WOMEN AND THE ARMY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 4, 29 September 1917, Page 4

WOMEN AND THE ARMY

THE CONSTITUTION OP THE AUXILIARY COUPS.

When the war is over and the history of woman's part in it comes to be written, three tilings vtil stand out very strongly: admittance to tho franchise; the right to receive honours at the Sovereign's, hands; and, lust but not least, tho right to join tho Army in the defence of the country, states a writer in "The Queen."

For although the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps is not alighting division, tho members aro placed on the strength of the unit to which they are attached, and so aro officially recognised as' part of the British Expeditionary Force in Prance. Needless to say, there have had to be certain readjustments in order that women might be admitted to tho ranks. For instance, the disciplinary methods liave had to be modified, and in place of a court-martial—which cannot impose any penalty lighter than imprisonment— a court of summary jurisdiption has been appointed which can, for lighter offences, impose a fine. Obviously, however, in the interests of'the Army, discipline cannot be entirely abolished, because the offending recruit happens to be a woman. Should a woman, after having taken tho military oath of, allegiance;- leave tho corps, 6he would be treated as a de-* serter and would bo liable to imprisonment. Happily no such caso has occurred. Such 6inall offences as do occur are punished by fines or by "fatigues," which consist in any unpleasant little task that may be going. In Prance the women are treated as, privates, and are subject to the Army.officers and n.c.o.'s. In addition, however, they liavo their own officers and n.c.o.'s. These do not rank in quito tho same way as tho ordinary Army officers, and in place of captninstjieutenants, etc., there are which thore c,re only two, one in France and one in England-. - administrators, deputy_ administrators, and assistant administrators. _ These wear an officer's coat and tie, whilst the private—or "member," as sho is called— woni's a coat-frock fastoned up to the neck.

The woman n.c.0.,' who is promoted from the ranks, may belong either to tho "lower" or "higher" grade. _ If to the former, she wears a. distinguishing badge —a simple wreath on both arms. If she bolongs to tho higher grade she will wear a rose in the centre of the wreath.

This, ilien, is the constitution of tho Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, aud although the disciplinary measures may sound somewhat alarming to, the outsider, they are not -regarded in that light by the girls themselves, who aro thoroughly enthusiastic about their corps.

Everything that oan be dona for their welfare and comfort is done, and the girls are very appreciative of the feet. restrictions do not prevent the girls in ltanco having a really good tinio when working hours are over, and they write home of picnics, garden parties, cricket matches, and in so breezy a way as. to make the recipients of the letters thoroughly envious. . The girls are housed in comfortable huts and hostels at a safe distance from the firing-line. The majority of the girls are engaged on clerical worfc; otters are employed as cooks, housemaids, laundresses, etc., in the hostels where the girls are housed. The domestic workers receive rations and quarters, and .£26 per annum, whilst tho clerks receive from 235. to 325. per week,'out of which they have to pay 145." for their board and lodgings. ' Their also receive a bonus of £5 at the ond of each year's'service, as well as an allowance of ,£1 for uniform. Kome of tho girls in the W.A.A.C. wonder why these terms haTc not attracted larger numbers to their ranks.