WOMEN IN THE BRITISH ARMY

Taranaki Daily News, 22 January 1918, Page 3

WOMEN IN THE BRITISH ARMY

From British Headquarters in France pomes the report that the feminine section of the British Army is growing larger day by day. Khaki-elad young women, at first confined to the Red Cross section of the field army, are rapidly pushing into many departments of army activity, displacing men, who in turn are. passed along to work nearer the frontline trenches. Every boat leaving England takes new companies of women workers. At first their work was mostly at the remote bases, but now they may be found working farther and farther afield, sometimes within hearing distance of the guns. In the clerical departments at the chief bases women have very largely displaced men. As chauffeurs they are being employed by hundreds, not only on ambulances and light supply waggons, but also on heavy transport lorlies, and with entire success. Six hundred young women carpenters tire at work building army nits. They have only six weeks of instruction and preparing in England before crossing the Channel. The vourfg women wear a Seat uni- j form of regulation khaki, with short I skirt and knickers, and a, sleeve badge. Each girl has to know only one small ; part of the whole process of hut building; each day she repeats the same operation, whether it be with saw, hammer or plane, and then passes on the work to the next operative. The housing of the women workers Hs been accomplished without particular difficulty Some units are in huts, other billeted in hotels, fcach unit lia.s its own supervisory ttfflcers and chaperons. While at wovk it is under command of young women l*mveiiants, who act their part as ateajrtly as figiitbg I'tes tem WitU actual