Meade County news., 1917-11-29
WAR DEPARTMENT
TO FORWARD GIFTS
Christmas Packages for Soldiers
in France Must Be in Ho-
bOken December 5.
REGULATIONS ARE EXPLAINED

ulliiNS VI TIE people us 10 just
how they may send parcels to the
members of the American expedition
ary forces In France has been caused
by the fact that the instructions pre-
pared by the post office department
have been given out in fragmentary
form, and that some of the early rules
have since been amended. To make
the matter entirely clear, the follow
ing official statement has been given
out by Otto Praeger, second assistant
postmaster general:
Parcel post for soldiers and civilians
connected with the American Epedition-
ary Forces in France, when carefully
packed and properly addressed. will be
accepted by all postmasters for direct
transmission through the mails. Such
parcels may weigh up to seven pounds.
Parcels for the soldiers and civilians
connected with the American EXpedi-
tionary Forces may contain anything
that is admissible to the domestic par
eel post except perishables which may
spoil ON the long journey to Europe.
Parcel post for the American EXpe-
ditionary Forces need not be packed in
wooden boxes. but should be carefully
packed in the strongest kind of paste
board box to assure Its safe arrival at
the front.
In addition to this parcel post service
to the troops the war department will
undertake to carry Christmas parcels
for the American Expedtionary Forces
provided such parcels are sent care
the Commanding General, Port of EN-
barkation, Pier I. Hoboken. New Jer-
sey," and are packed In wooden boxes
not more than two cubic feet in volume,
well strapped. and with a hinged or
screw top. Such Christmas boxes may
be sent to the Commanding officer, Port
of Embarkation. either by express or
through the mails. and must not exceed
20 pounds in weight. The army will in
spect the contents of each box and un-
dertake its delivery from Hoboken to
the addressee. The war department Will
receive Christmas packages up to De-
cember 9Th.
Parcel Post Limit Seven Pounds.
It will be noted that parcels weigh
ing seven pounds but no more can be
sent through the post Office department
all the way to France.
The twenty-pound parcels which are
intended for Christmas gifts and which
are to be delivered on Christmas day
are sent by the war department from
its port of embarkation at HOboken,
N. J.
Again in order to clear up previous
misunderstanding let 1t be said that
the parcel post packages up to seven
pounds in weight can be sent at any
time of the year to the soldiers In
France. The packages which the war
department will undertake to send are
Christmas packages only and they
must be at the port Of embarkation at
Hoboken, N. j., by December 5.
OF course the post office department
has been handling the smaller Christ
mas packages all the way through to
France, but In order to insure their de-
livery on Christmas morning 1t was
necessary to mall them by November
IS. However, the fact that the mailing
was too late for delivery on Christ
mas day does not mean that packages
cannot still be sent by parcel post.
They can be sent any day in the year
at the rate Of IL cents. for each pound
sent, and this rate holds from what
ever point in the United States the
package is sent.
How Packages Must Be Addressed.
Packages for the solCiers must be
addressed to the individual, with his
company and his regiment and then
must he added the words american
EXpeditionary Forces" 1t Is not nee
essary to add Il name of the country.
1t will be noted that in the instruc-
tiOns given above and prepared In the
second assistant postmaster generals
office nothing Is said specifically con-
cerning the kind of things which may
be sent to the soldiers and civilians
connected with the expeditiOnary
forces. 1t is perfectly proper to send
sugar, provided 1t is properly wrapped.
Matches must not be sent in any cir
cumstances. Neither must anything
tnflammable, except, of course, Ordl-
nary packing material, be included,
nor must there be any chemical or
fresh fruit in the packages. Candy
can go If properly protected from
mashing up and running other things
in the mail. Jars Of fruit properly
sealed and projected against break
age can be sent. Nothing of an ex-
plosive nature must be put into the
parcels.
1t is necessary that the parcel post
packages weighing up to seven
pounds shall be wrapped so that the
post Office authorities may examine
their contents. The rules for the
packages which the war department
sends are given explicitly in the above
official communication. 1t is desired
to accentuate the fact that parcels up
to seven pounds in weight can be sent
by ordinary parcel post at any time Of
the year, but that Christmas boxes
which are to go by the way Of the war
department at the address given above
will not be forwarded If they are re-
celved at Hoboken later than Decem-
ber 8.