The Pulaskian., 1915-01-29

 of the Boy Scouts is now generally recognized.
 I had an interview with Capt. Adair- Roberts, the woman drill officer
 We are following the regular army rules throughout" she said. "No com- missions are granted except for merit. When women are adiudged colpetent to teach the drill the regular army officers drop out in their favor.
 "The reserve is strictly nonpartisan and nonsectarian. No women of wealth are permitted to buy commits sions, although there have been many attempts of this sort.
 T can show you a titled woman and one of her servants drilling here side by side. This is not an isolated in- stance either, there are several such. ,"
 At first the fear was expressed that if woman were taught the use of a rifle, the Germans would charge snip ing and ferocious reprisals would be the result, but now it is realized that the organizing of the women will pre- vent, instead of encourage, foolish in- dividual action, such as is certain to take place in moments of great dan ger among an unorganized populace. The helpless rabble of Belgium, wom- en and children refugees fleeing they knew not whither, will not be repeat ed in Great Britain.
 No woman is permitted to enter the reserve without a careful physical ex- animation. Woman doctors from the city hospitals see to this in their hour off. The women of the reserve must be over eighteen and under forty years of age.
 Special attention has been paid to signaling practice, as this is an inn portant branch of warfare in which 1t is unanimously agreed that the female sex may be of service. There are many professional woman telegraph CTS in the reserve. Instruction is given in Morse and semaphore signal ing by flags and also by sound.
 Other branches of instruction fn- clude open air cooking, dispatch rid ing, carpentering, fencing an~ Swed-
 
 ish drills.
 The movement is spreading all over the islands, rapidly overcoming the indifference which 1t generally met at first. A vivid description of the condition of women in the war dis tricts of Belgium and France and an explanation of how their sufferings m; ob+ baUo haao ,,,;tiootod b,, n-o1or preparation and organization is usual ly sufficient to convert every doubt ing Thomas"
 Suffragettes in 1t.
 Branches are especially active in centers where there is a large popula- tion of working girls. Of course, there is large portion of the militant suffragettes. The latter have trans ferred their energy in this direction. The suffragettes believe they can. by their conduct in case of an invasion of Britain, present an unanswera ble argument for the ballot.
 The sight of women drilling may be seen at many big halls in London,
 The majority of the women are clothed in khaki. Their suits consist of skirt. coat. brown shoes, spats, put tees and hats. The cost of this uni form is s12.50. Most of the women buy their own suits. The reserve is so far entirely self-supporting.
 The government has not as yet given permission to the women to carry rifles The women do not antici. pate trouble in this direction, how. ever. They say they hope the neces sity for their shouldering the musket will never come, but if it does they will be allowed to take their places on the firing line just as wives and sweethearts of British colonists in many quarters of the earth have stood behind the stockade and fired with their men folk against the at taeks of savages.
 As result of this movement a Ger man invasion will find ready at hand an organization of women who will keep their heads and who will have good health and calm nerves, These women will have learned the value of organization. self-dependence, com. radeship and self-control. They will cooperate with the military and civil authorities. They will direct the flight of women and children from the scene of fighting and so take this bur. den off the government.
 It is hoped that after the war the ""oi1aens Volunteer reserve will be come a great recreation club With this end in view wealthy woman has offered large tract of land for l. per manent camp and it is believed other gifts of this character will be made.