The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-12-18
THURSDAY, DECEMBER IS, 1871
RRlTIsH. cOuRAGE

BRITISH. COURAGE
England is reaching deep into
family circles as boys ana girls
between Is and IS are required to
register. They vii, be interviewed
by youth service committees f
education authorities with view
10 being encouraged to join appro
pirate organizations. The registra-
ton will be promulgated by de
tense regulations.
Parents are asking scores Of
questions about the exact meaning
behind the official phraseology OF
this order extending CONSUMPTION
TO teen-age boys and girls in the
British Isles
Prime Minister Winston Church
i'll says I'VE must be careful par
ticularly that our boys shall not
run loose during this time OF stress.
Their education, well-being. dis
cipline and the service they can
render must all be carefully sup
eryised. All boys and girls Jf
these age groups will be register
ed and subsequently interviewed
under arrang ements made by local
youth committees Of education
authorities who will thus be able
10 establish and maintain direct
contact with all Of them.
we will have TO think OF future
citizens as well as the business Of
carrying on defense Of the coun-
try. Those who are not already
members Of some organization Or
doing useful work OF some kind will
be encouraged TO Join one or an
other Of the organizations through
which they can obtain the training
required to fit them for nation-l
service. There are fine opportuni-
ties for helping in the war open 10
strong and lovely boys OF from IS
TO IS. They can serve in various
youth organizations, such as cad.
cts, the junior training corps OF the
Air Training Corps or as sea cad
cts and in voluntary organizations
on the civil side. We hope 10 be
able 10 take some Of the 16-year
old class like the powder monkeys
OF Nelson's day in some areas
where the home guard will be en-
trusted with anti-aircraft defense
duties. In all these fields the well
being and training OF boys will be
the prime consideration"
In answer 70 questions Church
I'll reiterates that chiliren will be
encouraged and not compelled,
and since his speech there have
been several similar reiterations
by the authorities.
Already the minimum age for the
home guard has been reduced to IS
years for certain duties, while the
minimum age for air cadets has
been reduced TO J..
Plans are afoot to subsidize the
Boy Scouts, Girl Guides and other
youth movements TO develop and
provide for the special training en-
v!saged il the new plan.
First in the field with a plan for
special training Is the Women's
Mechanical Transport Corps 70 TT
for eventual war service thousands
Of girls from u to Is.
The girls meet once a week and
are taught drill and ARP. hygiene,
listen 70 lectures on suitable open.
ings in the services and are given
specialized training in nursing.
technical and clerical work. dis
patch-riding, cookery, frst-aid. sig.
mailing and field cooking. II in
poor circumstances they will be
assisted in purchasing a uniform
consisting Of a white tunic. a DARK
blue skirt, beret, tie, hayersack and
belt.
The service OF these youngsters
Will be valuable. but the process
OF taking them from their homes
viii be one Of the most serious
blows q the war for fathers and
mothers. many OF whom have al.
ready seen older members cf the
family respond for service.
Most Characteristic Of the Brit.
ISL people is Their calm determine
ton TO comply with such new
plans and whatever other plans
seem 20 be necessary fu- euccegsful
defense Of their country with Little
complaint. Such bravery must be
a great disappointment TO the Ger.
man high command who predicted
months ago that England would be
quickly subjugated like France ana
Poland and other nations that gave
way to German power and propa.
ganda.