Evening star., 1940-12-15
By Gretchen Smith.

A figure fell with q thud from a
third-story window overlooking Con-
necticut avenue. A crowd, which
appeared suddenly from nowhere,
gathered about the silent form on
the pavement.
A photographer driving up the
avenue parked his car quickly.
Gosh, this is SCOOP" he thought,
with the newsman's trained eye
discerning the dramatic gathering
on the sidewalk
From a fashionable restaurant
next door, the steward ran out
breathless, unaccustomed to such
tragedies as people falling from
windows.
What ees it?", he queried ex-
ciredly.
AS the photographer and maitre
d1lotel approached the crowd, they
saw number of women calmly take
charge of the situation. Two or
three knelt over the figure, applying
bandages, while from a doorway,
two others appeared with stretcher
Quick work." the photographer
though. as the PROSTATE form was
lifted onto the stretcher.
The work was done so quietly
and efficiently; the participants
were so serious and intent, that it
scarcely seemed possible the women
were but members of a First Aid
class, enrolled in the preparedness
course of the American Women's S
Voluntary Services; that the bleed
ing and battered figure was only a
dummy, dressed and painted real
istically to accustom the trainees
to the sight of bruised bodies.
The class in First Aid Is but one
of several in the training course
offered to women to prepare them
selves for service to the nation In
case of emergency or need.
The American Women's Voluntary
Services is the American woman's
voluntary answer to the nation s
call for adequate defense Organized
by group OF patriotic women in
New York last December, it is based
on the principles and motives of the
British Women's Voluntary Services,
an organizat ton which has proven
its value and unique place in the
defense of England today.
Serve Without Pay.
The instructors and sponsors of
the Voluntary Services, as its name
implies, offer their services without
compensation. They likewise expect
those who accept training to offer
their services voluntarily If and
when needed.
With national headquarters at 7
East 5lst street, New York, the
American Womens Voluntary
Services, Inc, is expanding rapidly
and already units have been estab-
lished in various parts of the coun-
try. Operating through local units
in American cities and towns, the A
w. v. S. stresses the vital qualities
of peace, patriotism. preparedness
and public service It's aim is not
merely to prepare women for work
in military defense but also to awak-
en- them to the need for trained and
conscientious volunteer workers for
philanthropic organizations in the
communities.
The principles which reflect the
spirit of the A. w. v. s. have been
embodied in short statement which
is presented to applicants for train.
ing. Devotion to the United States
of America and the principles for
which 1t stands and a patriotic de-
sire to serve the country, are the
only requirements for membership
The organization believes and spon-
sors the idea that the cause of peace
can be served by national strength
unity and adequate preparation
American women, trained for and
conducting co-ordinated program
of womens activities, will help to
make America strong and ready
they teach. Realizing the tragedy
of unpreparedness for military de-
tense in the nations of Europe, they
believe that while America is still
at peace, it should be alert, and train
now, so that should the need arise
1t will have trained women avail.
able for immediate service.
Establishment of local units re-
nuires consultation with the national
headquarters in New York. Each
unit must be self-supporting and
must enjoy maximum autonomy
commensurate with program stand
ards as established by headquarters
Each unit must have sponsoring
committee Of able and dependable
women Of the community. The
chairman OF the committee is re-
sponsible to the national office. The
unit itself has unit leader, respon-
sible to the community committee
Instructors Chosen.
The Washington unit has head
quarters at 1905 Connecticut avenue
and is sponsored by group of the
community's most prominent social
business ano professional women
The local unit also has the advantage
over those in other cities in it,
ability to secure the services Of gov.
ernment officials as instructors ir
the various courses. A member o1
the staff of st. EliZabeth's Hospital
teaches the diet and canteen class;
an engineer off1cer from the Army
Engineer post, Ft. Belvoir, instructs
In map reading, and an oficial o.