Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-03-23
Three GIRLS enlist
IN NAVAL RESERVE
Recruiting Officer Jared
When Pretty Misses Say
They're Ready to Fight
YOUNG MEN ALSO
WANT IN CORPS

Recruits TO the colors In the form
Of three OF the fairest representatives
Of the fair sex OF Wilmington, applied
for enlistment this morning az the
United States Navy Recruiting Station
in the Law Building. Chief Turret
Captain James NJ. Williams had to
pinch himself three times to make
sure he was not dreaming. This Is the
first time any Wilmington young wo
men have applied for enrolment I'M
der tho new regulato ns making II
permissible for them to enroll IN the
Naval Coast Defense Reserve, also Il
was the first experience Captain VIII
llams has had in signing such fair
recru Is. For a moment he was non
plussed, but soon recovered his com
posture and the names OF tho appll-
cants we're duly listed. They VIII I'M
dergO the medical test later. If war
is declared they Will be assigned TO
various duties, such as nursing, etc.
All three applicants seemed eager
TO enroll and they said they would be
willing TO shoulder a gun II the eXi-
gency demanded. And th0y are not
after publicity. either. In fact, pub
llclty is Just what they - not want
and before leaving they made Cap
tain Williams solemnly promise that
their identity would not be revealed.
The promise was made and the names
were not forthcoming. Said names,
however, have been forwarded to
Washington.
Aside from the young women, sew
eral young men applied for enlistment
this morning. Sixteen young mon ap-
peared last night for enlistment, but
could not be received ot this time. as
the office Is without medical officer,
d, A local physician IS desired. The re-
oruting officers say there has been a
marked increase In the number Of ap-
plicants during the past few days and
I'm accordance with orders, they are
doing all in their power TO push the
enrolment. not only of the men, but OF
the young women as well.
The men OF the Naval Reserve are
for purpose Of defence in the fourth
naval district, which includes the
States OF Pennsylvania. New Jersey
Maryland, Delaware and Virginia
They will be called upon to man the
coast defenses and patrol boats ant
unless emergency demand Il VIII no
be required to go into any other dis
trct nor out Of the country.
Young women who enlist will b'
given positions as stenographers
clerks, and wireless operators TO
work in the Offices and the enroll
ment Of these will release most o
the men 10 work I'm the field Thesl
women are regularly enlisted as yeO
men with the navy at the same pay a
the men and Will be provided wit
cutlass and revolver in accordanc
with naval regulations. The uniform
of these young women are very hand
some. of navy blue skirt with &
adaptation OF the regulation nav
coat The young women receive
tobacco allowance, the same as tn
men IN the navy.
Mayor Price has offered the use O
one OF the rooms in the new publ
building for recruiting purposes an
from the interest already being show
Il is expected the number OF applica
lions for places with the reserve wi
be large
That the government is determine
10 draw Just as many re
cruits for the navy froI
Wilmington as possible is evidence
I'm the fact that additional recruiun
officer has Just beer assigned here n
Is Chief Turret Captain James NJ. Wi
nams, who will assist Chief Machir
lists Mate George Coates in securin
as many local recruits as possibl
both for the regular navy and for III
Naval Reserve,
As Captain Williams arrived he
only yesterday, having come dire
from Philadelphia. where he had be-
ON special recruiting duty for sever
weeks, he was unable 20 say no
many Wilmngtonians had enlisted
the navy since the break with &c
many.
AS yet there has been no special rus
20 recruit I'm the United States arm
according to The assertion OF recru
Ing officers here. Recruiting continu
brisk, however. During the past IN
weeks there have been fOrty-eight a
plicants a. the recruiting Office In t
old Federal building. Sixth and HI
streets. or this number. five we
accepted As general rule one m
Is accepted out Of every nine app
cants.