Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-01-28
FORTY THOUSAND CHRISTMAS
PACKAGES FOR ARMY IN FRANCE
BROKEN AND DAMAGED
PORTION OF CONTENTS LOST
OR STOLEN IN AMERICA
Iowa Man Starts Investigation That
Reveals lncompeteney and Some
Crookedness in Government Mail
Serviee-One Fifth of Packages Had
to Be Repaeked.
rBy E. G. Dougherty.1

Washington. Jan. 2S.-Forty thous-
and Of the 100000 Christmas packages
consigned to American soldiers in
France reached the port of embarka-
ton so badly damaged that new boxes
for their shipment abroad had to be
provided by the war department, 1t be-
came known today when Secretary
Baker mad a detailed report in pur-
suance to q telegraphic complaint re-
ceived from J. j. Hughes of Councll
Bluffs, Iowa.
On Jan. Hughes telegraphed Sec
rotary Baker that reports had reached
him from France that nine out OF ten
of the packages received by the men
have been broken open and contents
taken" This community" Mr.. Hughes
added, which has furnished 700 men
for the service, is intensely wrought up
over the matter. It gives added force
to the pro German and pacif1st senu-
ment and is used to slrbstantiate their
sedition. Official recognition here OF
this communication by your depart
ment is deemed advisable
The war department Immediately re-
ferred Hughes complaint to Major
General Goethals, director OF storage
and traffic. who in turn received re-
port from Col. G. II. McManus VINO
had direct charge of the shipments at
the port Of embarkation. The army
officers found that fully 10000, or one
fifth of the packages received at the
embarkation point, were in such dam
nv
essary. When it Is considered that
undoubtedly a large per cent of the
packages were insured by the senaers'
the report Of the army officers IS
severe indictment Of the postofflce de-
partment for careless handling OF the
Christmas packages.
inspectors Report.
Colonel McManus's report to the oe-
partment OF the work Of the army az
the CHRISTMAS box hospital as the
embarkation point was christened, con-
tains this information:
II have inquired carefully into this
matter and am unable to find any IT.
regularities in connection with the
Christmas boxes that passed through
this port, All of these boxes. number
ing in the neighborhood OF 200'ooo'
were opened and inspected at the piers
as required by war department oroers'
The contents of the boxes We're re-
moved only sufficiently for inspection
and everything was replaced care1ully
in the boxes except such fruit as show
ed signs of decay, matches, liquor, ana
like contraband articles.
"The work was done by soldiers un-
l.S ~f 1ff
ery attention was given to see that the
work was done efficiently and contents
protected against thefts. The soldiers
were selected and and vouched FOR as
reliable by their company commanders
AS an additional precautlon clVlllaii
watchmen and secret service men III
soldier uniforms were on duty special
" watching for thefts. Not single
instance Of theft In this department
was discovered
IT wish to call attention to the fact
that at least one-fifth Of the packages
received here were in a damaged con-
dition, and Of these many containers
we're so badly broken as to let articles
fall out Of them. In all these instanc-
es the containers were repaired care
fully where It was possible to 90 so.
but there were in the neighborhood OF
1000 that were broken beyond repair
and for which were purchased. at much
expense to the government, new boxes
to replace the broken original boxes.
II feel positive there is no foundation
for the alleged losses so far as pertains
to this port Of embarAation.'
A copy Of the telegram from Mr..
Hughes citing that packages were
damaged and incomplete when received
in France has been sent to the COM
manding general Of the American ex-
Evolutionary forces for report