Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-02-15
Where0nIy
W0nnenGet lobe
Generals
>REAr BRITAIN bias nsary 100000 women serylng

49, to colonel Russia and Germany between them
probably have almost million in military britcAes
but only country the world has a general
That is Seras, where the generals have
back as man or buck private remember.
Seras O countless tiny islands that the
Sr',tH p'it.oH o' ,ht ih"''h o.ta lar from m
ship lanes About 400 southwest Of Ceylon tins
island is six mile by almost mile obtHg ~4th
rounded corners and Nshaped notch on the north on"
that excellent harror for the occasional ship thai
H'ops there II has population Of 500 hard working "'
Every island strong enough to work "a fuU
day the fields must NE army. present about
100 strong Military performed periods rIth
intervals II civluau c during which the
part subject II needed
Each soldier wears on his chest suspended from ,nc.
string bit OF squared bark about the size OF MS palm
Al the end of each days service mark is made this
bark by the second command When there "a
his military finished During his civil life period
he wears circular bark record book and at the end Of
each day the island chiefain sub-chef marks Z
After SO days he is again returned TO military duty
No Is when this system went into effect
when the Seras first learned 20 count buy II has been
force for over 100 years Captain Jonathan Brand
English Visited the island 1897 In his sl'p
the cod willing and letter sir George RatIci,
English scholar account ot Captain Band
thought mo s,ras ,rc TAUGHT 20 count by Isanlic mis-
slo;af,s and SIR George 'gt",d The after claimed
find evidence tna' this island Has VISITED by Arab s,ae
carly 100
visited 's par Of To-. world before Captain Brand makes
mention Of the service p-iods hat cf'
lady general and her army 40 ~ IT'S
The savalcs call thct captain Wtr Lumiic
similar aamc ara not certain whether this br her
t'lo. She IS b.soa young woman Of 30 or and
much prctter than the others She her dark
with clothes any female here but tall
hcadgcar partly Of metal which evidently her symbol Of
Office. she always carries a thick war club which by
rights should be too heavy a woman TO irft
Her Office is mochcry for she has been trained To
since childhood Every fcT the most Intelligent grl
child me island added 20 the suite az HI general
and urru her pag"hood is taught all the arts Of
known her nandcr. Sometimes page fails 20
satisfy gcucralcss and dismissed after
years The Oldest page there sometimes four or five
Of them ranging from y 70 90 acts second IL
command but necessarily succeed 20 Office the
death dismissal Of general The best student among
eldest chosen general be dismissed for
accepting a bride negligence losing
The present woman general is Iuhine and Captain
Theibauts general she is comely woman IN the late
thlrtics Unlike most island women Of her she stl
appears fresh and firm Luhne wears moro clothes than
the lady who commanded 1878 adjoining herself with
gray and rcd checked lGmberJacks shirt white flannel
heavy pair work shoes This outfit
Iubinc inherited u hcr predecessor who got
it from English yachtsman Rodgers Mllkn who visited
island and cft The clothes appreciation OF the hos
pitality accirled him and his PARTY ef three
The hereditary ruler of Scras is 53-ycar-old Chief
Munpo who permits none of his people sacken Under
his able supervision they cultivate about 1000 of
rice MAINTAIN 4Oacre orchard raise countless chickens
pigs a ducks and goats They also cultivate few
tobacco for every Serasan whether SIX or 60
likes his pipe
General Lublincs job is keep her soldiers drilling
There hasn't been since 1890 when nearby island
attempted an invasion beaten off but national
defense preparations 20 on with spears war cIup''
avcus and sings the daily practice the ART OF re-
ncIng invaders Huge trenches and breast"orks have
been thrown up all around the island from which the
S,rasians can hurl their avens with deadly accuracy
When not drilling the men are busy manufacturing
additional equipment until today the army OF go including
average more than 5000 throwing aVehnS
war clubs l2-foolong spears and over 900 sings
There seems plenty 81 ammunition for these sings
The islands last visitor Captain George Gloson OF the
Good VOYAGE II early this year observed ammunition
dunn Of stuoo that covered at least an acre of
ground and some so feet high. s|.f
Another duty Of soldiers is 20 maintain order Act.
ing as police o an island where virtually unknown
tcv break p occasional disturbances chase pigs into the
forest and guard the tobacco storc-housc.