Evening star., 1923-07-27
GIRLS ASK TRAINING
CAMP UNDER ARMY
Iowa "PaIs" Write President
They Want Military Service
Like Boys.

A communication from two girls In
Iowa requesting the government to
establish training camp for girls
in military tactics reached the War
Department yesterday by way of the
White House in the absence OF
President Harding. The letter met
with a prompt reply from Major
Gen. Davis. adjutant general of the
army. in which he wrote the girls
| that they had raised some important
questions that the government would
carefully study.
Coming to the eve of the start of
the summer training camp mobiliza-
tion which will assemble 10000 or
more young Americans over the
country for volunteer military ser
vice, the plea of the Iowa pals
struck War Department officials with
unusual force, the Associated Press
reports. 1t served to disclose that
General Staff officers are giving
serious thought to plans for supple
menting summer work among the
boys with similar opportunities for
girls. AS yet the project has not
taken definite shape. Following is
the letter to President Harding:
Want Training Like Boys.
Charles City, Iowa,
Dear President Harding:
We are two girl pals and last
night at the movies we saw you rum
ming a tractor and stacking oats. We
thought If you could do that, you
might read a letter from two Ameri-
can girls.
I'VE have planned to write to you
for long time but did not have
courage enough until we saw you
last night
There are boys training camps all
over the United States, but we have
never heard of a government train
can't have one too? 1t is sure rotten
luck to be q girl, but as long as we
are we've got to make the best of it.
There are schools where girls may
study to become nurses, but that
doesn't exactly appeal to us. / be-
lieve girl would make as good a
soldier as any boy, but they have
never given us chance to try.
Believe They Could Fight.
''Why is IL we can't have a chance
to do our bit the same as the boys? ?
If ever the chance arose the girls
United States army would and could
help out. Besides helping the United
States 1t would help the girls. Girls
that have no home become "tuff.
A training camp would be a fine
thing for them. Girls can learn to
handle arms the same as boys
There are Girl Scout camps around
here, but girls over eighteen are not
admitted and, besides, we'd like real
training-as shooting, drills and
everything, similar to the boys.
From two pals.
'ALLETTA CAREY.
PERCY PAINE.
please answer soon"
Rife Practice Available.
Gen. Davis, in his answer, pointed
out that under existing law men only
are qualified for Army officers, which
the boys camps are designed to pro-
duce. He added that women. how
ever, were even now eligible for rifle
club instruction and decorations,
Just as are the men," and pointed
out to the pals" that they could
give the government "the best kind
of assistance by interesting the young
men of the community in the Citi-
Zens' military training camps" one
of which Is about to open at Des
Moines
although it is too late to do much
for the camp this year." he added
''it Is not too early to enlist recruits
for next summers camp
Gen. Davis thanked the pals" for
the patriotic spirit and enthusiasm"
their letter disclosed.