The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1944-08-31
THE HARDIN TRIBUNF-HERALD

vicewomen. Post office personne
have orders to do eyerythins
they can to effect delivery O:
such gifts, because We know how
important they are for the hap.
piness of the armed forces. Tot
frequently, nothing can be done
Il am sorry that anyone eve,
mentioned that the size of 9
shoe box is the approximate linn
1t for packages intended fol-
gift mailings overseas. Unhap-
PLY many people became con-
vinced that a shoe box is the
best possible container. We must
be mindful that these gifts mus:
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
tlberboard, reinforced with
strong gummed paper tape or
tied with strong Irvine. If both
tape and strong Irvine 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 if
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 crushed in transit and the
gift and the outside wrapper be-
came 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 address
of the sender and addressee in
side the package as well as out
side.
christmas gifts mean much
to our people overseas. Because
strong Irvine, heavy paper and
boxes and fiberboard will prove
of real help in making deliver
of gifts possible I urge those at
home to begin saving these ma
terals now. As time goes on
they are going to become even
more scarce than they are now"
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 So inches in length and girth
combined. It should be marked
christmas parcel" so that it
may be given special attention
to assure its arrival before Dec
ember 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
miscellaneous toilet articles,
hard candies, soaps, etc., the
contents should be tightly
packed so that they will not be-
come loosened in transit and
damage the contents or the COW
er. Hard candies, nuts, caramels
(including those covered with
chocolate), 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. Intoxi-
cants, i~nflammable materials
such as matches or lighter fluid,
poisons and anything that may
damage other mail also are pro-
Inhibited. Gifts enclosed in glass
should be substantially packed
to avoid breakage. Sharp instru-
ments, such as razors and knives
must have their edges and
points protected so that they
cannot cut through the covering
and injure postal personnel or
damage other packages.
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 the open
ing day - Sept. IS - of the
mailing period. Last year late
mailings, causing concentration
of great numbers of packages in
the final days of mailing period
threatened to defeat the pro-
gram. 1t is stressed that success
can be assured, with the limited
personnel and facilities avail
able, only If the public gives full
cooperation through prompt
mailingS Of the overseas gift