Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1918-10-25
CHRISTMAS PARCELS
Red Cross Completes Plans Ior Fer
sons to Send Xmas Gifts to Soldiers
Ovars.as-Each Package Shall Not
weigh more than Three Pounds

An arrangement has been complete
,+woen the War Department, Pos
Office Department and the America
Rcd Cross, whereby the latter has ur
lertaken to cooperate iMthe prepara
ron for mailing of these Christina
parcels, TO simplify the execution o
mis- plan & large number Of speciali!
manufactured cardboard cartons have
been purchased which will be distri
blted through the chapters to the
relatives and friends If mc1 in ser
wee oversees.
The amount of shipping spae'
which has been set aside for the trans
.;ortaticn of Christmas Parcels vii!
permit tile sending of but one parcel
. each man. To avoid any duplica-
ION, and to make sure that each par
.el will be correctly addressed, 4
Christmas Parcel label is now being
ssued to the men abroad.
Men will be instructed to mail this
abel home to some relative or friend
tho, upon receiving it, will apply to
he nearest chapter, branch or auSi-
.iary headquarters, or such other
.lsces as may be designated by tae
Red Cross where, upon presentation
f the Christmas Parcel laoel. they
ill receive one carton, 3X4x9 in size.
The person receiving a carton may
i'll it with any combination of articles
which will fit in it and which are
OF barred by the Post Office Depart
lcnt. When completely packed and
eady to be mailed the weight of the
,arton must not exceed three pounds.
Articles barred by Post Office re-
:u1ationS:
All written messages, notes, ETC.; III
:pirituous, vinoIs ,malted fcrmented
:: other Intoxicating liquors; all kinds
f poison and all articles and COM
positions containing poison; explosives
i all kinds; infammable materials, in
.iuding friction matches; internal ma
hines ard mechanical, chemical or
.ther devices OF compositions which
ray ignite or explode; Note under this
Justification would come cigarette
lighters, etc.; liquids or liquefable
articles. fragilartic less and other adj
sissible matter when not packed in
accordance with the requirements Of
he postal laws and regulations.
All other articles which may kill, o.
\ any wise hurt, harm. or injure am
.her, or damage or deface or other.
use lnjure the mails or other prop
,rty. ):
/: Bear these facts in nina when
packing yours Christmas. parcel.
Nothing should go. in a Christmas
sarcel which will not keep fresh from
ne time Of packing until Christmas,
Dried fruits and other food products
should be packed in small tins or
wooden boxes, one-qunrter to one
ialf pound size.
Hard candy including, chocolate,
would probably be safe in tin foil or
leavy cal dboard, but no soft choco
'a+es not anything that could pos
lilly be crushed should be used, as the
,cmaining contents of the package
might be spoiled thereby.
Several dainties packed in oblong
lin boxes holding each a quarter Of a
pound will provide better variety
.or a packet than a larger quantity
If a single confection.
No liquids nor articles packed ii
.lass should be placed in the package
For wrapping the gifts, use khaki
:olored handkerchief, twenty-seveE
.rches square.
When the package has beer packed
( should be taken, unwrapped an:
lrsealed together with the label ant
sufficient stamps to the nearest col
eetion center designated by the Ret
Cross. After the package has passed
.h' inspection of the Red Cross rep
.esentatives as to the contents ant
weight, snd been wrapped in stou
paper, the Christmas label bearin
he address of the man for when
I.s intended is placed on #. The per
lson sending the package. in the pres
7 ICE of the Red Cross worker, is re
11fuired to affiX stamps sufficient t
carry it to Hoboken, y J. Tie posts
9hsrges are to be at the rate of fourt