The Washington times., 1917-02-23
400 GIRL SCOUTS TO
VOLUNTEER TO US.
Washingtonians Ready to Offer
Their Services II War Is
Declared.
MANY RED CROSS NURSES
Have Worked Three Years on
First Aid Treatment and
Bandaging.
MANY RED CROSS NURSES

war be declared on Germany.
The girls, many of whom hav,
passed the Red Cross examination
within the last week and are nov
full-fedged army nurses, have beer
working for three years on first aiC
e treatment and bandaging. For tht
last six months they have been en-,
rolled in the Red Cross first ait
classes.
A large number OF girls who are Of
a mature age, are competent automo.
bile drivers and are willing an6
ready to take their place at the front
with the ambulance corps. Other.
have had special training in the erec.
tion of camp kitchens and tents and
are prepared to help prepare food fol
the armies IL necessary.
. show Great Proficiency.
The girls, ranging in age from fif
teen to nineteen, have shown such
proficiency that the Red Cross ha,
asked that they be placed under thc
direction Of that organization in time
of war, and act as instructors to the
women brought into the society
without experience.
The girls have been strongly com
mended by the District Health De
partment for their knowledge of die
tetics and health preservation.
Should war be Brought to this
continentFthe girls will prove of es-
pecial value in signaling, having
proved themselves quite competent in
semiphore work.
The girls of Switzerland have been
Gf - frx
by signaling from one mountain tor
to another, and the Girl Scouts OF
Washington have been studying the
methods used by these girls.
Praises Girls Work.
A letter commencing the Girl Scouts
work has been received at New York
headquarters from Robert Baden Pow
ell, international head Of the Boy
Scouts. The letter. dated January Is,
was sent from the London office of the
association. 1t follows:
Dear Mrs. Low:
Il am delighted at the good progress
which the Girl Scouts are making in
America. not only in their numbers. and
efficiency, hat in the estimation Of pub
lie and parents as well.
In Great Britain and in count les
like Norway, Sweden, Denmark. and
Germany, where educationalists are on
the lookout for up-to-date methods in
developing character education, the
movement has already won recognition
for its possibilities in this direction.
CapabIIIty Shown.
Here in Great Britain the war has
shown US, as nothing else could have
done, the capabiIity of women for ma
tional service il they are only trained to
it; also that there is no need for them
on that account to drop their prime
duties as home keepers and mothers.
Quite the opposite.
The training Of the Girl Scouts or
Guides is designed TO educate them mot
only to instruct them) through their
own initiative to develop these essential
points: character, skill. service for
others, and physical health.
Their training is on the same prin-
ciples as that of the Boy Scouts, which
has already had success in developing
efficient citizenship among boys.
Work More Important.
But 1 believe that, of the two
movements. that for the girls is, If
anything, the more important. since
1t deals with the mothers of the fu-
ture who will influence the future
generations.
Il must congratulate you on the
splendid success that has attended
your efforts in starting the movement
on the right lines in America. The
first steps are alwayIthe most diff
cult; but now that your educational
lists and other leading authorities
recognize the value of the movement
your labors will be liEhtened and
am confident that you will receive a
strong measure OF support, and that
the Girl Scouts will go on and flour
ish to an extent equal to that OF their
brothers, the Boy Scouts.
"Yours. sincerely,
ROBERT BADEN POWELL"
Letter to Local Branch.
Montague Cannon, chief executive
ef the Girl Scouts, has sent the fol
lowing letter to the local branch OF
the organizations:
MY dear captain:
THE present prospect OF ma
tional crisis gives an unusual oppor-
tunity for scouts to serve and en-
phasizes the Importance OF the train
ing our scouts secure.
1.-The national council has sent the
following telegram:
Text of Telegram.
"'Elliott Wsdsworth,
"'Vice Chairman.
"American Red Cross.
Washington, ID. g.:
"'In view of the present situation,
the National Girl Scouts offer their
services to the American Red Cross.
in case Of your acceptance, each
troop of Girl Scouts will be notified
to cooperate with the nearest Red
Cross branch. The national head
quarters of the Girl Scouts. 52T Fifth
avenue, New York, will be glad to re
ceive suggestions as to how it may
be most useful.
JULIETTE LOW,
National President
you are requested to comply with
the above. In case there is no branch
near you, communicate with us.
I'm this city we are furnishing mes
sengers, telephone and door attend
Ents and are preparing first-aid kits.
VERY sincerely yours,
MONTAGUE CANNON"