The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-10-06
LIMIT SIZE Of XMAS
BOXESFOR SOLDIERS

One card board box. three inches
by four by nine. must contain all
the Christmas presents sent to one
lighting man in the American forces
overseas this year.
The War Department, after extend
ed conferences with the postal au-
thorities and the American Red Cross
on the shipment of Christmas mail.
announced this ruling last night.
Men in the navy will fare better than
those of the land forces. Their boxes
may weigh twenty pounds and have
content of two cubic feet.
Christmas labels are now being
distributed. one to each man, to the
American forces abroad. Each SOL
der will forward his lsbel to the
person in the United States from
whom he wishes to receive his gift
package. Lost labels will not be
duplicated and no package will be
accepted for delivery to a soldier
without one.
Must BE Ready November 20.
Suitable boxes viii be distributed
TO holders Of labels by the American
Red Cross. The labels are expected
to arrive in this country about No
vember 1. The Christmas box must
be in the hands of the Red Cross,
ready for shipment. before Novem-
Der 20.
With each box a list OF articles
barred by the postal authorities will
De given. In the list of prohibited
articles are: Intoxicating liquors. ali
lnhammable material, including fric-
ton matches and compositions likely
90 ignite or explode; liquids. perish
able foods and fragile articles i'm
properly packed. Hard candy is pre-
ferable to chocolates. which are
easily crushed and may spoi! the
contents of the package. Food pro-
ducts or dried fruits should be pack
ed in small tin or wooden boxes.
Nothing packed in glass will be ac-
cepted. for a soldier, but this pro-
hibition does not apply to sailors
gifts.
Weight Limit TwO-POundS.
No message or written material of
any kind may be packed in boxes
either for soldiers or sailors, under
the Postoffce Departments rules.
The packages, when packed, but not
wrapped, should not weigh more than
A"o pOunuS OuHNtS- Inc " al
Department suggests that articles in
the boxes be wrapped in khaki-color-
ed handkerchiefs tWenty-seven inches
square.
When packed the box should be
taken to the nearest collection sta
tion designated by the Red Cross for
inspection. Red Cross officials viii!
be authorized to remove objection
able articles from parcels. Sufficient
stamps to carry the parcel to Ho-
boken. n. J., must then be affixed by
the shipper. The regular postal zone
rates will be charged.
BY Christmas there will be 100000
men in France and the War Depart
ment is planning 10 handle one pack
age for every man. The plans work
ed out this year are expected to elimi-
pate the delays and damage to gifts
that occurred when last years Christ
mas packages we're shipped. -=z.
Rules for Navy.
The regulations prepared for the
navy are far less elaborate than
those evolved for the army. Pack
ages forwarded by parcels post for
naval men must comply with the
postal regulations and should be in-
closed in substantial boxes with
hinged or screw top cover to facili-
tate inspection"
Express packages. weighing up to
twenty pounds, should be forwarded
in care OF the naval supply officer,
feet supply base, Twenty-ninth street
and Third avenue, South Brooklyn,
N Y. The boxes should be clearly
marked christmas present. Boxes
for men in the naval service should
be mailed as early as possible and
Lat hap