Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1918-10-11
Rules For Sending Gifts Overseas.

One Christmas parcel only will be al
lowed to be sent each soldier the coming
holiday season. according to plans of Off
cials of the War Department, the Post
office Department and the American Red
Cross, who last Monday announced regu-
lations governing the shipment of gifts to
army men in service overseas. The Navy
Department has separate arrangement
to enable men in that branch Of the ser
vice on duty abroad to obtain holiday
boxes from loved ones at home.
Official instructions for sending Christ
mas boxes to soldiers overseas follow:
only one parcel will be accepted by the
War Department through the Red Cross
for each soldier overseas.
mo Christmas parcel will be accepted
by the Red Cross for shipment after No
vember 20. Keep this fact in mind when
planning merry Christmas for the boys
over there
Each soldier will be provided with one
Christmas parcel label. This label will be
forwarded by him to the person in the
United States from whom he wishes to re-
ceive his Christmas package. Packages that
do not bear this label will not be accepted
by the Red Cross for delivery to the post
office authorities. Labels that are lost
will not be duplicated.
Christmas parcels must be placed in
cardboard boxes three inches by four inches
by nine inches in size. These boxes will
be provided to holders of labels by the
American Red Cross. They may be OBJ
tanned at Red Cross chapters or branches
after November 1.
with each box will be given complete
instruction regarding the articles which
may be sent, and list Of articles which
are barred by the postal authorities. Study
these instructions and avoid mistakes. No
message or written material of any kind
will be allowed to 60 in the boxes. When
the boxes are packed. but unwrapped, they
must not weigh more than two pounds
fifteen ounces. If the parcel is over weight,
some article must be removed.
DO not put pershable food soft candy.
liquids or anything in glass containers in
the package if you wish it to reach its
destination with the other contents I'M
spoiled.
DO not mail the box yourself. When
packed, the box should be taken to the
nearest collection station designated by
the Red Cross, unsealed and unwrapped
ready for inspection. Red Cross represen-
tativcs are authorized to remove objection
able articles from parcels. Shippers will
then affix sufficient postage on their par
GELS to carry them to Hoboken, N. ].
Parcel post zone rates will be charged.
The parcels are to remain in custody of
the Red Cross until delivered to the postal
authorities"
The Navy Department has issued the
following instructions regarding the ship
ping of Christmas packages to sailors in
home waters and abroad:
Packages forwarded by parcel post for
men in the Navy must comply with the
postal regulations and should be inclosed
in substantial boxes with hinged or screw
top cover to facilitate opening and inspect
ing
All boxes shipped by express are limited
to twenty pounds in weight. should meas
ure not more than two cubic feet in volume
be of wood, well strapped and have a
hinged or screw-top to facilitate opening
and inspecting.
All mail matter should be addressed as
now prescribed by the postal regulations.
All express packages should be forwarded
in care of supply officer. feet supply base.
29th street and 3rd avenue. South Brook
Ign, N Y.
No perishable food product other than
those in cans or glass jars should be packed
in parcel post or express shipments.
All packages must be plainly marked
with the name and address of the sender.
together with notation indicating the ma
ture of the contents, such as Christmas
box" or Christmas present"
The supply officer at New York will cause
each express package to be opened and
carefully examined to see that nothing of
an explosive or other dangerous character
| is forwarded.
The shipment of Christmas packages for
United States naval vessels abroad should
be made so as to reach New York as early
as possible and not later than November
| fifteen.