The Key West citizen., 1954-10-12
Are You Sending A Christmas Package ToA
Service Man Overseas? Better Mail 1t Now!

/ Acting Postmaster Clyde p.
Stickney announced today that the
period from October Is to Novem-
Der Is has again been designated
for the acceptance Of Christmas
parcels for members of our Armed
Forces serving outside the cont
mental. United States.
/ It is expected that many Christ
mas parcels will be sent this year
by persons in this country to their
loved ones serving overseas and
the following information is issued
with view of assuring delivery Of
the gift parcels on time and in
| good condition.
| Patrons are advised that military
personnel are well supplied with
food by the Armed Services and
that parcels containing foodstuffs
subject to spoilage and breakage
in transit are likely to reach over
seas destinations unfit for use.
"Armed Forces overseas" in
cludes personnel of our Armed
Forces serving overseas, members
Of their families, and authorized
United States civilians employed
overseas who receive their mail
care of postmaster in New York,
| NY; San Francisco, Calf; New
Orleans, La; or Seattle, Wash; or
Fleet Post Office at New York,
my; or San Francisco, Calf.
The importance of m ailing z
Christmas parcels during the desig-
mated period cannot be emphasiz-
ed too strongly.
The public can be reasonably as
sured that parcels mailed through
regular surface mails prior to
November Is and air parcel post
mailed not later than November
25 will be delivered in time for
Christmas.
Senders are cautioned not to de-
lay the mailing Of parcels on the
assumption that timely delivery
will be assured through the use Of
air service.
The Post Office Department can
guarantee air transportation only
to the ports of embarkation. The
movement of air parcel post by air
from the ports to overseas areas
will be contingent upon the mill
tary requirements. In addition to a
large volume of Christmas mail,
it is necessary that the medical
and military supplies be given the
highest priority on the available
overseas airlift.
After an air parcel arrives over
seas final delivery, in many cases,
must be made through the use of
such surface transportation facili-
ties as are afforded by shipping,
railroads, and motor vehicles.
Parcels destined for delivery in
Japan, Korea and the islands in
the Pacific should be mailed not
later than November /.
Parcels for Navy and Marine
Corps personnel serving in the
most remote areas should be mail
ed not later than October is.
Air parcel post, other than Off
cial matter, is limited in size to
| 80 inches in length and girth COM
bined and 2 pounds in weight.
The maximum size and weight
limits for domestic surface parcel
post are applicable to Christmas
parcels for Armed Forces except
that a limit not to exceed so
pounds applies in the case of or
dinary parcel post addressed 70
AP0's 22, lao, 124, 125, l26, 127,
12s, lat, 167, ITO, 100, l91, 1872, 1893,
1874, 1875, 1876, 1877, 1873, 1S9, 202, 210,
212, 214, 21s, 232, 233, 236, 237, 23S,
24O, 241, 242, 24s, and 755, care of
postmaster, New York, NY.
Boxes for overseas transmission
must be Of strong construction on
account of the distance they must
be transported and the handling
and storage they must undergo.
Articles should be packed in
boxes of metal, wood, solid fiber
board, or strong double-faced cor
rugated fiberboard, tested at least
275 pounds. Each box should be
tied with strong cord, preferably
by 4 separate pieces, 2 lengthwise
and 2 crosswise, knotted at cross
ing.
Sealing of parcels with tape in
addition to the cord is permissible
but sealed parcels of third or
fourth class must carry the in.
scription Contents, merchandise :
May be opened for postal inspec-
tiOn."
Boxes should be packed with
sufficient cushioning material so
that the contents will be tightly
packed to prevent rafting or loos-
ening of the articles enclosed and
to avoid their being crushed. Wrap
ping the boxes with heavy paper
materially strengthens them.
| Domestic rates of postage apply
and postage must be fully prepaid.
Fourth-class mail is subject to the
zone rate applicable from the post
office where mailed to the post Of
| flee in care of which the parcel is
| addressed.
Air mail articles weighing not to