Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-10-24
Miss Yankee
"Over There"
BY Frederic J. Haskin

into the scrap over there has been eq,iallcd
| only by the longing Of the American
girl to do her bt--preferably over there
also. While the way across has been
easy enough for the male, getting TO
Paris has been made almost as hard for
the girls as for the German troops.
Despite this opposition, some young
women have proved their patriotism and
ability, and have received the much
desired passports.
The slightest runor of girls being
needed by any organization for overseas
service brings in flood Of applications
from all over the country As whole,
these applicants are sincere In their
desire To help, though many are sadly
lacking in the most essential qualifica-
tions.
The general feeling expressed by these
girls is. that France is the center Of war
activity, and that being small cog IN the
wheel OF the war machinery in France -
preferable to more important work in this
country. Some wnnt to go because they
have been told that higher salaries are
paid to workers in France, but they fail
to understand that higher cost of living
in Europe offsets this increase
THE LURE or ADVENTURE.
The spirit OF adventure urges others
to apply, and still others think that they
will see something Of France and the war
zone A girl Of this last type, who applied
at a war service recruiting Office, Inn
mediately proved herself unfit by her
questions as to how much of France she
would see and how soon she would have
a vacation.
II has come AS q disappointment TO
many girls That the War Department has
decided not to send young women 10
France for office duty. Plans have been
under consideration to send about FIVE
thousand girls to France as stenographers,
typists and clerks An untimely an
nouncement that young women were being
recruited for this purpose brought IN
thousands Of applications before the
government was equipped with apphca-
tion blanks and a sufficient staff Of work
ers 10 handle heavy correspondence
Girls from government departments at
Washington formed n waiting line NJ the
War Department recruiting office, and
were given chance to explain why they
were peculiarly fitted for the work The
qualifications demanded by the War
Department were for the most part
similar to those other war organizations
are requiring IN their foreign service
workers College graduates were pre-
ferred, but business experience was az
cepted ss substitute. Each appli-
cant's efficiency and motives IN desiring
TO go abroad were strictly questioned
CANT SCARE 'RH AWAY
That the girls might fully understand
the serious character of tic work, they
were told that no eight hour day would
be IN force, but that they would be ex-
pected TO work long and steadily that
they would probably be stationed i'm
Paris, but would see practically nothing
Of the reputed gay life Of that city; that
coal for heating residences is unknown in
Paris. and finally that they would have
10 70 prepared TO stay three Or four
years.
Prophecies Of hardship only increased
the determination of many applicants.
The first quotas OF three hundred and
fifty girls TO be sent over in November
were easily made up, and the accepted
candidates were told to be in readiness,
and other units were being recruited
when new order was issued remanding
the ruling permitting the use Of girls,
and substituting limited service men.
The main reason for this decision ap-
pears to have been the fact that many
drafted men unfit for active service are
available These men can be sent across
on crowded transports, and housed in
barracks, or billeted in French homes,
whereas special quarters would have to
be built for girls. as 1t would be lmpo~-
slble 10 scatter them Unfortunately in
Paris residences
Then, too. the soldiers vii be gwen
only military pay and allowances, and
supplied with amy rations. but girls
would have 10 be paid st least $50 A
month Whether the supply Of limited
service men. who are also experienced
stenogra pliers. typlstS and clerks, will
meet the demand is uncertain. But for
the present the subject OF girls being sent
overseas as clerks is considered closed bv
the War Department Ii is true that
the Ordnance Erancho Of the War Depart
Inent Is sending some girl workers TO
France, but only girls already in The /
ordnance service are eligible
SOME WAYS AND MEANS.
For the girl who is really anxious to /
go to France to help, and not TO make I
money or find adventures, there are q
number of possible courses. Nurses are
always needed by roth army and navy,
and the training period IS being shortened, !
so that more nurses can be sent abroad
Less extensive training is required in
for work III such branches as
the canteen service and hospital hut
SERVICE OI bue hCu AlOnS iit ulSiiCSH
type of woman IS needed for this service,
says the Red Cross, and adds that, the
workers should be strong, cheerful, self
reliant, and typically American, capable
OF self-sacrihce and devotion Their very
appearance should have an inyigorating
and refreshing quality which Will bring
something homelike and pleasant into
the strange and exhausting conditions of
army life abroad
The Salvation Army, too is in need Of
girls OF similar character to make pies
and darn socks for the soldier IN France,
and If necessary. to 60 on the battlefield
and help care for the wounded The
Salvation Army demands of its applicants
proof Of unquestioned loyalty 70 the
tnited States and its allies No maxi