PREPARING DEFENCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 September 1938, Page 4

PREPARING DEFENCE

BRITISH WOMEN TRAIN. South African women have not yet organised themselves as have the women of almost every European country, to play their part in “the next war” —if there Ist to be a next war, states the “Cape Tinies.” The South African view is that the existing organisations of V.A.D. workers, St. John Ambulance Brigade enthusiasts, and the scores of other women’s organisations on the lines of the Agricultural Associations’ and Hclpmekaars will be able to coordinate their work so rapidly in the event of "trouble” that the bridge need not be crossed until it is reached.

In Britain, however, the position today is different.

Primarily “W.V.S.” will endeavour to stimulate women’s interest in air raid precautions work. This includes casualty, hospital, ambulance communications, evacuation and home safety .s'ervices.

Hundreds of thousands of households will be visited by members of the organisation. Means of protecting the home against gas and fire will be demonstrated. Elementary personal precautions will be explained. Much of the work which was to li.-.vc b:::r thru-'. Hr-: -id warders will now devolve on to women members of the “W.V.S.”

During the Great War good work was done in Britain by the Women’s Itoyal Air Force, the Women’s Royal Naval Service, the Navy and Army Canteen Board, and other organised units. Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Force, which was the first of these war units, was not started until early in 1917. By the end of 1918 there were more than 55,000 women enrolled in it.

It has since been realised that double the work might have been accomplished had matters been better organised. Following the Boy Scout motto. “Be prepared,” Sir Samuel Hoare has decided to train women in peace time for emergency purposes. In a letter he says: “The burden which would fall on women in the event of attack would of necessity be heavy, and if it is to bo most effective it is essential that they should be organised and trained beforehand.” To this end al least 500,000 women, between 17 and 65, are to be enrolled in. Britain’s passive defence services. The national organisation will be called the Women’s Voluni ary Services.

I 'rhe movement has no military sigi vificance, the organisers declare. I It is essentially civilian. No uniforms will be worn, but at a later stage badges will be available

SUITING ALL TYPES. At least fifty branches of work are available. Women of all ages, married or single, and in any sphere of iife, may enlist. They will act a® nurses, lorry drivers, cooks, typists, clerks, and lecturers. Efforts will be made to give women jobs to which they are suited. This is important, as was discovered when voluntary detachments were organised in 1014.

’ ' Regional headquarters based on air raid precautions organisation, will be established in all the big cities. The “Daily Telegraph” states that in each area a full-time, regional organiser will be appointed. The vicechairman, Mrs Montagu Norman, wife , of the Governor of the Bank of Eng land, will be in charge of the London area. She has had considerable experience as a member of the L.C.C. Lady Ruth Balfour has been nominated by the Secretary of State for Scotland as the Scottish representa live. In co-operation with voluntary bodies Women’s Voluntary Service Cen- . tre,-. will bo established. One such ■ centre will be set up in every county or borough with more than 50,000 population. In London. Manchester, Birmingham, and other* big cities several centres may be set up.