying
the same facilities for the transaction
OF money order business as are found
in the United States. The use Of stamps
by soldiers on letters to the United
States has been discontinued by con-
gressional enactment granting them
free postage on written communica-
tons. Packages. however, require
postage OF the domestic rate.