Milford chronicle., 1944-08-25
Overseas Mailing
Period Sept. 15-Oct. Is
CONTINUED from First Pass)

/ 1t Is not a pleasant thing to visit
a postal concentration center and
see the numbers of Christmas par
cells which will never reach SER
vicemen and servicewomen. Post
office personnel have orders to do
everything they can to effect de-
livery OF such gifts, because we
know how important they are for
the happiness of the armed forces.
Too frequently, nothing can be
done.
4 am sorry that anyone ever
mentioned that the size of a shoe
box is the approximate limit for
packages intended for gift mailings
overseas. Unhappily many people
became convinced that a shoe box
is the best possible container. We
must be mindful that these gifts
must travel far, with shipping
space crowded. If the gifts are to
be protected in transit they must
be packed in boxes made of metal,
wood solid fiberboard, or strong
double-faced corrugated fiber
hoard, reinforced with strong gum
med paper tape or tied with strong
twine. If both tape and strong /
twine are used, so much the better |
If the outer wrapper is crushed |
and this is likely to happen-the |
loss of contents may be prevented /
il fiberbOard boxes are wrapped in
heavy paper
We were unable to deliver many
parcels which families and friends
sent to men and women overseas
last year because they were crush
ed in transit and the gifts and the
outside wrapper became separated.
We would have been able to make
delivery if the address had been
shown on the inside wrapper. We
advise that everyone write the ad-
dress of the sender and addressee
inside the package as well as out
side
Christmas gifts mean much to
our people overseas. Because
strong twine, heavy paper and l
boxes and fiberboard will prove of
real help in making delivery of
gifts possible I urge those at home
to begin saving these materials
now. AS time goes on they are go
ing to become even more scarce
than they are now.'
Among the more important rules
for Christmas mailings to the arm
I'd forces overseas ore following:
The parcel must not exceed 5
pounds. and must not be more than :
Is inches in length or Sc inches in ,
ength and girth combined. 1t :
should be marked Christmas par =
eel so that it may be given special :
attention to assure its arrival be- =
ore December 25. !
Not more than one parcel may :
)e mailed in any one week to the !
anne member of the armed forces .
~ or in behalf of the same mailer. !,
When combination packages are =
made up such items as miscellan- /
'ous toilet articles, hard candies, a
Oaps, etc., the contents should be =
lightly packed so that they will not r
'ecome loOsened in transit and n
amage the contents or the cover.
Hard candies, nuts, caramels Tin !,
luding those covered with chOco- =
ate), cookies, fruit cake, and chO- l.
Olate bars individually wrapped =
II waxed paper should be enclosed 4
n inner boxes of wood, metal, or 4
=
Perishable goods, such as fruits a
nd vegetables that may spoil. are 9.
IntOxicants. inflamm- u
Bile materials such as matches or p
ghter fluid, poisons, and anything
hat may damage other mail also ?.
re prohibited. Gifts enclosed in IL
lass should be substantially pack N
d to avoid breakage. Sharp instru- n
tents, such as raZors and knives, NJ
lust have their edges and points
rotected so that they cannot cut =,
trough the coverings and injure y
ostal personnel or damage other b
ackages.
Relatives and friends who know
lat the personnel in the armed CT
erviees to whom they plan to send al
fits are at far distant points
lould begin to mail their pack
ges on the opening day-Septem- n,
sr 15-Of the mailing period. Last w
EAR late mailings. causing cOncen- N
alton of great numbers of pack ~
ses in the final days of the maih y,
g period, threatened to defeat the NJ
'ogram. 1t is stressed that sue ~
SO can be assured. with the :"
nited personnel and facilities
ailable. only if the public gives -
IL cooperation through prompt en W
ailings of the overseas gift par ~ ~
Is from the opening of the mall pO
g period. Gu
ag