The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-09-09
TO HASTEN DELIVERY
OF SOLDIERS LETTERS
New System Which Is About to Be Put
Into Effect Ought to Make Deliv-
cry Within Three Weeks
Possible.

New York, Sept 9.-Americsn soldiers
in the front line trenches in France will
receive their home letters within three
weeks after mailing ii plans now being
worked out by army postal officials are
successful.
Captain Frank Z. Frazier assistant di.
rector of the American expedbionary
forces postal service in France, has re.
turned to the United States to put into
effect plans for expediting the delivery
Of American mail TO the soldiers in
France. He said to-day:
With what has been done or is now
being done to insure the prompt delivery
Of mail, there should be no occasion for
delay or non deliyery of letters to our
soldiers in France if those writing them
from home will realize that the slightest
inaccuracy or obscurity in the address of
a letter is almost certain to cause delay
and may result in non.delivery."
One million letters arrive in France
every day addressed TO members of the
American expeditionary forces, according
to an estimate Of the military postal
authorities.
Steps taken TO expedite mail from the
United States to France, according to
the statement, include: The turning over
Of complete military information as to
the location of troops in France by the
military authorities to the military and
domestic postal officers; the issuance of
orders sending mail on every ship des-
tined for any port in France organized to
receive mail and the adoption Of a
scheme of designation for groups of I'M
attached soldiers sent from the United
States TO replacement camps in France.
"A complete postal system correspond
ing to that in the United States is now
in operation in France with central
postoifice located at Tours" the state
ment continues. "This service, except
the distribution and dispatch Of mails to
the United States, is entirely under milf
tary control.
In view of the duplication of names
in the American expeditionary forces,
the absence of any distinguishing desig.
nation for groups of casual or replace
ment men has been a source of difficulty
in the delivery of mail. Thousands of
soldiers are being sent to France every
month from this country for replacement
purposes, II is estimated that 200000
letters month were delayed from this
cause. This delay in delivery will not
occur under arrangements which have
Just been made to have each replacement
unit Of $50 men, as it leaves camp in the
United States given a distinctive com
pany number which it will retain until
it reaches a replacement camp in France
Every member of such unit will then be
one Of $50 men instead Of one of $780,
600 men.
"The matter Of the address 80 insure
prompt delivery is Of vital Importance
The misspeling of name or the use Of
initials where word should be spelled
out may not only retard the delivery Of
letter but may prevent its being deliy-
cred at all. Many thousands of letters
are being constantly received which can
not be promptly delivered, if delivered
at all, on account Of the manner in which
they are addressed.
"a letter for an American soldier in
Europe should be so addressed as to show
his rank, his full name, including his
middle name, his company or battery
and his regiment, as well as the branch
Of service letter to John Walter
, Smith, jr.,' a private in company L OF
the address of the sender to appear in
the upper left hand corner of the envel-
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