MODERN AMAZONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15375, 9 August 1913, Page 5 (Supplement)

MODERN AMAZONS.

WOMEN IN FRENCH ARMY.

}* the French Army wants recruits Jadame Dieulafoy is ready to supply thousands. This is the gist of; a lecture that she delivered to 300 bright and smiling French girls. . It is time, she said, in substance, for women to take an active interest in the array. "Wo are not going to carry rifles or knapsacks, dig trenches, or stand in the front line of fire, but where we can help the army wo will." Sho said the same a few weeks ago, as she made her way through the severe corridors of the Ministry -for War into the offices of M. Etienne, the Minister. ' She looked like a young officer, indeed, dressed as she was in men's clothes and few the attendants suspected that it was Madame Dieulafoy, whose privilege, it is to wear male attire. M. Etienne received her very kindly, listened to her proposal, and then and there referred the matter to a special committee of technical experts, with a recommend? lion that, they should instantly study the matter and report upon it without delay. '\, Y -.":■■;;.. ' * ~ , ' In the course of her lecture Madame Dieulafoy repeated her arguments. She said that the administrations of the various Ministers, excluding those of ; uhe Navy and War Departments, employed 150,000 women. "This is a triumphant proof," she said, " that women are good for something in Government offices. Not' also in the army? We can take over the greater part of the office work and'fedministrative details in which soldiers are unnecessarily employed. Women have shown their adaptability in nearly all the departments of human activity— finance, in commerce, and in industry ; and they can do some things better than men. At present," she added, " there are 23,000 subaltern officers of the reserve and territorial forces, and more than 4000 of them are stowed away in administrative buildings." . y•. ■■■' .. ■ She had learnt that in time of war, four officers of a. company command 2000 men. If we could only take the place of these 4000 subaltern officers we would ,be of great service to the army. We are not anxious," she added., '"to begin our; services in the active army. Let us have a try in the reserve, and see what we can do." : ' V-v' : "—/: