The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1944-08-17

once more this year but l 90 wish 10
stress this fact: More care must be
taken in wrapping and packing par
GELS securely and addressing them
clearly and correctly.
1T is not a pleasant thing to visit
postal concentration center and
see the numbers of Christmas par
GELS Which Will never reach service
men and servicewomen. Post office
personnel have orders to do every
thing they can to effect delivery of
such gifts, because we know how
important they are for the happl-
ness of the armed forces. Too fire.
quently, nothing can be done.
Don't Use Shoe Boxes
Il am sorry that anyone ever men,
toned that the size of shoe box is
the approximate limit for packages
intended for gift mallings overseas.
Unhappily many people became con-
WINGED that a shoe box is the best
possible container. We must be
mindful that these gifts must ira
vel far, with shipping space crowd
ed. If the gifts are to be protected
in transit they must be packed in
boxes made of metal, wood, solid
fibreboard, or strong double-faced
corrugated fibreboard, reinforced
with strong gummed paper tape Or
tied with strong Irvine. II both tape
and strong Irvine are. used, SO much
the better If the outer wrapper is
crushed-and this is likely to hap
pen-the loss of contents may be
prevented if fibreboard boxes are
wrapped in heavy paper.
I'VE were unable to deliver many
parcels which families and friends
sent to men and women overseas
last year because they were crushed
in transit and the gift and the out
side wrapper became separated. We
would have been able to make de-
livery if the address had been
shown on the inside wrapper. We
advise that everyone write the adj
dress of the sender and addressea
inside the packages as well as out
side.
Christmas gifts mean much to
our. people overseas. Because strong
Irvine. heavy paper and boxes and
fibreboard will prove Of real help
in making delivery of gifts posi-
BILE I urge those at home to be-
gin saving these materials now As
time goes on they are going to be-
come even more scarce than they
are now
Important Rules
Among the more important rules
for Christmas mailings to the armed
forces overseas are the following:
The parcel must not exceed five
pounds, and must not be more than
Is inches in length or 36 inches in
length and girth combined It should
be marked Christmas parcel SO
that it may be given special atten-
ton to assure its arrival before De-
cember Is.
Not more than one parcel may be
mailed in any one week to the same
member of the armed forces by or
in behalf Of the same mailer.
When combination packages are
made up of such items as miscel-
laneous toilet articles, hard candies,
soaps, etc, the contents should be
tightly packed SO that they will not
become loosened in transit and
damage the contents or the cover.
Hard candies, nuts, carmels (includ-
ing those covered with chocolatel
cookies, fruit cake, and chocolate
bars individually wrapped in Waxed
paper should be enclosed in inner
boxes of wood, metal, or cardboard.
Perishable goods, such as fruits
and vegetables that may spoil. are
prohibited. Intoxicants, inflammable
materials such as matches or lighter
fluids, poisons, and anything that
may damage other mail also are
prohibited. Gifts enclosed in glass
should be substantially packed TO
avoid breakage.. Sharp instruments,
such as razors and knives, must
have their edges and points protect
ed SO that they cannot cut through
the coverings and injure postal per-
sonnet OF damage other packages.
Begin Mailing Early w.
Relatives and friends who know
that the personnel in the armed
services to whom they plan to send
gifts are at far distant points should
begin to mail their packages on the
opening day - September Is - il
the mailing period. Last year late
mailings, causing concentration OF
great numbers Of packages in the
final days Of the mailing period
threatened to defeat the program
1t is stressed that success can be
assured, with the limited personnel
and facilities available, only if the
public gives full cooperation through
prompt mailings of the overseas gift
parcels from the opening Of the
mailing period.