Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1918-10-11
POSTOFFICE DEPARTMENT
ISSUED RULES WHICH
MUST BE OBSERVED
TO THE LETTER
ONLY ONE TO A SOLDIER
Must BE Sent Early to Insure
Delivery-Red Cross Must
Issue Carton and EX-
anime Contents

postmaster Genefal burlesOn' ho
doubt, would be mighty glad if he
could supply the ships to convey to
the boys "over there" all the Christ
mas gifts that loving relatives and
friends in America will be desirous Of
sending. II will be impossible, how
ever, TO oven attempt it.
On the contrary, the postofIice de-
partment finds il necessary to place a
very small limit OIL the size Of the
Christmas package that the soldier in
the American EXpeditionary Force
may receive. 1t must not be larger
than 3 in. by in. by Q in., and each
soldier will he limited to one package,
so that in case more than one person
wishes to send gifts TO the same sol
der they must club together and put
all gifts in the same package. All
packages must be forwarded not later
than November 20.
A new duty devolves upon the Red
Cross in the Christmas package ruling
of the pOstoffice department, which
will be understood better by reading
the Order to Postmasters, which is
printed in full below: I
Christmas Parcels for American Ex.
pcditiOnary Forces in Europe
October 5, 1918.
The War Department is dcsirous
that each man serving in the Ameri-
can EXpeditionary Forces in Europe
shall receive 4 remembrance from
home al Christmas time, and advises
that because of transportation and
distribution difficulties but one parcel
of STANDARD! size and weight can be
sent TO each. To this end arrange
ments have been made with the War
Department whereby Christmas par
cells may be mailed to members of the
American EXpeditionary Forces in
Europe under the following condi-
tions:
|. Each soldier or other member Of
the American EXpeditionary Forces in
Europe will be allowed to receive one
Christmas parcel for which purpose
he will he furnished, through army
channels, q christmas Parcel Label,
bearing the correct name and address
of the soldier or member and also the
name of the person designated to mail
the parcel. The labels will be pre-
pared to serve as address labels Tor
the parcels. The label furnished each
soldier or other member of the AM
erican Expeditionary Forces will be
sent by him to the person who is to
mail the Christmas parcel. No Christ
mas parcel for members of the Expe-
dictionary Forces in Europe will be ac-
cepted for transmission without such
label
= 2. All Christmas parcels must be OF
standard size, 3 inches by 4 inches by
0 inches, and shall not exceed 3 pounds
in weight for which purpose cartons
of the size prescribed will be distribu-
ted through the local Red Cross Chap
ters throughout the country. No per-
son will he furnished carton except
upOn presentation Of q christmas
Parcel Label" received from abroad.
3. The parcels must contai n no pro-
hibited or unavailable articles. Per
ishable food products are not permit
ted. al,
4. After the cartons have heen filled
by the persons who receive them, they
shall be returned to Red Cross re-
ceiving station where inspectors ap-
pointed by the Red Cross will care
fully examine each parcel and super
wise It's wrapping and the affiXing OIL
the christmas Parcel Label" and the
necessary postage stamps, the latter
to he furnished by the sender OF tne
parcel. When the parcels have thus
been packed and wrapped and other
wise prepared for transmission, the
Red Cross will affiX to each parcel
certificate in the form of seal show
ing that the parcel has been inspect
ed and contains no prohibited or un-
mailable matter. Such certificates
will be accepted by the Postal Service
and Army authorities as evidence that
the parcels conform 20 the conditions
prescribed and Obviate the necessity
of subsequent examination. The par
cells must br left at the Red Cross re
ceiving stations which will deposit
them in the mails for dispatch.
). Christmas parcels must bear the
lame and address Of the sender and
will be addressed substantially Us fol-
lows:
sChristmas Box Department, Port OF
EmbarkatiOn. HObOken, New jersey,
FOr.........-............-.......
n~r-,,s1ofinp o.. =