Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-09-22
SOLDIERS TO GET MAIL
WITHIN Three Weeks
Postal Officials Give Advice rs To
Proper Manner of Direct
Ing the Letters.
NO OCCASION FOR DELAY
Million Parcels OF Mail Arrive In
Franco Daily Addressed to Menu
bers of American Expcditionary
Forces, According to Estimates.

NEW YORK. September 2l.-Ancri-
can soldiers in the front-lne trenches
ters within three weeks after mailing
II plans now being worked out by
army postal officials arc successful
Captain Frank r.. Frazier. assistant
director Of the American expeditionary
forces postal service In France, has
returned to the United states to put
delivery OF American mail To the sol
dicrs in France. He said to-day:
With what has been done. or is
delivery OF mail, there should be no
occasion for delay or nondelivcry or
letters TO our soldiers in France IL
realize that the slightest inaccuracy or
obscurity in the address Of Il letter il
almost certain to cause delay and may
result in nondelvery."
One million letters arrive In France
every day addressed 10 members Of the
american cxpeditionary forces. accord
ing TO an estimate of the military
postal authorities.
steps taken 10 expedite mali from the
United states To France. according ."
the statement, include the turning;
over OF complete military Information
as 10 the location Of troops in France
by the military authorities 10 tn.
military and domestic postal officers :.
the issuance Of orders sending mail on
every ship destined for any port in
France organized TO relieve mail, ana
the adoption or "A scheme of dcsigna-
ton for groups Of unattached soldiers
sent from the United states 10 replace
ment camps in France.
"A complete postal system corrc-
spending 10 tina, in tho United States
ia now in operation in France. with a
central post office located at Tours"
the statement continues. This ser
Vice, exccp, the distribution and dis
patch OF malls TO the United States
is entirely under military control.
In view of the duplication OF names
in the American expeditionary forces
the absence OF any Distinguishing,
designation for groups OF casual or re-
p!accmen, men has been source %
Thousands % soldiers are being sen,
to France every month from this coun-
estimated that 100000 letters month
were delayed from this cause. This
delay In delivery Will not occur under
arrangements which have just been
made 10 have each replacement unit OF
40 men, as IL leaves camp In the
United States, given distinctive
company number which i, viii retain
until IL reaches Replacement; camp
in France. Every mculDer or such unit
Will then. be one OF go men. instead
Of one of 500 900 men
MATTER or Address
IS OF VITAL tMPORTANCE
Tho matter OF the address 10 insure
prompt delivery is OF vital Importance
The misspcllng OF a name or the use
of initials where word should -.
spelled out may not only retard the
delivery 81 a letter, but may prevent
sands of letters are being constantly
received which cannot be promptly &C.
livcred, II delivered al all, on account
Of the manner in which they are hd
dressed.
"A letter for an American soldier IN
Europe should be 50 addressed as TO
show his rank. his fun name, iNc!uc
ing his middle name: his company or
battery and his regiment. as well as
The branch OF scrvcc. a letter TO 'Jonn
Walter Smith. Jr.. private in Com
L, address