The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-05
CENTRAL
READY FOR FRONT
First Contingent OF Fifty Women BE-
longing 10 Telephone Unit VIII
start This Week.
WIRE CHIEF IN CHARGE.
Operators Are Interpreters RE Well
Must Know F'rcnrh and Must Net
ISc Married to Any Army or Navy
Man.

Washington, Feb. s.--The first con
ungent Of Atty OF the women's tele-
phone unit of the United States army
leaves America for France "somo
time this month" They are enlisted
for the duration of the war and wear
i uniform
They will be under command Of a
man captain, 4 retired wire chief Of
one Of the big telephone companies.
who already is with General Pershlns
supervising the present telephone
force OF the American expediuonary
army.
The present force will be supervised
by the especially selected and highly
trained American girls. who have been
admitted to the army service only
after the most rigid examination So
to physique and mental and moral
qualities.
They are. primarily. not telephone
operators. but interpreters, and they
are not girls. They must be between
twenty-five and thirty years old and
able to "cut in SIS interpreters at the
| switchboard
Tha antecedsntS OF svery applicant
are Investigated thoroughly 1900 how
thoroughly the applicant herself never
knowB--~by the cooperation OF every
| telephone company In the country.
Must Speak French.
| II her character is found sattsfac~
tory. some French citizen is delegated
! to cali her by telephone. or ahe Is
asked 70 call him by number. That
is all the preparation she has for the
test OF her French ami she must
qualify Immediately.
The physical examination is made
| by the physicians OF the various tels-
| phone companies. with special inztruc-
tons from the signal corps,
: The applicant must not be married
to any army or navy enlisted man or
officer.
| That is the only ban on the marital
| condition. and II waa established and
is maintained impiacaniy. to dam the
infiux OF army mems wives. especially
wives OF officers, who eagerly havs
sought this apparent means Of obv'~
ating the bar to their docking to Eu-
| rope,
Other married women are nos re-
jscted.
There 10 much emphasis on the re-
csssity for stability OF mood.
we aren't trying any cry~bshies. =
10 the way IL WAS expressed ofacIaily
| Fay is " Day.
| -Four dollars q day In pai0 to all or
| temporary duty and salaries up Il
SIPS month when bitieted. with
nothing to furnish but q uniform.
Each operator wears a blue felt
| campaign hat of the regulation army
| type; q blue Jacket OF the Norfolk
| style, modelled after the English Off
GERS Jacket: blue walking skirt. OF
plain cut and tacily short; and high
boots OF tan leather.
They will hold rank through tbs
non commissioned grades. The ser
| geants who act as wire superintend
entA. designated by brnssard (arr
band) showing. In white embroidery
| conventionallzed telephone transmit
ter. with wreath below snd conven-
| tionalixed lightning shafts above. The
| corporals wear the same brasxard
| without lightning shafts. and act az
| chief operators. The operators wear
hrassards showing the transmitteE
| only.
| These women are being trained noyS
| in scores all over the country in tht
| handling OF switchboarda.