Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-13
WILL ORGANIZE WOMEN
FOR PATRIOTIC DUTIES
National Board OF y. w. G. A. to
Throw Weight OF Its Experience
TO Meet Needs.
ORGANIZE FOR EFFICIENCY
Seek to Elevate Standards of Living
Among Girls in Vicinity OF Mill
tary Camps-Iwo Workers or
To Russia.

To Russia.
Rallying TO the call Of the nation at
war and recognizing the need for con-
cnrted effort among the women Of tho
land tho National Board Of tho Young
Womcn's Christian Association Is
throwing the mighty weight Of its
knowledge and experience toward
meeting women's new needs and solv-
ing womcn's new problems. Organ
lied and Individual Efficiency" Is to
he tho slogan for association work
from now on. and already every gen
eral secretary in the country has been
notified OF the purpose that each de-
partmcnt In her association will be
asked TO serve. The department OF
method OF the national board has out
lined Il definite program. which will be
enlarged to fit new demands from time
10 time.
The immediate necessity for guiding
the activities of young women In the
vicinity OF military training camps Is
being met in an unostentatious effort
for the elevation Of standards Of living
among such girls. Nor Is this work
merely experimental in character. for
the splendid work Of association sec
retarics along the Mexican, border Is
matter OF record. In the early sum
mcr. when the Presidents first call for
troops TO patrol the border went forth
the national board recognized at once
the necessity for safeguarding the girls
who lived in the towns where the
National Guard was puartcrcd and
who would thus be thrown into social
relations TO which they were unaccus-
toned Two representatives. were i'm
mcdiatcly sent out. and under their
able direction the work was organized
almost before the troop trains reached
the border.
FUNSTEN COMMENDS WORK
DONE by TIRE y. W. e. A.
The important centers were at San
Antonio, FL Iaso ard Douglas At San
Antonio the splendid equipment OF the
existing association was used. AT
Douglas modest quarters were rented
and girls club which has In It the
promise OF an active association. was
established. Acquaintance and friend.
ship with the militia under natural and
wholesome conditions were encouraged.
To that end frequent entertainments for
the girls and their soldier escorts were
given. one girl. recently come from
the North. leaving behind her a hard
heritage and a questionable reputation,
Is living At the association residence,
hnd!ng companionship and friendlincss
that are new To her. Another. who had
peddlcd small wares among the militia
in camp. declared that she never did
know such people existed. and did sure
wish she'd had the sense to know IL long
ago" General Funston. In an inter
view regarding this special work OF
the national board. said that the army
could work with the soldiers, but that
some one else must provide social life
TINT would allow fine men TO meet
fine girls in the right way-that the
loneliness Of the soldiers. life, isoia ed
from sisters. friends and wives, was
the hardest condition Of all of them.
CARRY FORWARD WORK
AMONG PRESENT CAMPS
This careful preventive work which
according to the same high authority
gives the girls backbone and dignity"
will he carried forward IN the vicinity
OF each Of the designated camps FOR
the training of enlisted men. Peters
burg and Charleston, in the South A.
lantic field. have already been visited
and plans are on foot for the im,ne-
date furtherance Of the work in these
cities.
Tho second item on the associations
program OF war effort will deal with
the girls and women who. in greatly
augmented numbers, will find work In
munition plants Here again tho cx-
perience of the association in amclio-
rating the conditions among English
munition workers. will be used as a
basis for adjustments on this side the
water.
Tho repla cling Of men by women in
various Jobs will receive Il very
thoughtful share OF attention. Elk
changes for employment to meet the
demands OF the girls will be opened
and girls Will be offered special train
ing in the kinds OF work that 1t seems
desirable for them to undertake.
inc demand for specific service is
already being met In the cooperation
with the Red Cross for classes in first
AID, home care OF the sick. home dicte-
tics and preparation OF surgical dress
ings. AS the needs arise each associa-
tion in the country will give courses
In canteen cooking, motor driving and
mechanics. telegraphy, sewing and
knitting.
PHYSICAL TRAINING WILL
NOT DE- NEGLECTED.
Physical education departments will
be asked to cooperate especially in
training young women to bodily eff
fciency. so that the work Of the world
may not suffer Special standardized
drills and sctting-up exercises. designed
to harden the muscles, cultivate quick
thinking and strengthen the heart and
lung action Will he part Of each
gymnasiums course. in addition the
girls will be carefully instructed il
personal hygiene-care Of the eyes and
teeth. necessity for sleep and fresh
air-and warnings against burning tho
candle at both ends" in n fever OF
patriotism. will he sounded. The con-
Hervation of energy for a long hard
strain Will be stressed at all times
The plan also includes instruction in
the choosing OF camp sites. camp sant-
tation and camp management
The association proposes. further, to
cooperate with existing Federal, State
and local agencies in tho effort to in
crease the food supply. Instructions
for conserving all edible parts OF fruits
and vegetables by canning and dry
Ing and the prevention Of waste will
be included under this head.
These suggestions are merely to in
dictate ways of service. and local as
socntions will be free to meet local
needs in their own way. Frequent
bulletins from headquarters in New