The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-08-28
Time Approaches For Mailing
of Gifts to Overseas Troops

49,
The Christmas shopping season
is here-even though the weather
is relatively warm.
Mailing OF gifts for Army and
Navy personnel overseas must be
gin by September Is, if many of
the men and women in the armed
services are not to be disappoint
ed; and September Is is less than
a month away
Christmas gifts may be mailed
by parcel post TO Army men and
women overseas only between Sep
TENDER Is and October IS. After
the latter date, such parcels may
not be mailed unless a written re-
quest from the soldier for the AZ
ticle is presented with each parcel.
The Navy also urges thai gifts be
mailed between September Is and
October Is.
Reasons for the early mailing
dates are: The vast distances that
the parcels must travel 20 reach
men at war fronts and stations the
world over; frequent transfers OF
thousands OF men from one location
to another, which mean forward
ing OF the mail, the necessity for
giving preference to reinforce
ments. arms, munitions. medicine
and food in allotment of shipping.
space, which often means the ship
ments of gifts must wait. And it is
most urgent that gifts be delivered
TO the men in time for Christmas,
to keep their spirit high.
The only way to insure against
disappointment for the fighting men
is to buy at once and mail early
mail your gifts as soon as possible
after the September Is starting
date.
Those who have relatives or
friends in the service should re-
member that We have fighting men
in Alaska, Greenland. Iceland, Eng
land, Sicily, far-separated regions
OF Africa, the Near Eastern coun-
tries. Australia, many OF the South
Pacific islands, India, China, South
America, and other areas.
Weeks are required for a ship 10
reach many OF these stations. There
can be no assurance. Of course,
that the first ship sailing for any
OF these locations will have space
available to carry Christmas par
cells. Gifts may have to wait
until vitality needed supplies and
eouipment have been shipped, to
assure victory and to save the
lives OF our men. II the parcels
are not mailed early, that delay
may prove to be just enough to
prevent their arrival by Christmas
Day, with consequent disappoint-
ment to the men who are Offering
their lives for their country and
| ours.
Mail OF all kinds is vital TO the
spirit OF fighting men. Every Of
fcer who has inspected our Army
and Navy postal facilities overseas
has reported that thousands OF
fighting men disregard mess call
when it conflicts with mail call
and get their letters first.
A disconsolate soldier or sailor
who thinks he has been forgotten
at Christmas obviously is not AZ
his best. So the gifts MUST be
mailed on time so ,nat they can
arrive on time.
Rules for Christmas mailings tc
the fighting forces overseas are
made public for guidance OF early
/ Include.
The parcel must not exceed hV'
pounds. and must not be more thar
4 inches in length or 36 inches II
length and girth combined. j
should be marked Christmas par
eel" so that it may be given specia
attention TO assure its arrival be
foe December %.
Not more than one parcel MAJ
be mailed in any one week to th'
same member OF the armed force
by or in behalf OF the same mailer
The parcel must be well anC
strongly packed, in a container o
metal, wood. strong fiber board. o
similar material, then wrapped II
strong paper and tied with Irvine
] The cover should be such that ]
: can be opened readily for censor
ship. The contents should be pack
ed tightly.
Perishable goods, such as fruit
that may spoil. are prohibited. In
to1icants. inflammable material
such as matched, u lighter fluids
poisons. and ansS1Ag that MAJ
damage other mail also are prohI
bited. Gifts enclosed in glass
should be substantially packed e
avoid breakage Sharp instru
ments. such as razors and knives
must have their edges and point
protected so that they cannot Gu
through the coverings and iniur'
postal personnel or damage otha
packages.
Since the armed forces are beinl
plentifully supplied with food an5
clothing. the Army and Navy rec
ommend against these as gifts
Addresses must be written clear
ly and completely. In addition q
the return address Of the sender. !
parcel for an Army man shoulC
show the name. rank Army ,seria
number, branch OF service. organ