Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-06-18
EUROPEAN WOMEN SEE IT THROUGH-By Frederic j. Haskin

now earning twelve by "doctoring" the chimneys
of Paris.
England's attitude toward the replacement OF
men by women in industry has been characteristic.
Her recognition of feminine ability has been rardy
but thoroughly Just and military. women are
turning the majority of the wheels of war IN
Great Britain, too, but there is more Of display
of buttons, badges and khati. British women doc
tors, having made good have been commissioners
women farmers, working in units, at once become
self-appointed lieutenants and captains, and mill
tary discipline and uniforms are in evidence every
where.
Since the "Waacs' or Woman's Army Auxiliary
corps came into being last year, the military note
has become stronger. The "Waacs are re-
cruited by the minister of labor, but they are or
ganized paid, dressed and disciplined on army
lines and are sent here and there wherever needed
Every trade from vegetable woman to acetylene
weder is represented in the organization. Several
units of the ''Waacs" now in France WorklnS
directly behind the lines.
Not to be outdone by the army, the British
navy now has its auxiliary corps of women, also.
only it is called the Woman's Royal Naval Service
or the ''Wrens" The recruiting for this organiza-
ton has been going only short time, but Lon
don is already full of ''wrens' in their navy uni
forms. Among them are chaufeurs, wireless oper-
ators, clerks, cooks mattresses for officers mess,
and workers at air stations; for repairing and
cleaning airplanes especially needed. On duty
the women are responsible to their own officers
appointed among themselves, while in working
hours they directly under the orders OF naval
officers These organizations have brought about a
new democracy among Englishwomen. Rank is OBJ
tanned only by merit and it often happens that
ciety women may be found serving under captain
who was formerly a factory worker. women are
filling positions in government departments III
England that would have been considered quite be-
yond their abilities few years ago. Lloyd george
has among his private secretaries young lazy OF
unusual ability.
The British attitude toward the woman worker
in all its paternalism is illustrated by an incident
which occurred not long ago. A hospital in which
young woman had just had her first baby asked
for baby carriage for her. 1t announced that this
woman going to work Immediately, and that if
she had to carry 1.-THE baby it would decrease her
power both a worker and as a mother. The
hospital did make the request as a plea for
charity, but as excellent national investment.
White recent news concerning German wom-
en- has been received by the womans committee of
the Council of National Defense, it is known that ,
the same change in status is taking place in Ger
many. Women working in the fields and carry
ing on the manufacture of munitions in the place
of men, while everywhere schools for women are
being established where politics and economics are
taught. Germany is training its women to take the
places of their men in the economic as we'll as the
industrial world.
In Italy, where even in the recent mast custor,
bound women more closely to the home tffAn in
other European countries, the Italian women
stepped into the places of men, More than 1S ner
cent of the workers in Italian munition plants are
women; Italian tramcars now run entirely nv
feminine conductors, and the government has
opened various kinds of special training schools for
women. At first inclined to ridicule the uniformed
woman, the Italians warmly enthusiastic
over her efficiency.
Even turkey Is acquiring an entirely new atti-
tude towards its women. The government is now 1!
employing many Mohammedan women in important
affairs of state. The minister of finance, for ex-
ample, recently issued a call for twenty-five en-
ployees, stating that the places would be reserved
for women who qualified in public examinations.
Such announcement seems to have strengthened
the spirit OF the to the point of open REBEL
lion. For not long ago government edict was
issued, condemnng women who went without veiis'
and wore short skirts, and giving the offenders just
three days to get back into proper clothes. Be-
fore the three days were over, however, the edict
repudiated by the government it having become
evident that the women had organized to defy it.