WORLD JAMBOREE

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 263, 2 August 1929, Page 11

WORLD JAMBOREE

BIGGEST ASSEMBLAGE OF BOYS IN WORLD'S HISTORY SCOUTS AT BIRKENHEAD UNFORGETTABLE MARCH PAST {United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Australian Press Association. (Rec. August 1, 7.30 p.m.) London, July 81. The Duke of Connaught was greeted at Birkenhead with a Scout yell from fifty thousand voices in fifty languages when he opened the world Jamboree to-day. Addressing the boys, he said that it was an ennobling spectacle to see two million lads of every race and creed imbued with the same ideal and bearing aloft the same banner in mutual service and brotherhood. The Scout movement was one of the greatest landmarks of the age, and would add the name of the founder to the roll of the world’s reformers. A Colourful Spectacle. The march-past was an unforgettable sight, a legion of boys swinging by under the eye of the Chief Scout of America, carrying Stars and Stripes; 200 Australians, carrying the Commonwealth flag, and the rest of the nations In alphabetical order. Flags were flying and bands playing. A contingent of German boys had a particularly warm welcome from the crowd. The whole was a colourful spectacle, owing to the varying uniforms, scarves and national emblems. Many contingents also were carrying pennons, which they raised in salute and dipped as they passed the saluting base. Forty-two Nations Represented. Contingents representing forty-two nations, Dominions and Colonies took fifty minutes to go by, twenty-five abreast. Canada’s backswoodsmen made a brave show in maple leaves and yellow cardigans. , There were Bulgarians, green turbaned Indians, and Japanese led by counts, and other popular squadrons. Sir Robert Baden-Powell, in a Scout’s uniform, was the recipient of a spontaneous “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” when he broadcast an address 1 eulogising the Duke of Connaught’s work as president of the British Scouts’ Association, and expressing the hope for the continued progress of scouting. Three thousand British Scouts gave an exhibition of folk dancing to broadcast music, concluding with 1500 Scots dancing Highland reels with bagpipes. The final three cheers for the King were given with a rare vim by the biggest assemblage of boys in the history of the world.