The surgery and medical wards have been converted into nurseries with special baby equipment, including 500 toys, 18,000 safety pins, and 20,000 paper diapers. It has playpens, bassinets, and baby bathrobes. The brides and babies will be looked after by the Army until they are delivered right to their husbands.

The Army has created an organization to handle every detail of transport of dependants of Americans from overseas – estimated to total 50,000 wives and 20,000 children. The first big batch of Australians is expected at San Francisco early in March. The Army will take charge of the girls on arrival, getting their baggage through the Customs, then putting them on special trains under train commanders, with Red Cross girls and medical enlisted men to help. Telegrams at Government expense will be sent to the waiting husbands advising the date and time of wives’ arrival. All the husbands have to do will be to meet the train and take delivery of his wife after signing for her.

Thirteen special bride ships are expected to dock at New York during February.

From Our Own Correspondent in New York and AAP