The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-05-18
(By Associated Press.)

WOIh. Wn0lucI u5uIlH6 ouOuluCl w
shoulder with men in the Russian
Battalion of Death" driving ambu-
lances over shell-torn roads, nursing
in military hospitals or performing q
thousand and one duties at home
women have taken an important part.
However, there has been thrown OPP
en- new field in which the American
woman already has demonstrated her
infinite resourcefulness, innate versa
tility and racial capacity for speedy,
accurate work. The new task is that
Of operating an American telephone
exchange, often short distance be-
hind the trenches in France.
The great difficulty was procuring
operators, capable of speaking both
French and English, who were neces-
ssry in order to maintain accurate
communication between the French
and American armies. In November,
last year, General Pershing called up
on 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.
Believing it possible to obtain op-
orators with a command of both Ian
guages in parts of the continent where
there were large French 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-C Canadian
papers, but from more than 800 ap-
plicants only 6 could be considered.
Then the announcement was pub
lished in newspapers of this country,
and from 2,40O applicants there were
procured rs experienced operators
and Is possible eligibles. At the
present time 1900 applications have
been received, and from that list the
first group of 100 was selected and
sent across, $50 more are now in
training schools, and a reserve force
of 400 more is on file.
Under existing regulations, wives o.
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
rejoin their husbands in France by
enlisting in the phone units caused
the offices Of the Signal Corps to be
flooded with applications which nee
essarily had to be rejected.
Each applicants character and abil-
ity was certified by her previous en-
ployer before she was considered. A
psychologist gave tests to the pros
pective operator, using methods en-
pioyed by the army IN Judging quail
fications of officers. Also, since the
work to be performed was largely O.
confidential nature, and would give
the operators carefully-guarded in
formation as to troop movements,
each candidates loyalty and motive
for applying for service was investi-
gated thoroughly by secret service
agents.
On Jan. IL, the first group entered
the training schools for instructions
in advanced telephony. Practice was
given in the largest New York ex.
changes, and was followed, by short
term at military environments SO tha
the young women might acquire soms
familiarity with military terms. Lee
lures were delivered to the recruits
by officers of the Signal Corps, spe
cial emphasis being given to the i'm
portance of lines of communication IL
modern warfare Talks upon person
al hygiene were given by women sur
geons.
On March 2, the first contingen
sailed, and few weeks later Amer
lean officers in France were agreeabl
surprised by hearing over the mill
tary phones operators who use
American terms, gave splendid sery
ice, and who could translate the mes
sage of a French officer to an Amer
ican. Other groups sailed durin
March and April and were statione
in groups of ten at supply depots {
debarkation bases.
The uniform worn by the woma
operators was designed and pr
scribed by the Army War College.
consists of a coat and skirt of nay
blue serge, tailored shirtwaist OF ma,
blue palm-beach cloth or similar m
terial, and the straight HI
of blue felt with the official oranl
and white cord Of the Signal Corp
On the left sleeve of the coat is Il
brassard of white whipcord or do
skin, bearing small devices indicatil
the rank of the weare--chief oper
tor, supervisor, or operator.
at would be impossible to briga'
American troops without these girls