The Springdale news., 1918-07-26
sprngdale Washington ArkasasF

Il JlC.
 in person with proper identification.
 Collection of Outgoing Mails
 Outgoing mail at the various mili- tary branch post offices is collected by the War Department from the i Y. M. C. A., Knights of Columbus, and like organizations from regimental headquarters, and brought to the mili- tary branch post office. Here it is dis tributed by post office clerks to the different States and large cities and for railway post offices. The transport ation or mail between railroad stations and the branch post offices is per formed by the Post Office Department in most cases either by government owned or rented vehicles. In nearly all camps as many as four dispatches are made daily to the railroad and a like number received.
 Complaints as to loss, delay, or non delivery of mail addressed to soldiers are investigated by unit commanders and the result reported to the post master. The responsibility of thePost Office Department ceases upon de- livery of mail to the military mail orderlies.
 Importance of Correct Address.
 The Post Office Department endeav- ors to impress upon the puhlic the im- por.aace of properly addressing mail for soldiers at military camps. Where the address is imperfect or deficient delays necessarily occur. At every divisional headquarters and in each military branch post office card in- dex containing in some instances more than 100000 cards is maintained showing the name and assignment of each individual officer and soldier in the camp. Where mail is not properly addressed to regiment, company, bat talion, or other distinct unit it becomes necessary to consult this index in or der that the proper assignment may be determined and delivery effected. This results in delay in delivery and l in many instances, due to similarity in names, 1t is necessary to return letters to senders as unbelievable. Another cause for delay is the frequent chang ing of the military personnel from one unit to another within camp and from one camp to another. In one camp alone more than 42,000 such changes were made within one month
 Sending of Perishable Articles.
 Many parents and friends send the soldiers fruit and other edibles of a perishable nature. The fruit may not keep the length of time required for it's transportation and delivery and it's condition becomes such that it must be destroyed before it can be delivered The disappointment of the soldier is unavoidable as the Post Office Depart ment is sparing neither money nor eff fort to give the most efficient and sat isfactory postal service at the camps.
 The Post Office Department handles all soldiers mails in the United States to and aboard the ship at the port of authorization. One ship recently car ried 2,0s0,00O letters for the Ex- peditionary Forces and for Americans serving in other capacities in France.
 Special regulations had to be made to take care of the mails of military units transferred from a camp to a port of embarkation. All letter mail arriving at a camp after unit has left is forwarded immediately for de- livery to the military personnel before sailing.
 Packages for Overseas.
 The Postmaster General, at the re- quest of the War Department, has or dered that no package may be sent to a soldier in the American Expedition ary Forces without having received first request for it from that soldier indorsed by major or some officer connected with the military unit authorized by the major to indorse such request.
 Control of the mail service for mem- bers of the American Expeditionary Forces recently has been taken over by the War Department. A military postal express service has been estab- lished in France by order of Gen. Per shing. This service receives all mail arriving in France for the American Expeditionary Forces and distributes it. The same service is responsible for the collection, dispatch, and delivery