The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-08
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
INFORM ALTON
BURE AU
Concerning Christmas Boxes for Sol
diers and Sailors.
FREDERIC J. HAsKIN. Director.
washington. D. c.

Concerning Christmas Boxes for Sol
diers and Sailors.
Washington, D. c., Oct. 5.-Not long
ago, that gravely important body
known as the general staff of the
army met to discuss matter OF con-
siderable import, namely, Christmas
presents for the army overseas. This
did not mean that the war department
was considering the role of amateur
Santa Claus, OF at least X they were,
it was only indirectly. The group OF
khaki clad sages was recalling now
last Christmas the American soldiers
host of generous and extravagant rela-
tives and friends bombarded him with
all manner of presents, from neekces
to fruit cake improperly packed ana
hopelessly mangled and stale.
Sometimes it looked as tho a safe
and sane Christmas with presents
strictly absent would be the verdict.
The soldiers themselves best realize
how urgently men are needed at the
front, and the staff recalled how many
fighters were kept off the ships by
cargoes of candy last year.
When all sides of the affair had
been lengthily considered, and General
Pershing had added his word of wise
suggestion, a compromise was effected.
Christmas packages for the army over
seas and marine corps detachments
serving with the army VIII be limited
to one three pound box for each man,
and that must be sent only in a pre-
scribed contafner and upon receipt OF
a. label from the man himself These
labels, General Pershing is~having pre-
pared and distributed, one to each man
to be filled out by him and mailed to
any person he may select.
The containers, which will be avail
able shortly, can be secured upon
presentation of the label at the near
est Red Cross chapter. or, II there is
no Red Cross chapter in the commun-
ity, at the postoffice. The boxes be-
ing prepared will give the best possiH
BILE protection to the contents with the
least possible weight The size de-
creed, 9x4x3 inches. does not admit of
either many or large presents, and
the box must be packed SO that it
does not bulge nor weigh over three
pounds. 1t must be mailed November
20 in order to secure delivery by
Christmas. Aside from these orders,
the only restrictions regarding pack
age or contents are, against alcohol in
any form, liquids. matches, labeled
safety or not. and other inflammable
mented scarcity of matches abroad
resulted in innumerable boxes of
matches being found when the over
seas Christmas packages were exam
ined by the government. This year
all packages must be referred to the
Red Cross for examination before
mailing.
The necessity for the three pound
box which seems so small can be I'M
derstood by a glance at statistics of
the army's 1917 Christmas mail. With
about one-fourth the number Of
front. over one million pounds of
Christmas presents were forwarded by
parcel post to the postoffice before
November Is. This load was supple
mented by many pounds OF packages
mailed later, and by the really heavy
boxes all handled by the war depart
ment all express. AS even a three
pound box for every soldier, marine
and relief worker overseas will total
nearly six million pounds and fill all
cargo space of ship Of $500 tons.
the results of unlimited expression of
affection this Christmas can be mag
ined.
1t is not alone for the benefit of the
soldiers that Christmas presents are to
be included in the military program.
As the war department explains it, the
morale of the country must be kept
up to standard pitch. By selecting
and sending Christmas presents the
soldiers relatives or friends come in
closer touch with him in thinking of
him and trying to understand his
wants. Contact with the soldiers
abroad stimulates personal interest in
the war, and indirectly the spirit of
patriotism and loyalty to the boys.
A selection Of gifts may, under the
circumstances, be sometimes difficult.
The main thing to remember besides
the restrictions of weight and bulk,
is appropriateness, both from the
standpoint of the soldiers life in gen.
na Mt Of "a In
dividua1 soldiers taste. The best key
to the enlisted mans desires can be
found In his letters. Among the most
acceptable gifts are little homemade
presents, such as housewife" out
fitted with soldiers buttons, needles,
thread and pins. Snapshots, razor
blades, razor, a really good knife,
tooth paste, a tooth brush, military
brush, wrist watch, fountain pen and
soluble ink, pencils, and games are a
few other suggestions endorsed by
| men who have been overseas every.
thing should be of the best quality
said Y. NJ. GA. man in this<connec-
ton. Some of the articles mentioned
can be bought over there, but not of
such good grades as we make"
Many other things that are "just
what the fighting man needs" can be
satisfactorily bought in France. In
this group are cakes, chewing gum, ci-
garettes. writing paper and candy. ex-
cept hard chocolate, of which there is
Enever a sufficient supply.
For those who cannot send packages
to soldier friends the Christmas letter
is suggested as gift on almost equal
terms with the popular smokes in the
soldiers estimation. The time ordin-
arily required to send letter to a
soldier abroad is three weeks, but al
lowing for possible delay and the
Christmas rush of mail. a letter should
be posted five Or six weeks before
Christmas to insure timely delivery
Army mail regulations apply to all
forces serving with the expeditionary
force. as Red Cross workers, Y. NJ. c..
A.. nurses. and the civilian labor ele-
ment- For marines serving with the
navy in this country, Christmas parcel
regulations of the navy are in force
In the navy, a smaller and more
scattered force permits of greater lee