The WAACs Arrive

Never a public word did the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps say about equal rights. But its skirted soldiers were getting them. Last week the House Military Affairs Committee was dusting off a bill (passage assured) which will make them members of the Army, as the WAVES are members of the Navy.

The House Committee prepared to throw in a few restrictions: 1) WAAC officers may command women only; 2) WAACs may not draw dependency pay from soldier husbands; 3) the WAAC's commanding officer, photogenic, 38-year-old Colonel Oveta Gulp Hobby, may not rise above that rank. Thus with the, WAAC strength headed toward 375,000, Colonel Hobby will have more troops under her administrative control than several lieutenant generals.

As members of the Army the WAACs get many a perquisite: free postage, six months' pay in death benefits, national service life insurance, 20% extra pay for overseas duty, 50% extra for flying duty, retirement pay for disability incurred in line of duty. For a new kind of soldier (but a kind already proved in Britain's forces) it was handsome recognition.

After Six Months. But WAACs, only six months in service, had also done some proving, made some statistics on their own hook. Examples:

>In some jobs--typing, switchboard operation, clerical duty--WAACs not only relieve soldiers for combat duty, they also do the jobs better. In these chores a WAAC relieves one soldier or even one and a-half. But as an automobile driver one WAAC is equal to only three-quarters of a soldier. Reason: less physical endurance.

>Women were slow to-volunteer as WAACs--the rate for a long time was 1,000 a week--but lately the rate has touched 4,500 a week. Present strength is about 45,000 including 14,000 who have graduated and gone to work, 202 of them to North Africa (where they are called "Des Moines debs").

>Nearest thing to combat duty for WAACs is a new task: manning instrument detectors for anti-aircraft batteries, which Brigadier General M. G. White told Congressmen "they do a lot better than men and learn more quickly."

Between testifying on Capitol Hill and looking after her command, Oveta Hobby took time out last week to nail a canard. Columnist Walter Winchell had reported that, as North Africa's "biggest problem," the WAACs might be sent home. Said Colonel Hobby of Winchell's item: "Not only . . . without foundation, but the WAACs there are performing their duties so satisfactorily that General Eisenhower has requested many more."

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