The Springdale news., 1917-10-12
SOLDIERS CHRISTMAS MAIL.

ing Christmastide to our military, na- val and eivilain forces abroad, who will undoubtedly be the recpients of numerous gifts from friends and rel atives at home, the Post Office De- partments interested Tn me welfare and comfort of the men on foreign soil has made special arrangements to effect timely delivery of all Christ mas parcels addressed to the Ameri- can EXpeditionary Forces overseas.
 In order that the Department may realize it's cherished purpose to place in the hands of the absent ones these tokens of friendship and esteem on Christmas morning, patrons of the postal service are requested to faith fully comply with the simple postal re- quirements outlined hereafter. With out the hearty cooperation of mailers this extraordinary service can not be adequately performed
 Preparation of Parcels for Mailing
 Owing to the unusual distance this mail must be transported, the handl ing and the storage it must undergo, il Is absolutely necessary that all par eels be covered with wrappers of suf- fcient strength not only to resist pres sure of other mail contained in the sacks in which it will be inclosed, but to withstand the weight of other sacks .pf mail. which in the long transit may be pded thereon. Furthermore, owing to the fact that the contents of each parcel must be scrutinzed before leaving the United States, to obviate delay. due to censorship, the covering thereof should be so secured as to ad- nit of ready inspection of the contents of the parcel
 Many combination packages will probably be made up, including mis- eellaneous toilet articles. candies, soaps, etc The contents of such packages should be tightly bound, in order that the several larticles-n not be loosened in transit, damaging the parcel itself or causing damage to the covering of the parcel. Soldiers Christmas boxes should be inelosed in subtantial containers. Candies in thin pasteboard boxes should be inclosed in wood, tin, or corrugated pasteboard. Sealed packages of candy. cigars, to- bacco and toilet articles in simplest mercantile form may be inelosed with in parcels without affecting the par cel-post classification of such pack ages. Sharp-pointed or sharp p-edged instruments, such as raZors, knives, etc, must have their points or edges protected so they can not cut through their coverings and damage other mail or iniure postal employees. Cakes, nlum buildings, similar delieacies should be packed in substantial tin containers, or equally resistant recep- tacles, whether sent as separate pack ages or inclosed with other matter in ! combination package.
 How to Address Pareels.-Rarcels n4rst be fully, correctly and legibly ad- dressed and eonspicaously marked CHRISTMAS MAIL" The address sees company, reeiment or other or eaaization followed by the words American Exneditionary Forces, , should appear in the address. In the upper eft corner #tha name and ad- dress q the sender must be placed. The superscription should be written in ink. In case a tae is used. the name aad address Of the sender aad ad- dressea should also be written on the wrapper Of the parcel for Hse should ehe tag become detached.
 Postage. All parcels must be fully prepaid ny stamps affixed, at the Sth zone rato of postage or 12 cents for each pound or fraction Patrons are cautioned against placing RED CROSS stamps CT stiekers other than postage stamps, on the address side If mail matter, as such matter Is thereby rendered nnmailable In the use of Christmas stickers= care should be taken not to seal the parcels there with. as sealed parcels are Qnmail- able at the fourth-class rate of post aee. which neeessitates their being re turned or held for postage, thus caus- ing delay and possible disappointment. Pasters or stickers which resemble potage stamps are not permissible on the outside of any mail matter.