DIY History | Transcribe | World War I Diaries and Letters | Conger Reynolds newspaper clippings, 1916-1919 | Clipping: ""No More Parcels Unless Soldiers Write For Them"" Page 1

Transcribe
Translate

Conger Reynolds newspaper clippings, 1916-1919

Clipping: ""No More Parcels Unless Soldiers Write For Them"" Page 1

SAY "AMERICAN E. F."

Better tell the people at home to address you in care of " American E. F." --not "A.E.F."  Particularly, too, when writing to friends of yours in the Army over here, put it on-- "American E.F."
The reason is that the abbreviation " A.E.F." is quite similar to some in use by our Allies.  If Mother, despite her other excellent qualities, has a habit of making her E's look like I's, the chances are that her carefully concocted plum pudding may find its way into the lap of some hungry Aussie, for " A.I.F." is the designation for those boys.
The "thou shalt" part of the G.O. reads:
" Hereafter, all members of the American Expeditionary Forces, in addressing mail to units and individuals of the American Expeditionary  Forces, will write the word 'American' in full, and not use the abbreviation, 'A.' Example.  G.H.Q., American E.F.; Commanding Officer, -- -- Infantry, American E.F., etc."


NO MORE PARCELS UNLESS SOLDIERS WRITE FOR THEM

Officers Must O.K. Men's Requests for Packages From America

ORDER WILL SAVE TONNAGE

Sweets and Sweaters Will Have To Make Room for Flour and Fighters

No more packages from home unless we write for them.
"It's tough, but it's true, like so many tough things.  No more parcels post packages will be accepted in the States for shipment to use overseas unless those package are accompanied by our own written requests, signed with our own John Hancocks, and O.K.'d by our superior officers.  Our requests, therefore, have got to be .specific--also reasonable.
The people back home will be able, as heretofore, to send us smokes and candy and writing paper and fountain pens and knitted sweaters and knitted gloves and knitted socks and knitted tummy bands and knitted earlaps and knitted mufflers and knitted helmets and knitted scarfs aand knitted brows and knitted picture frames and knitted lamp-shades and knitted vanity cases and knitted wristlets and knitted anklets and knitted fingerlets and knitted toelets;  but we will have to specify on separate sheets in our letter to them, just what portions of our well-known anatomies are in need of such sumptuary covering, just what size we desire, just what color we want the wool in order to have it blend into the camouflage scheme.  Oh, no; not quite as bad as all that; but you get what we mean.

Rule Already Effective
The following English version of the cablegram of the Second Assistant Postmaster General to the postal forces of the A.E.F. may explain away some of the whats of the situation.  Here it is:
"Effective April 1, no parcel post will be sent to parties identified with the American Expeditionary Forces unless the articles offered for mailing have been requested in writing, and the request has been approved by a superior officer.  This request must be inclosed with the article in the parcel, which will be opened in New York and the contents verified with the written request.  Therefore, I would request that the notice be widely circulated among the troops to have the written requests on sheets which can be enclosed in parcels."
So we've got to write out what we want on a separate sheet, a sheet that will stand the wear and tear of packing, and be presentable for inspection when it hits Mr. Patten's well-known post-office in Park Row, New York, on its way back to us.  If the parcel doesn't weigh more than the authorized amount--at last accounts it was seven pounds--the stuff will get to us in due time.  But we should be careful not to write home for any baby grand pianos, any pianolas, elephants, thousands of brick or other bulky articles, because the chances are that they'd never get to us at all, at all.
The move is made in the interest of economizing tonnage space, to save room for steel and wheat and beef and men.

Saving...

SAY "AMERICAN E. F." Better tell the people at home to address you in care of " American E. F." --not "A.E.F." Particularly, too, when writing to friends of yours in the Army over here, put it on-- "American E.F." The reason is that the abbreviation " A.E.F." is quite similar to some in use by our Allies. If Mother, despite her other excellent qualities, has a habit of making her E's look like I's, the chances are that her carefully concocted plum pudding may find its way into the lap of some hungry Aussie, for " A.I.F." is the designation for those boys. The "thou shalt" part of the G.O. reads: " Hereafter, all members of the American Expeditionary Forces, in addressing mail to units and individuals of the American Expeditionary Forces, will write the word 'American' in full, and not use the abbreviation, 'A.' Example. G.H.Q., American E.F.; Commanding Officer, -- -- Infantry, American E.F., etc." NO MORE PARCELS UNLESS SOLDIERS WRITE FOR THEM Officers Must O.K. Men's Requests for Packages From America ORDER WILL SAVE TONNAGE Sweets and Sweaters Will Have To Make Room for Flour and Fighters No more packages from home unless we write for them. "It's tough, but it's true, like so many tough things. No more parcels post packages will be accepted in the States for shipment to use overseas unless those package are accompanied by our own written requests, signed with our own John Hancocks, and O.K.'d by our superior officers. Our requests, therefore, have got to be .specific--also reasonable. The people back home will be able, as heretofore, to send us smokes and candy and writing paper and fountain pens and knitted sweaters and knitted gloves and knitted socks and knitted tummy bands and knitted earlaps and knitted mufflers and knitted helmets and knitted scarfs aand knitted brows and knitted picture frames and knitted lamp-shades and knitted vanity cases and knitted wristlets and knitted anklets and knitted fingerlets and knitted toelets; but we will have to specify on separate sheets in our letter to them, just what portions of our well-known anatomies are in need of such sumptuary covering, just what size we desire, just what color we want the wool in order to have it blend into the camouflage scheme. Oh, no; not quite as bad as all that; but you get what we mean. Rule Already Effective The following English version of the cablegram of the Second Assistant Postmaster General to the postal forces of the A.E.F. may explain away some of the whats of the situation. Here it is: "Effective April 1, no parcel post will be sent to parties identified with the American Expeditionary Forces unless the articles offered for mailing have been requested in writing, and the request has been approved by a superior officer. This request must be inclosed with the article in the parcel, which will be opened in New York and the contents verified with the written request. Therefore, I would request that the notice be widely circulated among the troops to have the written requests on sheets which can be enclosed in parcels." So we've got to write out what we want on a separate sheet, a sheet that will stand the wear and tear of packing, and be presentable for inspection when it hits Mr. Patten's well-known post-office in Park Row, New York, on its way back to us. If the parcel doesn't weigh more than the authorized amount--at last accounts it was seven pounds--the stuff will get to us in due time. But we should be careful not to write home for any baby grand pianos, any pianolas, elephants, thousands of brick or other bulky articles, because the chances are that they'd never get to us at all, at all. The move is made in the interest of economizing tonnage space, to save room for steel and wheat and beef and men.