Show More l Gifts for Overseas Servicemen Based on demand for gilt gift Items It IS estImated that over overseas overseas seas serVicemen and WIll re receive 20 per cent more Christmas presents per capita thiS year than last and the home folks may ex cx expect pest an even larger percentage of I rec gilts gifts mostly of the luxury and sentImental type ThIS forecast was made by John C Goodall gen genera general era eral 1 manager of the Merchandise Mart ChIcago following a checkup among gilt gift Item manufacturers and distributors including those who sell oaf rte Y Yx Ys x s t s sI I ca Ww Ernest J Chicago post post- postmaster master left left explains e to George McCarthy foreman in charge of foreIgn mall mail how packages should be wrapped Tapped and addressed to get favored delivery service to men in inthe inthe the armed forces overseas to retailers and army and navy post exchanges Reasons given for the expected m in increase crease m in the number of guts gifts sent thiS year overseas are 1 The moved up official mailing date September 15 to October 15 extended to November 1 for those m in the navy marine marme corps and coast coastguard coastguard guard will stimulate early shopping and the five pound limitation on gilt gift packages means more will be sent 2 More stores have installed vial g gift t counters or departments which means more display adver advertising and sales 3 The home folks are now bett bettor r advised on the g gift t preferences of servicemen and women and know more spec finally where they are sta stat I t toned hence can make their selections selections more intelligently I 4 The overseas forces operating on more fronts and facing more I varied climatIc and geographIcal cond tons t ens become el gible for a I wider variety of gilts gifts t I IThe The tendency to send more g to those furthest from home also favors sales Wh Vh Ie Ic short shortages shortages ages at home are develop rig ng m in such Items as watches leati leat er en novelties and jewelry it is thought heaver en purchases of more available Items item s will more than offset these The number of gilts gifts to come from from m service personnel abroad to relatives relative s and frIends at home IS expected to tobe t a be larger per capita because manufacturers manu manufacturers and distributors who sell sel 1 to army and navy post exchanges part in the Mediterranean n area already report rising sales to t o servicemen and women More post pas t exchanges greater opportunity of af afforded forded servicemen to buy d red rec t from the natives who ho also sell t to o is a factor no v boost rig ng sales Other sales stimulants are that over overseas overseas seas servicemen and women m in high spirits themselves are not so s o sure about the morale of the home folk and seek to bolster It by gilts gifts Flusher with cash and conscIous of o f accumulated favors from home the th e overseas contingent find themselves s m in an Ideal spot to reciprocate Among American made gilt gift items item s most popular at overseas post exchanges ex exchanges changes are pms pins cl ps earrings vanity cases many bearing the m in of the various vanous branches of the th e service Ornate pillow tops and an d handkerchiefs which embody dell deli delicately cately worded sentIments come to t o the aid of thousands of less art cu late servIcemen Such stems Items are an e prime favorites overseas as well a as asat s at post exchanges at home Necklaces embro denies denes p pes laces opal and topaz Jewelry met metal metal al and leather handicraft of Lat n nand and Oriental origin I is also m in hig high h favor Watches one of the top preferences preferences among all in the service are relatIvely easy to get m in the Med MedIterranean Mediterranean area since many of them the m come d from Switzerland S The gIfts servicemen may expect t from the home folks parallel some some- somewhat somewhat what those sent last year although h ho there Will be a wider selection to t o choose from Furlough bags small smal 1 carryall carry all and sewing kits duffie duff e bags wallets relIgIOus medals iden t on bracelets photo cases pe pen n and pencil sets shaving insignia pieces and of course ciga cigarettes are high on an the preference e 1 st of servicemen Money belts are not expected to tobe t o be as popular this year as last whIle watertight pocket s ze holders s for miscellaneous personal things s are In high vogue Pocket s zed ze d games such as checkers crIbbage g n rummy backgammon and aces acey ducey are simIlarly popular these gIft stems Items have general gen general eral popularity among the forces force s overseas o as well as at home a van ety of gift preferences IS developing develop mg ing A large number on the c front for instance show part alit alitto y to such articles as knives sun sunglasses glasses and anti ant sun and bug lotIOns The growing number of service e women omen IS dictating the on o n of women departments In post ca changes Heavy orders for tOilet rles apparel Items and the mOl mm e eest est estl et c tj type pe of gifts are reported |