BOY SCOUTS.

Evening Star, Issue 14689, 5 October 1911, Page 2

BOY SCOUTS.

[By Tracker.] ["Tracker" will be ' phased to receive communications from, scout-matters or scouts or anyone interested in the movement. Contributions must reach this ofjire not later than midday on Monday.] The Morninstton troop met on Friday night in tho ivhool "ymnasium, and had aii off-night. Th- troop havo now been reorganised, anil divided into seven patrols. A new syllabus for the summer months has been drawn up, and comes into operation this month. Paylight parades on Saturday afternoons will now commence in earnest, and the tioo|« hope tc put in good work. There arc one or two vacancies for good smart lads. Tho Pi.mccr troop met in Walker Street Hall last Wednesdiy. when there was an excellent muster of" Scouts. The tisinl routine work was done, after which Mr J. Ferausson, ex-C.S.M. to this division, spoke to the lads about ' Scout Work in the f)!d Country.' Enthusiasm runs high, and the work is of a very high standard. Tho Pioneers already havo two trcops, and an effort is being made to form a third. On Saturday last patrol leaders and corporals of the Rr.slyn and Maori Hiil Scouts, along with Chief Scoutmaster D. l'L Dredge, Scoutmaster Shrimptou and Sergeant-major E. Dredge, and Scoutmaster Ilnnmh. of the Salvation Army troop, journeyed to Green Lsland by train for the purpose of visiting ono of the coal mines in that district. After a march of 15 minutes they arrived at the mine owned by Mr Barclay. When the Scouts were. rested they wore kindly taken in hand by Scoutmaster Hannah's brother, who iirst showed them the engine and winding gear, and afterwards led thorn down into the mine and into the many drives, all the time keeping tho lads interested by explaining to til em tho methods of ventilating and pumping, etc.. and before loading them out again invited the whole of the visitors to have a go with the. miner's pick. The lads were delighted, and soon the chips of coal were flying in all directions, and as each lad succeeded in hewing out a piec<* of coal he .was told to keep it as a memento of his visit. The lads were then taken across the hills to tho old Walton Park mine. They were then marched back for somo distance, wlicro they Bat down and had lunch.- The officers were invited to take tea with Mr and Mrs Hannah, of Fairfield, and after the Scouts had given their hosts three hearty cheers they made tracks for tho station. The thanks of the Hill Scouts and officers aro due to Mr Hannah. Scoutmaster of the Army troop, through whese kindness they were enabled to vimt the coal mine, and to his brother, who tcck such a kindly interest in tho boys, also to the manager for his permission to visit the mine. The Chief Scoutmaster intends making this sort of thing a feature of tho summer programme. A visit to places of special interest is of highly educative value. As only Scouts of his three troops who show special interest in their work will be selected, this should make for keenness, which is one of the most necessary things in scouting. On Friday Chief Scoutmaster «Holderne«s and Scoutmaster Hannah visited the Rcelyn Baptist trcop. The- former spoke a few inspiring words to the lads. Saturday was spent in a town despatch run. The two despatch-bearers succeeded in avoiding tho others, although the Scouts were pasted round the headquarters at nearly every street. Two members gained their cyclist badge, and another has gained his cook's, signaller's, and poultry farmer's badges. The members are all' out after badges, and some are awaiting examination. JAPANESE HEROES AND BOY SCOUTS. [From the 'Scout.'] —General Nogi.— Two of the greatest heroes of the war between Japan and Russia, came over to England to represent Japan at the King's Coronation. These were Admiral Togo and General Nogi. And both of them asked to see the Hoy Scouts. This was an unexpected honor for the Scouts, but every Scout will be glad to hear of it, and will eoncrratulate the- North London Scouts, who were chosen by Lord Kitchener to be inspected by the Japanese heroes. General Nogi is the gallant commander who besieged Port Arthur, and who. after many desperate attacks with many losses, succeeded in taking th* fortress and its -thausa.ri.rlsi of Hussion, defenders. He v.-.is a man who put hi 6 country before everytlu'ng etse, oven before his own personal feelings. His two eons were soldiers, and were both killed. Ho wished to have then: funeral put off, becaure he felt enre that he himself would be killed, too, and he _ wanted to be hurled with them. At the. head of his men he was a cheery, plucky fighter; but at night, when alone in hL", tent, he would sit with liis head bowed, crying over tha heavy losses which he was obliged_ to commit" his men to. The responsibility of command was a. severe trial to him, but he loyally carried it out because it v,a.- his duty to his country. No man can do great things for his country unless he has trained himself to. Ncgi used as a boy to train himself to do things which he did not like, so that he would be prepared to carry out duties, however distasteful they might be to him. Ho used to make himself go without food for hours, or walk b.irefcotcd in the snow when practising self-sacrifice. —Admiral Togo.— Admiral Togo, the Nelson of Japan, who defeated the Russian fleet in their great sea-fight, learnt his tailoring hero in England, on beard the training ship Worcester, wh-?n a boy. Tho other boys used to chaff hum a good deal because he was a little Jap. Scouts were not invented in these days, otherwise they would have been kinder to the stranger. But he took their chaff so good humoredly and so pluckily that they could not help liking him, and before long he becamo a most popular cadet in the ehip. The Scouts especially interest him, because both he and General Nogi belong to the Scmur.ai class in Japan—that is, the corns of knights, who, like tho Scouts, are sworn to servo their Emperor and country, althoutrh it may bo at inconvenience or even risk to themselves; they help women and weaker people, and are particularly polite to all, rich or poor. They •can be trusted to do their duty without expecting any reward, because they are honorable men. They would rather kill themselves than do a dirty or disgtracef-ul act. Tho inspection of the Scouts by the Japanese heroes took place in Hyde Park on July 1. 'The Scouts made" a very good tnm-otrt, with their band and colors, under Scoutroaster Lancaster. Lord Kitchener introduced the two Japanese heross to the Scouts in a few welt-chosen -words. Then they inspected the troops. General Nogi especially showed the greatest interest in everything about us. He examined the badges of efficiency on. different Scouts, and asked why they saluted with, three fingers, what was -written on their ccloifl, and»an Iwked-into-KJW^ScOTt'^^jeft^j^^i^ea

what hj» carried in ib. I think lie expected to find cigarettes or toffee, but ho found a store of money—four coppers! After the inspection General Nogi gave us an address, in Japanese. —What General Nogi Said to the Scouts.— j The British staff officer who accompanied ! the general translated the whole speech to i the Scouts, and this is what it said: " I am filled with admiration for the Boy Scouts, and am very grateful to Lord Kitchener for the compliment he has paid me in asking me to come and speak to you to-day. " J; roin what I have seen of yon, I recogniso that you are in earnest, and are determined to do well for your country. If you go on in the way you have begun, you will make most valuable citizens. "When I was a boy I was taught—and I have since had good reason to believe it to be right—that the chief object in life is to do your duty. To teach yourself to do this, you must try to do things which you are afraid to do.' You must not only train your body to be strong, but also your mind to be full of wisdom and courage. "Be charitable to all. Be believed by all. Obtain respect of other people by your good conduct and courtesy. " Never do any thing to causo your word to be doubted. "If you train yourselves now in this way, then, when you become men, you will be a valuable support to the BWtieh Empire, and you will be honoring your forefathers, who did so.well in the old days." —What Admiral Togo Said.— When General Nogi had finished his speech, Lord Kitchener explained to the Scouts who Admiral Togo was, what great things he had done, and how he would now give them an address, in English. When Tcgo stepped forward to speak there was silence, everybody eager to hear what he had to say. ' But his speech was not verv long. It was this : "'What General Xogi says, so I say." That was all, but it meant a good deal. INSPECTION OF WELSH SCOUTS. [By General Sir Baden Powell.] After inspecting the Scouts at Carnarvon I went to seen those in Glamorganshire. As I motored through Wales from north to south, I passed Scouts everywhere. At Portmadoc was a very smart troop, and they sang well, too, on the march, though perhaps they did not know that I was listening. At Machyllrteth were Scouts preparing to receive the King, who was shortly expected then; and at Aberystwyth there, was a small camp of Scouts—just the sort of camp I like to see, where they all looked after themselves, and cooked their own food. On tho road I met more Scouts on the march, and marching as Scouts should, a patrol at a time under its own patrol leader, and not in one big body. At Ystalyfera—if you can get Tound that name—was a rally of some 500 Glamorganshire Scouts for my inspection, and a very .smart lot they were, too. They gave very good displays of Scouts' handiwork to "a largo crowd of visitors. A show which might suit Sea Scouto was the setting up of a model of the mast and rig.ging of a ship by means of Scouts' staves and cords. Most of these Scouts were working boys, many oE them from the collieries about there. They wore smart and clean in their dress and turnout, and have done good work in helping other people in the . district. At Ystalyfera the Scouts have got just the kind of clubhouse or headquarters that I like to see. An old workshop outside tho town was given to them by Colonel Gough. and they have repainted" it and fitted it up into quite a nice place. They havo made a 6ort of standing camp there, where thoy spend week-ends, and many of them sleep there, every night, cooking their own food and generally living a healthy camp life.