THE BOX SCOUTS & FRANCE

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 41, 16 February 1918, Page 7

THE BOX SCOUTS & FRANCE

/ ;(FKOM QDR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) LONDON, Uth December. The flag presented by the AucklandBoy Scouts tq the. Scouts of Fiance was actually handed over on 15th October by Mr. R. G. Applegarth, formerly Chief Inspector pf Scouts for the Auckland district. The function took place in ihe Park at Joinville, and the Scoiit organisation of France was represented by General de Berkheim, the' Chief Scout. ' - j In his speech, Mr. Applegarth said he had' pleasure in handing over the flag ; ■which had been given by the generous i initiative of their comrades overseas as a, Epuyenirj and, jn a manner, a mark of tho union between them and their French' comrades. "Although so far awiy from the theatre of war, New Zealand took her descent from her Mother, Great Britain, and the people there watched the events' of the. war {rpm day to day with very great interest.' From the beginning they had shown a great and immovable .enthusiasm on behalf of the oppressed and a'sympathy towards those who were shedding'their blood' for "the triumph of right' against might. ' They salute France as being in the front rank of the Allies—great and 'generous France, the land of ideals and of civilisation, to whose charms no stranger could fail to succumb. People of New Zealand! wished with this flag to present to tho Scouts of France a tangible proof of their friendship and. appreciation of the work of their national institutions, notably the .French" Red Cross. In February, 1916, Tricolour Day in Ne>v Zealand was a magijificant manifestation of sympathy towards France, the success passing all expectation. Oh that day a I'rench flag with tho arms of the City of Paris; was sold, and the Boy Scouts had been able to pbtain it'with the idea of offering it to their comrades in France. That flag had made the journey rpiind the world. When' he left New Zealand one pf their Chiefs had said to him that hp was to tell- the boys of France that they were not only friends but brothers. "He had. much pleasure in fulfilling that cpmmission'in handing over the flag. itrV Applegarth is a radio specialist at the French'military' hospital' at 'R'isOrangia. ,