THE FRENCH CARRY ON

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21559, 23 January 1940, Page 10

THE FRENCH CARRY ON

WOMEN READY AND EAGER FOR NATIONAL SERVICE In the war of 1939 the women of France are called to play many parts, writes Winifred Boulter from Paris in the “New York Times.” They are ready and eager. In every branch of national service open to them the number of volunteers far exceeds present requirements. The Government asked for 150 women pilots to assure certain services behind the lines and take charge of some sections of France’s civilian aviation. The women were there. A corps of parachutist Red Cross nurses has been organised by Suzette O’Neill, Pittsburgh newspaper publisher. She started in March of 1937 with three members; now there are more than 200. with a long waiting list. They are ready at any moment to gove first aid to wounded in inaccessible territory.

A corps of 500 women cyclists has been organised to act as messengers for the municipal authorities. The Red Cross of France has sent nurses to the hospitals in the military zones. There are two on every military hospital train. The Red Cross also is engaged in establishing other hospitals, which the women of France are coming forward to equip and finance. It is organising canteens at all the principal stations, where women at all hours will give food, drink and encouragement to troops passing through. In the country, women helped to gather in the harvest. They have formed committees to supervise the welfare of evacuated women and children. They safeguard the sanitation of the buildings in which these people are billeted; collect money to provide the refugees with suitable and adequate clothing; finance medical services for them, look after the food supply and aid in the arrangements for the education of the children. Defence Against Air-Raids One of the most important war organisations in which women play a leading part is the Defense Passive, under the administration of the prefecture of police and the direction of the Ministry of National Defence. Its main work is to act in a civilian capacity in the defence against air attacks. Women give lectures to the civilian population on the method of putting on gas masks, on how to protect food and water against gas contamination and on how' to make the best use of air-raid shelters. They are ready to help and guide civilians to take cover in case of an air-raid alarm. Day and night they take turns on duty at posts in cities liable to be subject to air assault.

There is a specialised section to deal with decontamination after a gas attack. Women chauffeurs are ready to go out in the streets with trained chemists to counteract the effects of gas. They are stationed in every parish of Paris, day and night, always on the alert.

Other women are ready with ambulances to go out and remove wounded to dressing stations and hospitals after air attacks. Seme act as section commanders and chiefs of air-raid shelters when the men are required for other and more dangerous work. Women chemists have been mobilised on a military footing. Some, replacing men called to the colours, keep open the pharmacies in towns and villages, dispensing medicines and administering first aid in accidents. Others are working in chemical laboratories. On the railways, and in the Paris subways, women clip tickets and act as conductors. Now that the long green omnibuses are reappearing in Paris, women conductors sell the tickets and some are acting as drivers. While the motor schools of Paris are besieged by women anxious to obtain their drivers’ permits for heavy transport. midinettes vary on wherever millinery or dressmaking establishments have been kept open. They stitch with their clever fingers to maintain the tradition of the Paris mode even during war.