Show Christmas Gifts To Overseas Men Must II Be Mailed By Oct 15 J f The Christmas shopping season Is here I even even though the weather Is still stUl warm warm Matting Mailing of or gifts gUts for Army and Navy 1 personnel overseas oversea must begin by Sep Sep- September September 11 15 15 If tr many of the men and women In our armed services services' are not notto notto to be disappointed and September 15 is r less than a month away Christmas gifts may be mailed by parcel post to Army men and women overseas only between September 15 and October 15 After the latter date such may not be mailed unless a written request reque t from the soldier for tor the article Is presented with each parcel No soldier should have to ask for a Christmas gift gUt so 60 gifts gUts must be mailed on time The Navy also urges that gifts gUts be mailed between September 15 and October 15 Reasons for tho the early mailing dates are arc The vast distances that the parcels must travel to reach our men at war warfronts warfronts warfronts fronts and stations the world over frequent fre fre- frequent frequent quent transfers of at thousands of at men from one location to another which means forwarding of at the mall mail and con con- consumes consumes consumes addition time the necessity for forgiving forgiving giving preference to reinforcements ments arms munitions medicine and food In allotment of shipping space which often orten means that the shipments of at gifts gUts must wait And it t Is most urgent that gifts gUts be bo delivered to the men In time for Christ Christ- Christmas Christmas Christmas mas to keep their spirit high The only way to Insure against dis dis- disappointment disappointment dis- dis disappointment appointment for the fighting men Is to buy at once and mail mall early mall early mall your gifts gUts as soon as possible after atter the tho Sep Sep- September I I 15 starting date Those who relatives or friends in inthe tho the service should remember that we have fighting men In Alaska Greenland Iceland England Sicily separated far-separated regions re regions re- re regions gions of Africa the Near Eastern countries coun coun- countries tries Australia many of or the South Pacific Paci Paci- Pacific fic tlc Islands India China South America and other areas I Weeks are required for tor a n ship to reach many of ot these stations There can be no assurance of or course that the first ship tailing for any ny of or these locations will have space pace available to carry Christmas parcels Gifts GUts may have to wait until vitally needed supplies and equipment have been shipped to assure victory and to save the lives of ot our men If It tho parcels are not mailed early that delay I I may prove to be Just enough to prevent their arrival by Christmas day with consequent disappointment to tho the men who are offering their lives for their country and ours I Mall of ot all kinds J la is vital to the spirit of ot fighting men Every officer who has Inspected our Army and Navy postal facilities overseas has reported that thou sands of at fighting men disregard mess call when it conflicts with mall mail call and get their letters first Officers at atour atour atour our large military and naval stations st. report that the tho spirit and efficiency of f their lr men meD rC a distinct lift lUt when mall Is distributed and that a n. delay In mall service caused a decided decline in spirit with a consequent letdown in InI inefficiency efficiency e I A disconsolate consolate soldier or sailor who thinks he has been forgotten at Christ Christ- Christmas Christmas Christmas mas obviously Is not at his best So Soth the tho gifts gUts must be mailed on time so 60 that they can arrive on time Rules nules for tor Christmas mailings to the forces overseas were made mado public iu In June Jun for the guidance of or early shop shOp- shoppers pers They Include Tho parser parcel west must not exceed five lve pounds and must not be more than 15 inches Inch In or 36 Indies Inches in length and B girth th combined It should bo be marked I a.- a. Christmas parcel so that It may bo be given special attention to assure Its ar arrival ar- ar arrival arrival rival before December 25 Not more than one parcel may be bo mailed in any anyone one week to the th same member of ot the armed forces by or in behalf of the tho same mailer I The parcel must bo well and strongly packed in n a container of at metal wood i strong fiber board or similar material then wrapped In strong paper and tied with twine The cover should be such that it can bo opened readily for censor censor- ship The contents should be packed tightly Perishable goods such as fruits that may may spoil are prohibited Intoxicants inflammable materials such as matches or lighter flu fluids Ida poisons and anything that may damage other mall mail also are I prohibited Gifts Girts enclosed In glass should bo be substantially packed to avoid break break- age Sharp instruments such as razors and knives must have their edges and points protected so that they cannot cut through the coverings and Injure postal personnel or damage other packages Since Sinco the armed forces Bro are being I plentifully supplied with food and cloth cloth- tug ing tho the Army and Navy recommend against these as gifts gUts Addresses must be written clearly and return turn a araV the completely In addition to address of at the sender a 1 parcel pa l n for an I Army then rank Army man should show the name r branch of ervice Army serial number organization Army post post office and name namo of or post office of lee through w 2 t the tho parcel is routed A typical an Army man Private John R. R Dee Army serial number Company P. P F Infantry A. A P. P o. o care of ot Postmaster New York N. N Y y j for a aman The address on a parcel a and andor andor a the name namo man should include the a or rating of at the addressee t tunit unit to which he is 18 assigned ana its tb Navy number assigned thereto or MiS MiSname t name of at his ship and the theoffice fleet is TO y office through which the p parcel ed A typical Navy address John M. M Jones Seaman first class U. U S S. S Navy Naval Air Station Navy one nine nine Offish Oti c Care of Fleet Post r San California Lieutenant Or Roger W. W Doe Doc U. U t S. S U U. S. S S S. S S Minnesota Care of at Fleet Post Office I San California I |