The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-07
Already Instructing
Men for Army and
Navy Although a
Year Ago None Had
Mastered the Craft


hidden door. The women who have at
last succeeded in opening the door of
wireless biography are by no means in
the same plight. Whether they forced
an entrance from pure curiosity or with
an idea Of patriotic duty or simply be-
cause they were interested in snatching
messages from the air does not much
matter The important thing is that now
q number of women are making surpris-
ingly good at this new work.
\ little more than q year ago no
courses of instruction in wireless were
provided for women. To-day they are
studying at the Marconi Institute, the
East Side branch of the Y. NJ C. A. and
Hunter College. At present the pupils
number about forty-six, while thirty have
passed their examinations and are capable
of handling wireless in various branches.
At the Y. NJ. c. A. branch in East
Eighty-sixth street there is a class Of
twelve young women studying under the
direction of William c. Bohn.
at is ridiculous to scoff at women in
wireless" said Mr.. BONN, "for there are
five women in New York who are every
day proving their ability in this direction.
There are also four others who have
proved that they can handle certain
branches Of the work.
Not Ready for Girl Operators.
"But it is another matter to lead girl
who is wholly dependent on her own eff
forts for livelihood to believe that once
she has learned to operate wireless
instrument there is a position waiting
for her or that the Government stands
ready to give her employment. This sit
uation has not yet come about. The Gov
eminent is not ready for women in wire
less. Besides large experience is required
Of operators.
"For instance, to qualify for a place
in the navy one must have had expert
ence in land station and also not less
than two years at sea- 1t is also neces-
sary to be able to take the Marconi code
at twenty words minute and the Con-
tinental at thirty. Combined with this
ability must be much technical knowledge.
Gwen if women have this experience
and knowledge, there are as yet no facil-
tiles for handling them. Women could
not be assigned to duty on battleships, and
in the navy yards it has not been found
practicable TO employ them. In England,
il is true, the majority of land stations
are handled by women. This may come
about here also.
"This is looking on the gloomy side of
the picture, but there is a brighter aspect.
Several women have already proved them
selves capable and excellent instructors in
the classes for drafted men to be assigned
to the Signal Corps and in classes at
Camp Mills. Recently there has come an
intimation from the New York University
that as the men giving instruction in wire
less are called to the colors women may be
ued to replace them.
ain the testing laboratory of the Mar
conf plant many women are employed,
but this is a special line and has no init
mate relation with the operation Of wire
less apparatus.
Paving the Way for Their Sisters.
"In the Western Union company some
of the best operators in telegraphy are
women. There is no reason why they
should not become quite as efficient in
wireless. At the present time taking up
wireless may be considered as luxury, TO
be INDUCED in by those who can afford to
wait for call. 1t is from this class that
the pioneer women workers in wireless are
being drawn, and they are paving the way
for their less affiuent sisters by proving
that women can do the work.
"Some of the pioneers are now receiv-