The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1918-11-14
CHRISTMAS PACKAGES
FOR SOLDIERS


! Christmas packages TO soldiers Of III,
American Espedi,ionary Force hay,
been promulgated after series o.
conferences ~ ne Adiutant Genera
Of the War Department, the Pos
! Office Department and the American
Red Cnss
4 ] The War Department authorize,
relatives 81 eflcers and soldiers ir
/ Frame % send Christmas packages
which will be Of standard size anc
weight; one 10 each individual in III,
American Expeditonary Force.
2. In order TO insure the limitation
Of one pckage per man, which in itself
will consume a very large amount OF
tonnage. plan has been worked on,
By which General Pershing is distrib-
uting to members OF his command
coupons on which arc inscribed the
correct rames and addresses Of the
members G. the American Expedition
ary Force. These labels will serve as
address :alels for the packages. The
coupons or labels VIA be mailed Dy the
members G: the A. f. +. direct TO the
persons they wish to designate as
senders Of packages and no package
will be forwarded without such a
coupon. 1t is expected that the labels
will be received in this country by
November LIST.
8. On receiving Christmas pack
age label the person to whom it has
been sent should present it at the
nearest Chapter, Branch or Auxiliary
headquarters of the Red Cross where
he will receive pasteboard carton
3x 4 x9 inches in size. The Red
Cross is to allot boxes to its Chapters,
based on the number Of men in SER
vice from each community. 1t is ex-
pected that these will be ready for
distribution by November 1st
4. Boxes may be filled with any COM
bination Of articles except those on the
list barred by postal officials. PRO
hibited articles are all intoxicating
liquors, all infammable material, in
Guiding friction matches and any com
position likely to ignite or explode
Cigarette lighters come under this
classifcation), liquids and fragile ar
ticles improperly packed. Under pos
tai regulations no note or message or
written matter of any kind will be
permitted to remain in the boxes. In
addition to the list of prohibited ar
ticles, relatives and friends Of the SOL
diers are urged to bear these facts in
mind when preparing Christmas par
cells:
Do not put anything in the pack
age which will not keep fresh until
Christmas.
Pack dried fruits and other food
products in small tin or wooden boxes.
Give preference to hard candy over
chocolates unless the latter are enclos-
ed in heavy wrappers. Soft chocolates
are easily crushed and may spoil other
contents.
Do not put articles packed in glass
in the package.
Gifts should be wrapped in khaki
colored handkerchiefs n inches
square.
5. The weight wrapped SHOULD not
exceed three pounds; unwrapped the
weight may be approximately two
pounds Is ounces. Parcels may bear
inscriptions such as "Please do not
open until Christmas" MERRY Christ
mas" Happy New Year." with
Best Wishes" and the like.
6. When the box is packed 1t
should be taken unwrapped> and I'M
sealed to the nearest collection center
indicated by the Red Cross, together
with the address label and sufficient
stamps to carry it by parcel post to
Hobokcn, New Jersey. After the
package has passed the inspection Of
Red Cross representatives as TO the
contents and weight and has been
wrapped in stout paper, the Christmas
label bearing the address of the man
for whom it is intended is placed on
it. The person sending the package
in the presence of the Red Cross work |
er is reqired to affix the stamps which
will carry it to Hoboken. A label GER
tifying that inspection has been com
pleted by the Red Cross is placed on
the package which is left in the Gus
tody of the Red Cross until delivery
to the postal authorities
7. No package will be accepted for
transmittal after November 10th.
A question has been raised concern
T. ~ z