Negro WAVES

The bar that was first lowered two years ago to allow Negroes into general service in the Navy was finally dropped altogether. Last week the Navy an nounced that it would accept Negro women in the WAVES.

Notable feature of the new program is that the Negroes will be trained and may even be billeted with whites, will probably be mixed in for assignment.

Recruiting will begin with the immediate commissioning of a small number (probably five to ten) of administrative officers. They will be trained at the WAVES officer-candidate school at Smith College, Northampton, Mass., will then be assigned to assist in general enlistment and training, beginning soon after January 1. The total number of Negro WAVES will depend on the "needs of the service" will probably not be large.

After hearing the Navy's announcement, the Coast Guard, usually the most liberal branch of service with regard to Negroes, promptly followed suit with a similar plan for the SPARs. The Marine Corps said it had all the women marines it needed, except for replacements.

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