The Pittsburgh Press (May 2, 1941)
ARMY DEMANDS ZIP IN TELEPHONE CALLS
Washington, May 2 –
The Army yesterday directed officers at the War Department to put more zip ion their telephone calls.
Instructions by the Adjutant General’s office forbade use of “hello” as a greeting. Officers were instructed to respond merely by giving their name and rank – “Captain Jones.”
Officers must place their calls personally. Previously, the general practice had been to have clerks make the calls, and later connect the officer after an answer had been received. It was said this unnecessarily tied up the wires.