New Britain herald., 1918-05-16
TELEPHONE GIRLS
WORK UNDER fire
Play Important Role in Strategy
On West Front

allied countries have distinguished
themselves in various lines of war
work. Whether fighting shoulder to
shoulder with men in the Russian
"Battalion Of DEATH" driving ambu-
lances over shell-torn roads, nursing
in military hospitals or performing
thousand and one duties at home,
women have taken an important part
However, there has been thrown
open a new field in which the Amer
lean woman already has demonstrated
her infinite resourcefulness, innate
versatility and racial capacity for
speedy, accurate work. The new task
is that Of operating an American tele-
phone exchange. often a short dis
lance behind the trenches in France.
In modern warfare, the telephone
has assumed such Importance that
frequently it is referred to the
nerves Of the army. 1t was not to
be expected that General Pershing's
eXpeditiOnary forces were to rely on
foreign system Of telephone cOmmuni-
cation, abandoning the more eXpedi-
ent service which this nation, as
pioneer in the field, had developed.
Accordingly, vast quantities OF tele-
phone material were taken overseas
and installed by the Army Signal
and French women were used for the
work but neither group was salts
factory.
The great difficulty was procuring
operators, capable of speaking both
French and English who were neces-
sary in order to maintain accurate
communication between the French
and American armies. In November,
last year. General Pershing called
upon headquarters of the Signal Corps
to forward overseas as soon as posi-
BILE force of 100 trained operators,
able to speak intelligently in both
tongues.
Newspapers Turn Trick.
Believing it possible to obtain op-
orators with a command of both Ian
guages in parts of the continent
wh,re there were large populations.
an effort first was made to- fill the
quota from the French pioneers Of
Canada and Louisiana. want ads
were placed in the French Canadian
papers, but from more than 800 appli-
cations only could be considered.
Then the announcement was pub
Iished in newspapers of this country,
and from 2,4OO applicants there were
| procured 25 experienced operators
and 25 possible eligibles. At the
present time 1900 applications have
been received and from that hist
the first group of 100 was selected
and sent across, SO more are now in
training schools. and reserve force
Of 400 more is on file,
Under existing regula tons, wives Of
army officers or enlisted men are not
eligible to those units. Unauthorized
stories to the effect that wives of army
officers had found it possible to re-
join their husbands in France by en-
listing in the phone units caused the
offices of the Signal Corps to be
| flooded with applications which nee
essar ily had to be rejected.
Each applicants character and
ability was certified by her previous
| employed before she was considered.
| A psychologist gave tests to the pros
| pective operator. using methods en-
ployed by the army in judging quail
| fcatiOns of officers. Also, since the
work to be performed was largely of a
| confidential nature, and would give
| operators carefully-g guarded Informal
| ton as to troop movements, each
| candidates loyalty and motive for p
| plying for service were investigated
| thoroughly by secret service agents.
On January -, the first group en-
tered the training schools for instruc-
tons in advanced telephony. Practice
was given in the largest New York
exchanges, and was followed. by
| short term at military environments
| so that the young women might &C
| quire some familiarity with military
| terms Lectures were delivered to the
recruits by officers of the Signal Corps,
toll oSiC
| Importance of lines of communication
in modern warfare. Talks upon per-
sonal hygiene were given by women
| surgeons.
Officers Actually Hear "Hello."
On March 2. the first contingent
sailed, and a few weeks later An1eri
can officers in France were agreeably
surprised by hearing over the military
| phones operators who used American
terms. gave splendid service, and who
| could translate the message OF a
! French officer to an American. Other
! groups sailed during March and April
and We're stationed in groups OF ten
at supply depOts or deba rkation
bases.
The uniform Worn by the woman
! operators was designed and prescribed
by the Army War College. 1t con-
sists of a coat and skirt Of navy blue
serge. tailored shirtwaist of navy blue
palm-beach cloth or similar material.
and the straight brimmed hat OF blue
felt with the official orange and white
cord of the Signal Corps On the left
sleeve Of the coat IS the brassard of
white whipcord or doe-sl<ln, bearing
small devices indicating the rank of
Or operator.
1T would be impossible to brigade
American troops without these girls,
L. L. I-as.r ,lan