There seems a rather unnecessary fuss going on about getting
women for national service. An adequate men's army cannot be raised without conscription, as was proved in the last war, so why expect that a women's can? A certain amount of nonsense has been talked about women not wanting adventure ; as a matter of fact, most young women in the economically higher classes (there does seem an economic distinction here, due, I think, to the over-domestic bringing up of girls who have to help in the house from a young age) do like adventure ; they travel, explore, ski, fly, drive ambulances abroad, as well as their brothers ; but are they offered much adventure in the women's services? I know of women who walked out on the Auxiliary Fire Service when they learned that they would not be allowed to drive the engines, man the pumps, or climb the ladders, but would have to drive staff about or type or sit at telephones. Necessary work, but dull ; people should be ordered to do it, not cajoled, for it obviously lacks glitter and appeal. * * * *
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