The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-20
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
INFOR I'M A TION
Blu REAU
FREDERIC J. HASKIN. Director
Washington, D. c.
SKIRTS OF THE FLEET.
Washington, D. c.

|
about three thousand women in this
branch of the service and the num-
| Der is increasing every day. These wo-
/ men are not enlisted to climb ropes,
| drill, or do any of the sailors jobs In
all prOba bility, they will never mount
! a ships deck in an official capacity.
They are enrolled as yeomen, and are
employed, most of them, at the peace
full work of taking down shorthand
notes and making them ineligible by
way of a typewriter.
! Such duties do not appear thrilling
or even of great Importance. but many
of these girls, who have demonstrated
ability to carry out orders quickly and
| effectively, now handle confidential
correspondence and transact business
requiring a high degree of executive
ability. Some are holding positions
which heretofore have been consid-
cred mems jobs exclusively.
| Admiral MCGOWAN, chief of the nav
| al bureau of supplies and accounts de-
! clares that the women serving in his
department are more satisfactory than
i the men. "They are more ambitious
and capable and less dissatisfied with
conditions and pay" says the admiral.
They are my right hand men. and my
only trouble is in getting enough of
! them"
The navy objects to its enlisted girls
| being called yeomanettes, yeowomen.
| or yeogirls. They are enlisted as
| yeomen, with the same rank, pay and
! privileges as men and to do the same
| work as men. Therefore their Off
| cial designation is ''yeoman," and any
other title is considered inappropriate.
| From the day the yeoman rating
was opened to women, the subject of
| a uniform was discussed. Most or the
| girls were in favor of a standardized
| dress They were in the navy and
wanted the public to know it. Then,
| too a uniform is a solution of the
| clothes problem which so often
harnesses the business woman, and
sometimes her employer. A solemn
study of types and styles by naval Of
| ficers, assisted by an advisory >coun-
| Gil of girls, resulted in the official de-
| cree of a navy blue or white norfolk
! suit regulation shirt waist, felt or
! straw sailor hat and black or white
shoes and stockings. For insignia. the
words ~. S. Naval Reserve Force" on
the hat band and the regular navy
rating chevron on the left sleeve of
the blouse were authorized The uni
| form was designed and described IN
detail, and took its place in the fash
| ion book of tie navy alongside of the
latest thing in costumes for naval
aviators. seaner and officers.
| In time of war, soldier or sailor is
forbidden by law to appear in civilian
dress. This ruling the navy has not
attempted to apply to it's enlisted
1 =
neat blue norfolk suit and cotton
gloves in the evening and attend
dance in he filmiest of chiffons, If
/ she so desires. She is not even re-
! quired to wear the uniform to her
| office. tho many of the girls prefer
the distinctly: dress. The yeoman on
| enlisting receives sixty dollars as uni
| form allowance. Thia-does not fully
! equip her. but yeomen now in service
| declare that it will supply recruit
I Toto --(r- N
she patronizes the navy clothing depot
in New York where the un forms are
made by government contract.
The yeoman recruit signs away her
business hours for four years in the.
| service of the navy, though in event
| of peace she could secure a release
| from further active duty. She fills
out the same application papers as
man, stating among other things,
whether she has ever served in the
army or navy. In spite of con-
| seriousness of her manly position the
| ADOPT a mas, line stride, tho her
skirts are full enough at the hem, as
per uniform specifications. to permit
| it. She smiles occasionally at the
| sailor boy who occupies the desk next
| 1-ers or hurrieS past her on message,
| and after office hours she can be seen
| strolling down Pennsylvania avenue
! from the navy department escorted by
a yeOman, who is a man.
| Among the well known girls who
| have entered the naval service are the
! two daughters of Postmaster General
| Burleson. One is assigned to duty
at the entrance to an admirars office
| to interview prospective visitors, and
| age of callers who proceed past the
| brass railing with Yeoman Burleson's
| consent are decidedly few.
Among the specialized women
| workers in the navy department are
five finger print experts To these
young women is entrusted the inn
Dortant and difficult work of taking
finger prints of enlisted men. Other
women classify and file the records,
and so complete is the filing system
J that prints Of any man in the naval
/ force of 1901 900 can be located in
frolh three to five minutes. The navy
relies on its finger print system to
| Identify men in case of casualty
| when properly taken, finger prints are
an infallible proof or identity, as the
possibility of two persons having the
same prints is only one in 50,0O0.0OO
Some of the yeomep are expert
translators. Others are cable de-
coolers. and still others are craftsmen
NO radio operators are recruited as
| few naval radio operators are em-
ployed on shore duty. and the Lazy is
firm in its decision on shore duty only
| for its women. So far, only one wom-
an cook has been admitted to the ship
! galleys. In this case, the applicant
was an expert scientific cook and was
taken in as instructor to ships coo1.s
| with the rank of commissary steward.
This expert food economist has turn
ed out cooks in eight days without en-
dangering the navy's digestion.
| The great need of the navy as re-
CARDS woman power is stenogra pliers,
| typists and bookkeepers. especially
| stenographers, The head of one navy
bureau states that he could use nearly
| three hundred stenographers now
| while other bureaus set no limits.
So much is said about the girl yeo-
man that we are apt to forget that
there are a large number of men en-
listed in the same capacity. Many of
these men are on duty in the navy de-
partment, navy yards, and naval train
ing stations. But the regulations
of the navy allow enlisted men only
six months shore duty at a time Enc