Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-03
ENGLISH WOMEN DRILL,
and ARE RI I: READY TO FIGHT
Invaders of Great Britain Would
Find Formidable Army of
Amazons. ..t.
MOVEMENT SPREADS RAPIDLY
All Over Kingdom Women Are Pre-
pairing Themselves for Whatever
Fortunes War May Bestow Upon
Them. s.s
by PHILLIP EVERETT.
tSpecialt to The Times-Dispntoh

LONDON, January 2.--We'read in dis
patches that at least fifty German
women. lighting in trenches in mems
clothing. have been taken captive by
tho Russians near Warsaw. If the
Germans ever Invade Great Britain. and
the situation becomes desperate, they
Will be faced by an army of English
Amazons. carefully drilled and trained
TO the use Of the rifle compared to
which these Teutonic women warriors
are mere bagatelle.
when l first heard Of the Women's
volunteer Reserve thought 1t was a
joke. or rather new ebullition of the
sunragettc class. but after visit to
old Bedford College and n view Of
the determined women perspiring
through their military drills. must
confess that my feelings have changed
WILL FIGHT WHEN COUNTRY
Is IN DESPERATE SJRAIGIITS
1t Is not to he conclude i that the
women VIII rush to the coast and fight
the moment the Germans make land
ing. They will take up the rife only
when Great Britain Is In desperate
straights. TIL such an unhappy time
the reserve VIII simply act as dis
ciDlned body OF women, skilled In FIRST
aid. cooking, dispatch riding on motor
cycles. signalling and the care Of
horses
"At the same time. the rife is not
tlereagh. the colonel-in chief OF the
Women's Emergency Corps. "All the
women are spending time in the private
rine ranges. and there are some aston
ishingly good shots among them
There Is no reason in the world why a
woman cannot be az good marks
man AS a man"
II was also pointed out to me By
one OF the officers OF the womcn's re-
serve that women bear certain forms
81 hardships better than men II Is a
wen-known physiological fact that
women are Less susceptible to cold and
wet than the stronger sex. Their
bodies are better protected by fatty
tissue. This ID seen on the bathing
beach. where women are able to enjoy
themselves on chilly days when most
OF the men seek the clubhouse The
same condition should be true in damp
trenches 1t is also accepted that a
woman. once her nervousness Is over.
ana her determination liz inspired can
stand more physical pain than men.
Y In fact" said my woman nformer.
the only way tn. women would be
inferior to men soldiers would be the
long marches"
Al old Bedford College. which is the
headquarters OF the Women's Elmer
Sency Corps, found Colonel WIS.,
countess Catlereagh and the Honorable
Haverfcld. honorary colonel hard mt
ED is remembered for her carefully
'fSnnizcd remount camp, which she
"iuli up at the time OF the Rocr War
Nearly a hundred women were going
rough the regular army infantry
f" III they were not women OF leisure
her Most OF them had put through
days toll already In an office or
',"ng some professional line
'cvcral regular army officers In uni
vrm were present to assist In the
York. The war officers at first took n
'ontcmptuous attitude towards this
',aNcment. but they have come TO see
ihc value OF II just as the usefulness OF
e Boy Scouts Is now generally recog-
zcd.
had an interview with CAPTAIN
dair-Roberts. the women drill officer.
We are following the regular army
les throughout" she said. NO com
ssions are granted except for merit
"hen women are adjudsed competent
- leach the drill. the regular army
'z-,'rs drop out In their favor
" ANS RESERVE NoNPARTIsAN
AND SOSSECT4RIAN
5'" he reserve Is strictly nonpartisan
ana nonsectarian. No women of wealth
are permitted to buy commission, al
ifongh there have been many attemDts
al this sort.
- can show you titled woman and
one OF, her own maid servants drilling
here Side by side. This is not an iso-
lated instance either. there are several
such"
AT first the fear was expressed that
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES