O.C. "WAACS"

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 296, 3 September 1918, Page 3

O.C. "WAACS"

(By Hilda M. Love.)

Somewhere in Franco. She came down the gravelled path bordering the .restful strip of greon km running through the centre of her camp. The sun shone on soft, curling brown ■hair, on a-siiiall dainty face,, on a slender figure in khaki—it lighted, in 'short, on a three-pip "AYaac" administrator. "How young!" was the first impression. But youth has experienced so much nowadays that ones does not necessarily look for masculine or elderly women in places of command. This O.C. "Waacs"—a girl in her twenties—had endured the strain of tho Serbian retreat as a nurse before becoming a pioneer officer, with the "Waacs" in France. People at home do not yet realise' the splendid, work performed by the Women's Army over here; they certainly do not realise how much of its brilliant success Jias been due to wise and efficient administration.

A "Waac" officer has wider and even more responsible duties than a mother, and has to exercise them over a largo number, of girls of various temperaments and grades. Sho lias to bo censor, doctor, heart specialist (for love will find, a way), caterer, • organiser, recreation expert, djsciplinnnan, and , very-much-human being, all beneath the one uniform. There baa to be personality, keen intuition, firmness yet sympathy, in dealing with a mixed body of girls.

Administrators have to reach the hearts of.their girls as well as to be responsible for efficient work, good conduct, bright badges, and sound ,teoth. For instance, one "Waac" blusliingly informed "Madam') , that sho was engaged. Madam congratulated her, asked to be introduced at'the next Sunday afternoon "at home" of the "Waacs," and made a point of having a tactful personal chat with the lover.

"Very wise and very human is the ideal administrator. She does not frown upon ' the companionship .of "Waao" and soldier. Instead she makes it. into a healthy, jolly companionship by allowing her girls to have their soldier 'friends to camp whist drives and and to piny return hockey, tennis, and Badminton matches.

"She's a terror for discipline," said a North Country "Waac" of her camp officer, "but slio's a queen, nil right." Too little has been, heard of the. work of those "Waac" officers. They touch the high-water mark of women's progress, filling their important posts modestly, reigning in their camps of France with a quint, impressive dignity.—"Daily Mail." . .