Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-10-15
Christmas Packages for Soldiers.

Every American soldier In Q foreign
land will be permitted TO receive one
package containing Christmas gifts from
The United States.
Relatives and friends, who are plan
ming to make Christmas for the soldiers
ia the war zones as merry as conditions
will permit, should bear in mind that
each soldier is entitled to but one of
these packages. The War Department
will not accept more than one parcel for
each man. II Is expected that approx
mately 1000. 900 Of the packages will be
sent abroad and the amount Of shipping
space provided for their transportation
will not permit OF any deviation from
the "One-psrcel-a man rule"
The men themselves will decide who
10 TO send these parcels. They are now
receiving Christmas parcel labels, With
instructions to mail these labels TO the
person 10 this country from whom they
wish TO receive the holiday boz. To
avoid any chance Of duplication, each
soldier gets but one of these labels.
Packages that do not bear these labels
will not be accepted. In the event of
this label being lost IL cannot be re-
placed. No Christmas parcels will be
accepted for shipment after Nov. Is.
The cardboard boxes, or cartons, TO be
provided for these parcels are 3x4x9
inches In size. When packed, wrapped
and ready for mailing these boxes must
not weigh more than three pounds.
The American Red Cross has agreed
TO provide these cardboard boxes and 10
supervise their distribution TO relatives
of the soldiers who present the proper
Christmas parcel label credeutisl. The
distribution Of the cartons will be made
by Red Cross branches throughout the
country. II will be incu bent upon the
person receiving one Of these boxes to
return II when filed, but unwrspped, to
the collection point designate by the
Red Cross. Here IL will be inspected by
Red Cross inspectors authorized to ex
clude any articles barred by the postal
authorities, after which the box will be
shipped. In short, the Red Cross 10
responsible for the distribution, receipt
at designated points, the inspection and
mailing of the boxes.
The following is an outline OF the
procedure to be followed by persons
planning to send one Of these parcels
abroad.
On receiving one of these Christmas
parcel labels It should be presented At
the nearest chapter, branch or auxiliary
headquarters Of the Red Gross, where
the holder will receive carton. These
labels are not expected to reach this
country before Nov I, but by that time
each Red Cross branch will have Its
allotment of boxes based on the number
of soldiers in service overseas from that
community.
These boxes may be filed with any
combination OF articles, except those on
the list barred by the postal officials.
When the package has been packed 1t
should be taken, unwrspped and IN
sealed, together with the label and SUN
Gent stamps to the nearest collection
center designated by the Red Gross
After the package has passed the inspec-
ton of the Red Cross representatives, rs
TO contents and weight, and been wrap
ped In stout paper, the Christmas label
bearing the address of the man for
whom 1t 10 intended, 10 placed on It..
The person sending the package, In the
presence Of the Red Cross worker, 10
required to sfix stamps sufficient to
carry II to Hoboken, N. j. The postal
charges are to be at the rate of fourth
class or parcel post znne rate. A label
certifying that the inspection has been
completed by the Red Cross 10 placed on
the package, which 10 left In the custody
OF the Red Cross until delivered to the
postal authorities.