TO HELP IN WAR.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 816, 13 May 1910, Page 3

TO HELP IN WAR.

HOW WOMEN ARE PREPAKINO. Patriotic women who desire to serve their country in an active way are joining the Women's Sick and Wounded Convoy Corps, say's the London correspondent of. the "Daily Telegraph." .This is authorised to provide voluntary aid detachments numbering about two dozen trained woman for the British. Red Cross Society, for the purpose of serving the sick and wounded in national emergen- «" at homo and abroad. The members ell drill side by side, and are instructed Jn' the mysteries of stretcher-bearing by a sergeant of the B.A.M.C. The uniform is i. dark green tunic and skirt, and a helmet of similar colour. Tho skirt is so constructed that it may be divided if. necessary.•. - Tho woman who joins the corps with no previous experience goes through a course Df first-aid and home nursing, and at the same, time attends lectures in physiology nnd But sho is not trained to be a norse and nothing more.. To be of active use in time of emergency, a woman must know more than the mere handling of bandages. She must if necessary be able to supplement by her own efforts the work of ambulance men. So the woman who joins the Sick and Wounded Convoy ■ Corps is taught stretcher drill , . In order that tho members of the corps eball have practical experience in attending the injured, it is arranged that they shall from time to time take up positions in the accident wards of the great London hospitals. Here they will 6erve.. an apprenticeship that will augment. their theoretical instruction'. They mil become inured to the sight of suffering, so that, should they ever be needed in war, they can enter'upon their' duties without having to serve any probation. Besides the ordinary duties of a hospital nurse, the corps is instructed in Invalid and camp cooking and flag-signal-Jing. . With each detachment are a wojnan telegraphist and carpenter, so that they' may be ready for any emergency. All the members are also taught to ride, side-saddle and astride. Riding serves two purposes. It is necessary because- circumstances might always arise in war time when it would be of the greatest service, and because riding encourages pluck and independence, sureness ;of -judgment, and quick decision, all qualities _of immense service and necessity in times "of emergency to women "as well as to men. In a few months' time the work of the corps in the drillhall and hospital will be supplemented by outdoor operations, during which war conditions will be reproduced as far as possible. '