The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-18
GERMAN WARRIORS
EQUIPPED BY WOMEN
From Kitchen 70 Munitions
Factory Is What War
Means 70 Many.
RESPONSE ENTHUSIASTIC

LONDON. July "A recent article by
the Times neutral correspondent gives a
very clear and comprehensive idea OF
what women in Germany are doing to
aid the cause OF the Fatherland. The
article follows:
zone of the chief sources OF German
strength and the most significant moral
force in q rmany to-day are the women.
The outbreak of the present war found
them ~unorganized. unaccistomed to pub
lie duties. and devoid OF any political
education or aspirations. such as have
beer manifested by women In other
countries. In n land where organization
and the need Of the State theoretically
transcend any Individual interest. the
vas, ma iority OF German women had re-
NAMED adherents Of the favored indi-
vidualist maxim 'Kuche, Kinde, kirche'
Kitchen. Children. church,.
THE @ rman woman's first hought
was for her own immediate family. her
kitchen, her children. When the wal
broke out she proceeded at once to fol-
low his tradition, to stock her lardfr
in so far as she was able. and see to II
that her own household at least should
not feel the pinch of the war. This pur-
chase OF food supplies on a large scale
led INN diately to an enormous increase
In prices and a scarcity OF Many COM
modities.
II was Informed that this condition OF
affairs. as much as any one factor. iorceu
the Government to take immediate steps
not only TO proclaim seizures Of GER
tain classes of foodstuffs but to instruct
q rman women in their new duties. not
as individuals but as members OF the
organized state at war. instruction pe-
gan in the kitchen. The preserving OF
fruits. the timing Of V getables. the SCI
entihc preparation of food So as TO
) secure the greatest; nutritive value. and
similar matters were taught simultine-
, ously in 1850 cities in the empire.
Communal kitchens Opened. .
Communal kitchens were opened In
many towns for this work. and the
women soon adapted themselves to the
new reauir. ments. They responded
everywhere with enthusiasm to the APP
peal. and IL would be no exaggeration
to say hal, the present relative aound-
ance of food In Germany Is IN a great
measure due to their Efforts.
To-day German women would appear
to be bearing their full'share in the war.
not merely as mothers. sisters. wives OF
the men fighting for their safety ana
honor, but rather as an organized BODY
polite which has specific duties and re-
possibilities. The way in which they
have taken charge of the wounded. pro-
ylded all kinds OF necessities and gifts
for the troops in the field and have in
many instances assumed the manage
ment of affairs hitherto exclusively in
male hands is one Of the most creditabIe
chapters in German history.
'This il the more remarkable when
We consid,r hat German women had to
learn not merely to act but to think In
terms of community OF interest III
it be remembered that the German
woman's mann 1husband) has in the
past filled the orbit OF her life TO a far
greater extent than in other countries
and that he was suddenly torn from her
SIDE at the very outbreak OF the war,
and an idea OF the common good the
needs OF state substituted for him.
the upheaval in the life OF the German
women will be realized.
In Germany compulsory service has
taken nearly all the men OF an arms
bearing age for military duty. The au-
thorities have requisitioned horses. cows,
motor vehicles and every imaginable
article for the needs or the army, Tne
burden that has fallen on the women
of the country is stupendOus. yet 1t Is
borne with quiet fortitude. Everywhere
women have been thrust into positions
of great responsibility. ! heard OF a
large brass works which had been trans
formed for the making of munitions
the deciding VOICE in the policy of the
company now rests with a woman. who
actively manages the concern.
such examples could be multiplied
In all parts of the country ! saw women
working In the fields doing n mans WORK
with the added handicap OF insufficient
help. In a small town near Berlin
saw twenty young women digging "A
drainage ditch. Not peasant women but
girls neatly dressed In white, clean
blouses, who had volunteered to do the
work. since no men were available. The
conductors in the tramcars of many Ger
man cities are now women dressed II
the regulation uniform with the car
pulled close down over their heads, the,
present "A very good appearance and dc
their work well and politely-a decided
Improvement on the average male.
All Occupations Taken ~.