Evening star., 1942-07-20

come known as the west OPlnt OF
the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps.
A New Development.
What is taking place today at
this old Army post is a strangely
new and convincing demonstration
that we are rapidly approaching a
state of total war effort. America
has never seen anything like it be-
fore. The Army has always had its
nurses. Their sacrifices and hero
ism at Pearl Harbor and in Bataan
have been added to the American
tradition.
In the World War f1apper farmer
cites. clad in tailormade overalls,
posed for pictures astride tractor
seats AS now, girls left homes In
lesser numbers to release men from
factories and munition plants. Uni
formed yeomanettes and marinettes
were driving cars and working In
the Navy Building in Washington.
But here at Fort Des Moines
something distinctly new is occur
ring. There is being nodded into
shape different kind of uniformed
force, the model and prototype Of
new army of volunteers, trained for
soldiers work behind the lines that
more soldiers may be released to
fight. More power to them. In
way, the WAACS serve the same
purpose as their masculine counter
part, the Army specialist corps.
Her First Sight of WAACS.
And what was Director Hobby's
reaction in coming to Fort Des
Moines for the first time to, attend
the opening of the initial classes OF
officer candidates and auxiliaries?
Strange to say, feel very calm
now" she remarked en- route. But
I know I will be excited and thrilled
at the sight of all those girls. You
see, I've known them only on paper
records-they were just names, rec
ords and statistics. Now I'll see them
translated sato real life.
She did this morning. And SO did
one of the largest galleries of news
writers and photographers ever as
sembled on an obscure Army post.
Fort Des Moines is obscure no longer.
More than As writer's and photog-
raphers are on hand from points far
distant. Add to them score or
more of Iowa news, radio and cam
eramen. Yes, there are few other
males here.
Fitted by Former Training.
They have been coming here since
late Saturday, these women volun-
teers who are to serve with the Army
though not in it. Ninety-nine per
cent of the 300 who will have ar
rived before tonight are girls and
women who have had prior expert
ence in jobs, professions, scouting
and other activities fitting them for
the WAACS. Among the 40 Negro
officer candidates are 81 college
women.
Sixty-four WAACS caught the
train from Chicago, arriving last
night. Some came from as far as
Los Angeles. Serious young women
they were for the most part. They
were more sedate than a tralnload
of college girls, yet the arrivals at
Fort DeS Moines had all the ap-
pearance of the opening of girls
school.
The roads and walks resounded
to the click of heels but after today
when the rigid routine of drill and
Army discipline begins, they will
sound to the tramp, tramp, tramp
of marching feet in sturdy garrison
shoes.
A Few Beds Lacking.
Last night the girls arriving al
the post were checked and housed
in barracks. The Army staff, from
Col. Don C. Faith, the commandant
to the M. P.s on duty. had every.
thing in readiness. Well, not quite
everything, for some of the beds hac
not arrived. But enough so that
all were comfortable.
No more suitable place could have
been found than the broad greer
campus" of this WAAC school
Coming into the gate, one sees the
post buildings located around
large rectangular parade ground
Like most older posts of the Army
the officers quarters, barracks anC
other buildings are of red brick with
white pillars. At the east END l.
the administration building.
New buildings planned for th'
expanding Womens Army numbe
149. Already the Army has take1
over three downtown hotels IN De-
Moines and two additional buildings
at Drake University here. Thes'
will be utilized on August II as spe
cialist schools to be put into opera
tion as quickly as the first contin
gent completes the course and i
able to take over administration.
1873 Added to Faculty.
To the original faculty of Al off
GERS, 1873 others have been added
the first of whom began arriving
only few days ago. And the frs
group of l9l enlisted men who will