The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-07-06
Attention Is Called
To OUerseds Mailing

IF YOU want to send a package to
a soldier overseas there are many
restrictions pertaining to mailings,
etc. that you should keep in mind,
Bluffton postal authorities reminded
this week.
In the first place, before making
any purchase keep in mind that you
must have a soldiers request for any
gift mailed to him which weighs
more than eight ounces.
No exceptions are made to this
restriction, and the rule covers of
ficers and enlisted men alike. Limited
ship space is the reason that the
size of personal gifts must be limited
In this way.
The requested package must not
exceed five pounds in weight, 10
inches in length and 36 inches in
combined length and girth.
Don't forget to wrap the pack
age securely and address it ade-
ouately," officials said. They blamed
bad packaging as one of the main
reasons for lack of delivery, pointed
to badly packed goods crushed at the
bottom of a ships hold by surround
ing goods. They emphasized need
for double corregated cardboard box
containers, added that these should
be wrapped in heavy brown paper
and bound with heavy cord.
Addressing adequately means pre-
pairing your package against treat
ment which may wipe out the ad-
dress.
1t means printing the address on
the wrapper in case various climatic
conditions cause gummed labels to
come off, and it means printing the
address on the inside wrapper just
In case the outside one is lost.
Sample is Given
Print the address clearly and in
elude all of it; don't take chances
of non-delivery by leaving out any
thing. Here is a sample address
form:
"Pvt. John K. Doe, 32,185,692
Company X, 167th Infantry
APO 500, Go Postmaster
San Francisco, Cal"
Among items the Army Postal
Service says men usually request
are bars of soap, shaving cream,
razors and razor blades. Candy
goes fast, but the only kind easy to
send is hard candy. Nuts travel all
right.
The suggested shoppers list also
includes pocket size books, cigaret
lighters, cigaret cases, cigars, dried
fruit, pipes, playing cards, pocket
flashlights, tobacco and small toilet
kits.
While you will have to have a
request for some of these articles,
others are light enough for you to
send without a specific request.
Articles that weigh under eight
ounces packed can be sent first class
mail without request. The cost for
sending an eight ounce package first
class to either the New York or San
Francisco APO's is "a cents. When
you prepare the package, remember
that you must seal it as you would
a letter
Servicemen gift items which weigh
less than eight ounces are: billfolds,
untitled toilet aprons, manicure sets,
metal mirrors, cigaret cases, tobacco
pouches, untitled duffle bags, as
sorted pocket games, sunglasses,
Identification chains, bracelets, play
ing cards, razor blades, socks, ties,
pocket knives with CADETS to open
X rations, pipes, candy, letters, fox
hole pillows, pocket editions and
cigaret lighters.
No Perishable Goods
You can send two ounces or less
airmail. But, airmail packages sent
overseas must be sent in the form
of letter.
Post office officials say not to send
perishable goods. Unbelievable as
il seems, some well-meaning per-
sons have tried to send ice cream
to India and Egypt. While home
baked cakes are good gifts in this
country, they get tumbled around on
a long journey and changes in
climatic conditions aren't good for
them.
Some Of your packages may not
reach their destination. Ships may
be sunk, other damage may be
caused by war conditions. But, the
Army Postal Service, an organization
of some 1000 officers and $4,000
enlisted men which takes over mail
when it reaches New York and San
Francisco, makes this claim:
mo man in the U. S. Army any
where in the world and regardless
of the conditions of the theatres is
out of reach of a local APO"
Along with the scarcity of farm