Who have stood behind the armies of the Allies through the years of the Great War as an unswerving second line of defense against an onslaught upon the liberty and civilization of the world, I dedicate this volume. HARRIOT STANTON BLATCH FOREWORD BY THEODORE ROOSEVELT I. OUR FOE II. WINNING THE WAR III. MOBILIZING WOMEN IN GREAT BRITAIN IV. MOBILIZING WOMEN IN FRANCE V. MOBILIZING WOMEN IN GERMANY VI. WOMEN OVER THE TOP IN AMERICA VII. EVE'S PAY ENVELOPE VIII. POOLING BRAINS IX. "BUSINESS AS USU

It is a real pleasure to write this foreword to the book which Mrs. Harriot Stanton Blatch dedicates to the women of Great Britain and France; to the women who through the years of the great war have stood as the second line of defense against the German horror which menaces the liberty and civilization of the entire world. There could be no more timely book. Mrs. Blatch's aim is to stir the women of this country to the knowledge that this is their war, and also to make all our people feel that

The nations in which women have influenced national aims face the nation that glorifies brute force. America opposes the exaltation of the glittering sword; opposes the determination of one nation to dominate the world; opposes the claim that the head of one ruling family is the direct and only representative of the Creator; and, above all, America opposes the idea that might makes right. Let us admit the full weight of the paradox that a people in the name of peace turns to force of arms. The t

The group of nations that can make the greatest savings, will be victorious, counsels one; the group that can produce the most food and nourish the populations best, will win the war, urges another; but whatever the prophecy, whatever the advice, all paths to victory lie through labor-power. Needs are not answered in our day by manna dropping from heaven. Whether it is food or big guns that are wanted, ships or coal, we can only get our heart's desire by toil. Where are the workers who will win

In no country have women reached a mobilization so complete and systematized as in Great Britain. This mobilization covers the whole field of war service--in industry, business and professional life, and in government administration. Women serve on the Ministry of Food and are included in the membership of twenty-five of the important government committees, not auxiliary or advisory, but administrative committees, such as those on War Pensions, on Disabled Officers and Men, on Education after th

Compared with the friction in the mobilization of woman-power in Great Britain, the readjustment in the lives of women in France was like the opening out of some harmonious pageant in full accord with popular sympathy. But who has not said, "France is different!" It is different, and in nothing more so than in its attitude toward its women. Without discussion with organizations of men, without hindrance from the government, women filled the gaps in the industrial army. It was obvious that the ne

The military mobilization of Germany was no more immediate and effective than the call to arms for women. On August 1, 1914, the summons went out, and German women were at once part of the smooth running machine of efficiency. The world says the Kaiser has been preparing for war for forty years. The world means that he has been preparing the fighting force. The sword and guns were to be ready. But the military arm of the nation, the German government believes, is but the first line of attack; th

American women have begun to go over the top. They are going up the scaling-ladder and out into All Man's Land. Perhaps love of adventure tempts them, perhaps love of money, or a fine spirit of service, but whatever the propelling motive, we are seeing them make the venture. There is nothing new in our day in a woman's being paid for her work--some of it. But she has never before been seen in America employed, for instance, as a section hand on a railway. The gangs are few and small as yet, but

No woman is a cross between an angel and a goose. She is a very human creature. She has many of man's sins and some virtues of her own. Moving up from slavery through all the various forms of serfdom--attachment to the soil, confinement to a given trade, exclusion from citizenship, payment in kind, on to full economic freedom, men have shown definite reactions at each step. Women respond to the same stimuli. The free man is a better worker than slave or serf. So is the free woman. All the old gi

"Employ them." This was the advice given to a large conference of women met to discuss business opportunities for their sex. The advice was vouchsafed by a young lawyer after the problem of opening wider fields to women in the legal profession had been looked at from every angle, only to end in the question, "What can we do to increase their practice?" She spoke with animation, as if she had found the key to the situation, "Employ them." Perhaps more self-accusation than determination to mend th

It is a platitude to say that America is the most extravagant nation on earth. The whole world tells us so, and we do not deny it, being, indeed, a bit proud of the fact. Who is there among us who does not respond with sympathetic understanding to the defense of the bride reprimanded for extravagance by her mother-in-law (women have mothers-in-law), "John and I find we can do without the necessities of life. It's the luxuries we must have." One of the obstacles to complete mobilization of our co

Man's admiration for things as mother used to do them is as great an obstacle as business as usual in the path of winning the war and husbanding the race. The glamour surrounding the economic feats of mother in the past hides the shortcomings of today. I once saw one of her old fortresses, a manor home where in bygone days she had reigned supreme. In the court yard was the smoke house where she cured meat and fish. In the cellar were the caldrons and vats where long ago she tried tallow and brew

Great Britain, France and Germany have mobilized a land army of women; will the United States do less? Not if the farmer can be brought to have as much faith in American women as the women have in themselves. And why should they not have faith; the farm has already tested them out, and they have not been found wanting. In face of this fine accomplishment the minds of some men still entertain doubt, or worse, obliviousness, to the possible contribution of women to land service. The farmer knows h

Men have played--all honor to them--the major part in the actual conflict of the war. Women will mobilize for the major part of binding up the wounds and conserving civilization. The spirit of the world might almost be supposed to have been looking forward to this day and clearly seeing its needs, so well are women being prepared to receive and carry steadily the burden which will be laid on their shoulders. For three-quarters of a century schools and colleges have given to women what they had t

CONFIDENTIAL. Reference No: J.W. 21 [o.] Joint Woman's V.A.D. Department. DEVONSHIRE HOUSE. PICCADILLY, LONDON. W.I. Return to Secretary, V.A.D Department. Devonshire House, Piccadilly, S.W.I. Territorial Force Associations, British Red Cross Society. Order of St. John of Jerusalem. Telegrams [unreadable] Telephone Mayfair 4707 B.R.C.S. or Order of St. John ... Sir, Will you kindly fill up the following form of Medical Certificate, returning it to the address given above. Your communication will

 1. Name  2. County             No. of Detachment  3. How long have you been acquainted with her?  4. Have you attended her professionally?  5. For what complaint?  6. Is she intelligent and of active habits?  7. General health?  8. Has she flat feet, hammer-toe, or any other defect?  9. Is her vision good in each eye? 10. Is her hearing perfect? 11. Has she sound teeth, and if not, have they been properly attended to by a Dentist lately? 12. Has she shown any tendency to Rheumatism, Anaemia, Tu

N.B.--No woman need apply who is not prepared to offer her services for the duration of the war and to take up work wherever she is required. 1. Name in Full (Mrs. or Miss). 2. Permanent Postal Address. 2a. State nearest Railway Station. 3. Surname at birth, if different. 4. For what work do you offer your services? State your     qualifications for this work. (The occupations for which women are     required are set out in the accompanying leaflet.) 5. Are you willing to serve:--     (a) At Hom

CONDITIONS AND TERMS. There are three Sections of the Women's Land Army. (1). AGRICULTURE. (2). TIMBER CUTTING. (3). FORAGE. If you sign on for A YEAR and are prepared to go wherever you are sent, you can join which Section you like. YOU PROMISE :-- 1. To sign on in the Land Army for ONE YEAR. 2. To come to a Selection Board when summoned. 3. To be medically examined, free of cost. 4. To be prepared if PASSED by the Selection Board to take up work    after due notice. 5. TO BE WILLING TO GO TO W