Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-10-08
About Christmas
for Our Boys

siderable import, namely, Christmas pres
| cnfs for the army overseas. Thus dId not
mean that the War Department was con-
| sidering the role Of amateur Santa Claus,
or Mt least II they were, IL was only IN
directly. The group Of khaki-ciad sages
was recalling how last Christmas the
American soldiers host of generous and OK
travagent relatives and friends bombarded
| him with all manner Of presents, from
neckties TO fruit cake, improperly packed
and hopeIessiy mangled and stale.
Sometimes IL looked as though safe
and sane Christmas with presents strictly
absent would be the verdict. The soldiers
themselves beet realize how urgently men
are needed at the front, and the staff re-
called how many fighters were kept Oft
the ships by cargoes of candy last year
When all sides Of the affair had been
lenRthIly considered, and General Perish
ing had added his cabled word Of wise
suggestion, compromise was effected.
Christmas packages for the army over
seas and Marine Corps attachments
serving with the army will be limited TO
one three pound box for each man, and
that must be sent only IN prescribed CON
tainer and upon receipt Of n label from the
man hirnself. These labels, General
Pershins IS having prepared and dis
tfAbhf3Ai pfit w Eitl IHHH W tE Hiffst pDh
by him and mailed To any person he may
select
MORALE MUTT RE KEPT UF
IL is not alone for the benefit Of the
soldiers that Christmas presents are 20 be
included in the military program. As the
War Department explains II, the morale
Of the country must be kept mp To stand
ard pitch BY selecting and sending
Christmas presents tho soldier relatives
or friends come in closer touch with him
| IN thinking Of him and trying to under
stand his wants. C0ntac. with the sol
diers abroad stimulates personal interest
IN the war. md indirectly the spirit ~
patriotism and loyalty 10 the boys.
a selection of gifts may, under The
circumstances. be sometimes difficult
The main thing 10 remember besides the
restrictions Of weight and bulk. ~ appro-
prateness, both from the standpoint 81 the
soldiers life in general and from the stand
point of the individual soldiers taste The
best key to the enlisted mans desires
can be found in his letters.
CONTAINERS READY aooS
The containers, which will be available
shortly, can be secured upon presentation
Of the label ut the nearest Rcd Cross
chapter, br, if there II no Red Cross
chapter IN the community, ~ the post
office The boxes being prepared will give
the best possible protection TO the contents
with the least possible weight. The size
tlecreed, axsx3 inches. does not admit of
either many or large presents, and the
box must he packed 80 that IT, does not
bulge nor weigh over three pounds.
H. must be mailed November 20 in
order 90 secure delivery by Christmas.
Aside from these orders, the only To-
strictions regarding package or content
are against alcohol III any form, liquids,
matches, labeled safety or not, and other
infiammable substances. Last year, the
often lamented scarcity of matches
abroad resulted IN innumerable boxes Of
matches being found when the overseas
Christmas packages we're examined by the
government. This year ali packages must
be referred 10 the Red Cross for examin-
alton before mailing.
The necessity for the three pound box
which seems 50 small can be understood
bv a glance at statistics of the arny's
1917 Christmas mail With about one
fourth the number Of L. ,. soldiers now At
the front. over one million pounds 81
Christmas presents were forwarded by
parcel post 10 the post office before No
vember To- This load was supplemented
nv many pounds OF packages mailed
later and By the really heavy boxes all
handled BIZ the War Department a. cx-
press A. even a three pound box for
every soldier, marine and relief worker
overseas will total nearly six million
pounds and I'LL all cargo space OF a ship ii
$500 tons. the results OF unlimited ex-
preston Of affection this Christmas can
be imagined.
Among the most acceptable gifts are
little homemade presents, such as q
housewife" QUILTED With soldiers but
tons, needles. thread ard pins Snap
shots razor blades, 81 razor. i really good
knife, tooth paste, Il tooth brush, mill
tary brush, wrist watch, fountain pen
and soluble ink, pencils and games are a
few other suggestions endorsed by men
Who have been overseas. Everything
should be of the best quality said a
Y. NJ &. 4 man in this connection
Some of the articles mentioned can be
bought over there, but not Of such good
grades as we make"
Many other things that are lust what
the fighting man needs" can be salts
factorily boughtVn France In this group
are cakes, chewing gum, cigarettes. writ
ing paper and candy. except hard choco-
late. of which there Is never a sufficient
supply,
THAT CHRISTMAS LETTER aELPs
For those who cannot send packages to
soldier friends the Christmas letter Is sug-
gested as gift on almost equal terms
with the popular smokes in the soldiers
estimation. The time ordinarily required
to send q letter 10 4 soldier abroad /.
three weeks, but allowing for possible
delay and the Christmas rush of mail, "a
letter would be posted Ave or six weeks
before Christmas 10 insure timely delivery.
Army mail regulations apply e al
forces serving with the expelitionary force
q Red Cross workers Y NJ G. A.. nurses
and the civilian labor element. For
marines serving With the navy or in this
country, Christmas parcel regula tlons Of
the navy are IN force
In the navy, a smaller and more scat
tered force permits Of greater lecway rs re-
CARDS the Christmas box The sailors
package may weigh rs much as 20 pounds, I
whether sent by parcel post OF express. I!
II directed TO q vessel abroad, II should 4
reach New York not later than Noyem- /
Der is. Boxes must be Of substantial ma /
terial, Of wood if sent by express, AID
must have hinged or screw tops to facih
tate opening for inspection The navy
follows the rules Of the army regarding ex-
piosives and alcohol, and requires perish
able food TO be packed III cans or glass
jars.
BE SURE ADDRESS IS CORRECT.
Correct addresses of overseas army
are insured by having each 1