Evening star., 1941-08-03
Pretty, 32-Yeor-OId Woman
Is General in British Army
Chief Controller of
A. T. S. Heads SO, 900
Feminine Soldiers
By SHEILAH GRAHAM,

By SHEILAH GRAHAM,
Foreign CORRESPONDENT of The Star and
N A. N. A
LONDON, Aug. 2.-One of the
youngest military generals in the
world is 80 years old, has big gray
eyes, is pretty, quiet voiced and Ca
pable and has no servant for clean
ing brass buttons or shining shoes.
And incidentally the general is a
woman
Gen. Jean Knox is chief control
Ter of the A. T. S. (Auxiliary Ter
ritorial Service) and she not only
has the rank of general but she
wears the same uniform as her male
counterpart, including the crossed
baton and sword. in brass on her
shoulders.
Mrs. Knox. however, wears a skirt
and being on the feminine side she
has designed a new four-piece skirt
to replace her predecessors baggy,
bell-shaped number
I lunched with the general at
Grosvenor House and also met her
A. D. C.'s who addressed their SUI
perior officer as MA am" in lieu OF
sir.
I'VE were formed as an auxiliary
to the army around Munich time,
1888" Mrs. Knox tells me. when
war was declared we were 1900
strong and I'll never forget the sight
of women marching off to war, most
of them with tears streaming down
their faces. Most of us had left hus-
band, home and children for we
knew not what. AS we marched to
headquarters the sirens sounded and
we looked at each other wondering
how long have we got, two hours or
four, to live. But we kept on
marching"
Recruiting Voluntary.
The A. T SIS now number $4,000,
but Gen. Knox aims TO bring the
strength of her feminine army to
100000 Recruiting is voluntary. but
there may soon be some form of
conscription.
TITS better to have volunteers
Mrs. Knox tells me voluntary
soldiers, particularly when they are
women. do a better Job. But the
army needs 100000 women and we
must get them"
The age limit for women soldiers
Is from 17l2 to As. But the woman
who wants to join the army can
whisper her age into the ear of a
recruiting officer who has sworn to
keep it secret.
Thus far the women soldiers of
Britain have not had to handle fire.
arms, although if We have to we
will" Mrs. Knox tells me.
Women tommies are employed as
cooks, motorcyclists. tinsmiths and
clerical workers for all jobs that will
relieve men for active fighting, most
of all for radio-location and for
work on anti-aircraft stations.
The girls work together with men
and many marriages have resulted.
But of course that's not why we
expect them to enlist" smiles the
general.
But she knows it does not hinder
recruiting to keep that factor in
mind.
Uniforms Supplied Free.
Women soldiers live in barracks
and camps. Most of them are drawn
from the section that in peace time
would work in factory or Office.
The wages they receive are two
thirds that paid to men. Their uni
forms are supplied free. They are
khaki with khaki knickers and
stockings. One A. T. S. rookie de-
cided she preferred silk panties un-
der her skirt. She was severely rep
rinanded by her superior officer
(not Gen. Knox.
The food is good. A typical break
fast consists of cereal or porridge
and bacon or eggs, bread, MARINA
lade, tea or coffee.
The army girls are allowed lip
stick and other cosmetics in mod
Grafton.
But we have a firm rule about
hairdress," said Mrs. Knox. THE
hair must not touch the collar of
the coat. Some of the girls cut
their hair short, some pile it to the
top of their heads and then let it
down on their day off. But OBJ
viously we cannot have an army of
long haired women dmagine a
Hedy Lamar long bob over a uni
form.
Most of the girls" continues Mr..
Knox, find it less troublesome to
wear their hair short"
The generals own hairdo has a
small upswirl in the front and side
At the back it is short and swirled
sideways. 1t is efficient and smart.
Discipline" states Mrs. Knox,
"must be firm. 1t is the only way
you can run any organization. But
we are not quite as strict as a mans
army. For instance, if a girls fam
fly has been bombed out we give
her a leave of absence and she can
stay home as long as she is needed.
And, of course, If she marries and
has a baby she gets an extended
leave"
Has 14-Year-O Old Daughter.
Mrs. Knox has none of the phys
ical robustness that usually goes