The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1918-09-05
Women Drivers Needed
By Frederick ]. Haskin

dlC uCcucu ny the AIu6IlCdQ H6O CrOSs
for duty in France. The recruiting OF
feminine chauffeurs has already begun
in New York where, it is hoped, the
first unit of so women may De mobilz-
ed and sent across by October l. Mean
time, other cities are preparing to sup
ply their quotas.
This call is issued by the director of
motor service at national headquarters
of the American Red Cross in answer
to cabled request from the Paris Of
flee. which states that there is a great
need for women messengers, ambulance
and cannon drivers behind the lines-a
need that will be only temporarily met
by these 300 drivers. Already more
than 1000 English and French women
are reported to be engaged in this
work, but many more are needed. This
is only the first call.
Women who can afford to donate their
services are asked to do so. The
American Red Cross will pay their
travelling expenses, and if necessary an
allowance of $50 france 1885, a month
outside of Paris and of 600 france (SlO0)
month when in Paris will be paid y
expert drivers who are dependent upon
their own resources.
To be eligible for this work a woman
must have passed her twenty-fifth
birthday, must be fairly robust, and
possess an impeccable patriotic record.
AS far as possible, candidates for this
service will be selected from the local
divisions of the American Red Cross
Motor Corps already in existence, for
the women of the Red Cross Motor
Corps are thoroughly trained and ex-
perienced in the duties of war mes
sengers and ambulance chauffeurs.
Early last year the American Red
Cross, realizing the need for women
DRYERS both at home and abroad, Great
ed separate bureau. known as the
Bureau of Motor Service, with offices
at the National Headquarters, for the
purpose of organizing chapter motor
corps throughout the county. 1t now
has l40 such organizations to it's credit,
with membership of over 5000 wo-
men.
The size of local motor CORPS de.
ponds entirely upon the requirements of
the local Red Cross chapter. 1t ranges
all the way from six to 60 drivers. Red
Cross motor drivers are classified in two
divisions, the first division including
ambulance and truck drivers, and the
second division including the drivers of
passenger cars for messenger work .
Drivers in the first division are chosen
for their ability to drive trucks and
ambulances owned by the local chap
tiers. They must be graduates of a
mechanical course specified by the Red
Cross and possess first aid certificate.
In most cases candidate for the am
bulance division is sent to hospital for
II days experience in it's emergency
room, or on one of its ambulances. but
that is not insisted uptn. The Red
Crss Motor Corps conducts sanitary and
stretcher drills which are sufficient to
teach the members how to lift and care
for wounded soldiers
The second division of the chapter
motor corps, on the other hand, is re-
cruited entirely among women who can
afford to donate not only their services
but their own cars. No woman is &C
cepted. however, who cannot pass an
examination demonstrating her ability
to drive, as well as a knowledge of sim
pie mechanics and traffic rules. A mo-
tor corps makes all other volunteers
fade into insignificance. She even buys
her own gasoline, oil and tires, and if
she is fined for exceeding the speed
limit while hurrying some Red Cross
message to its destination she pays the
fine.
Each Red Cross motor corps has a
captain, who assemblies her forces.
trains them and assigns them to various
duties. There are lieutenants, too, but
these are ranks of distinction rather
than of utility. When you are messen-
ger in Red Cross motor corps your
car is pledged for certain number of
hours each week. and three failures to
appear at these hours, unless detained
by illness, is considered sufficient cause
for dishonorable discharge. When your
hour of duty approaches you report at
the motor corps headquarters and are
detailed by the officer In charge for
certain service. Sometimes you are
turned over to the home service section
and spend the morning driving Red
Cross social workers from point to
point. Canteen workers are trans
ported to and from railroad stations,
chapter supplies delivered and called
for. Occasionally, if lucky, you are de-
tailed to drive an American or a for
eign officer in a resplendant uniform
about the city, greatly to the envy of
admiring friends.
These, briefly, are some of the duties
of the Red Cross Motor Corps as de-