The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-06-16

oohiNtiiiiiS iihN INNOll Oii ONNi ~
among the American women, and /
sheds an interesting sidelight upoi
the character of the women them
selves, upon the American men, and
most of all, upon the Germans. Fo
the order has gone out, from Y. NJ
{. A. headquarters, and from tn
army command, that no American
woman shall be permitted farthe
forward in the fighting zone thai
brigade headquarters. This mean
that they must remain consider
able number of miles behind tn,
trenches.
This does not please the women
They want to go forward to the reg
imental bases OF the fighting units
While the Y. M. c. A. men go ac-
tually into the trenches under fire
bearing supplies to the fighters, the
women recognize that this is i'm
practicable for them. But say that
they want to go at least to the rear
and weary, and more in need of the
touch of home and of the repre-
sentative of their wives and moth
ers than at any other time. The
psychological condition OF the men
who are either going into or coming
out of the trenches is such that the
presence of a typical American
woman would mean everything to
them. A cup of hot cholocate then,
or doughnut or a piece OF pie, with
a CHEEKY word from a tactful wo-
man, would be more than service
to the men; it would be an asset to
the army.
All such regimental bases are i'll
the zone OF fire. In them the men
wear their "tin hats" as the steel
helmets are colloquially called, and
carry always their gas masks. But
it is not the fear of wounds or death
that constrains the men to keep the
women from these advanced posts.
They are quite willing that she shall
take a soldiers chances. One Amer
lean Y. NJ. c. A. woman worker
has already been killed by shell fire
on the French front.
The Horror of the Huns.
While willing that the women
should run all reasonable risk from
shells and bombs and gas. there is
one peril from which the American |
men are resolute to deliver them.
That is the possibility of capture
by the Huns. Men out here know
too well the nature of the foe they
are fighting to be willing to take
the slightest chance of letting an
American woman fall into the hands
of the boches. The horrors OF Ger
man outrage in Belgium and cap
tured portions Of France, are vague
ly known in the states; but out here
the stories are told with a particu-
larity that makes them eyer-present
realities and possibilities.
Therefore. since it is proper mill .
tary wisdom to take always into ac-
count the possibility of an enemy
advance, the American men stead
lastly refuse to let the women enter
this danger zone. On the Ameri-
can sector there are no women
really at the front-althoug that !,
term front is so loosely used that g
persons fifty miles behind the guns =.
sincerely think that they -
are at the front =
OF course the women, who are =,
as brave as the men, =
insist that they may be trusted to y,
ook out for themselves, and to keep y,
out of the hands OF the Huns, whose ~
cal character is as clearly revealed 81
,y this incident as by elaborate ~
reatises on the subject. One young "
woman put the case to me in rath- =
II dramatic fashion. She is a Y. NJ. N;
:. A. worker at a rather advanced a
,ase, which is constantly subject TO a
eroplane attacks. Her men aSso- H
iates go and come to and from the A
renches, and she knows all the per 4
IS she seeks TO brave. Moreover, 3
he is a Roman Catholic, which
lakes her solution the more radi- a
al The women are needed; they n
an do an important work; they 4
'ant to go. This old-fashioned idea
American chivalry is very fine for
eace times, but this is war. Every n
oman who goes forward can take
bottle of prussic acid, and be pre-
lTed for the worst; and YOU may y
e sure no American women will
III into German hands"
But as | know American men. ] q
IN see little prospect of the brave
Id adventurous women being per- a
tilted TO take the desperate chance
lggested by the clear-eyed Mon
IA giri whom ] have quoted.
What Women Do in France.
These Y. NJ. c. a. women, who
the number OF more than 800
, a varied and beautiful service
France for the American soldiers.
e by no means all OF the repre-
natives OF their sex with the y
nerican eNpeditionary force. Paris y
full of alert American women. y
arly all in uniform. and all char
seif-assured, we'll
Used and sensible. Their sim
city Of dress is scarcely more
arked in their present environ