Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-07-12

.WACy Strength
In Pacific Area
To Be Increased
By Catherine r. Hambiey

Plans are being formulated tc
send several thousand more WACS
to the Pacific area where 5000 are
now stationed around Manila ano
on Leyte and New Guinea, accord
ing to reports from 1t. Col. Mary
Agnes Brown, recently returned
from the Southwest Pacific theatei
and ON temporary duty here. She
will leave shortly on tour of Army
general hospitals in Southwest
States with members of the Ma
tional Advisory Committee to the
Women's Army Corps.
The Army is not carrying on a
recruitment campaign but is accept
ing enlistments. Many of these
must be used for requirements. A
percentage of WACS have husbands
serving abroad If their husbands
are granted Army discharges they
too, are eligible for release. Many
girls entered the corps for patriotic
reasons under the age limit. Wher
discovered they are also sent back
as are those with dependency claims
If station proves too rigorous the
WAC is generally reassigned. Fol
such reasons and others replace
ments have to be obtained.
WACS, Tokyo bound, cannot look
forward any longer to the pleasant
experience of being stationed ir
Australia. However, contrary tc
rumorS, they have not found duty
on New Guinea too terrible There
are beaches and posts on high lano
near lakes, surrounded by noun
tains. They feel lucky to be in
Manila. Quilted as it is with living
conditions difficult. Two college
buildings have been Communicated
for them there. Col. Brown lived
fairly comfortable in the former
Jesuit college where the Japs mas
sacred 100 priests. About 400 All
Corps WACS are living at Fort
Mckinley.
Though bomb-torn city could
scarcely be considered attractive tc
tourist-minded persons, the ancient
walled city still holds destinations
for service personnel as does Dewey
boulevard, one of the most beautiful
in the world, running along Manila
Bay. Boat trips TO Corregidor are
made when the women can get away
from secretarial duties or from
technical jobs with noncombatant
branches of the Army. Many have
learned their skill in these positions
Among those are WACS responsible
for boats being loaded with mini
mum loss of space.
In the evenings they are enter
tanned by the natives, date and at
tend organized parties arranged by
battle-weary GIS at rest centerS
Jap snipers sometimes creep arounc
but at this stage they are more
interested in food than anything
Nerves are jumpy when air duel:
are in progress, but in time girl
get callous and sleep through raids
Away from home, local news take!
on an added attraction. The Over.
seas Editions of The Star are we'll
thumbed. The girls also like tt
speculate on the end of the wal
but accept the official attitude to be
ready for the worst. They are pre-
pared to be shipped anywhere anG
Joke about how it will feel to bt
a civilian again. They marvel that
the Army does as good job or
supply as it does, considering the
distances and problems of trans
shipping to keep up with the Army
Their memories will include walk
ing ankle deep in mud over the
badly drained roads of Leyte, Of
friendships made and of the knowl-
edge that much that has been done
in defeating Japan is directly due
to their support of the Army's or
ganization.