SCOUT NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 10, 9 December 1937, Page 9

SCOUT NOTES

REFUGEES HELPED. SHANGHAI SCOUTS’ BRAVERY. (By “Tenderfoot.”) Behind all the other news coming in of the terrible scenes of bombing and fighting between tlie Chinese and Japanese in China are hidden many gallant stories of liow young Boy Scouts are risking their lives to give first aid to the wounded citizens, to conduct food lines, to help in the hospitals, and in the handling of refugee crowds. The latest report comes from Tlong Ivong,' where many, of the English refugees have safely lauded. Here Boy Scouts have been doing some fine work, particularly in assisting refugees, under the leadership of Mr Allen Grad, formerly a District Commissioner of Plymouth, and Scoutmaster of the 7th Plymouth Troop for many years. Mr Grad founded the first Troop of Scouts in Baghdad while serving in Mesopotamia in 1916 with the sth Devons. He now holds an important position in Hong Kong Dockyard. The Scouts giving their in Hong Kong consist of .Chinese, English, and other nationalists who belong to the troops there. The following letters published fn tlie South China Morning Post emphasises again the fact that scouting plays a great part in humanity, has an important place of healing in this badly scarred world, and probably will be realised one day that it plays the leading .part in helping other people and so bringing about Christianity and peace. THE BOY SCOUTS.

Sir,—While-the arrangements- for the reception of refugees from the Empress of Asia on . Saturday afternoon were a considerable improvement over those experienced upon the arrival of the Rajputana there would still appear to be desirable a further advance which no doubt will be achieved by practice. There is one feature of the afternoon’s organisation, however, which seems to me to be deserving of the highest praise. I refer to the work performed by the Scouts which was nothing short of magnificent. Surely on Saturday they must have performed a sufficient number of good deeds to square their accounts for the entire year. From what I saw, however, of the cheerfulness and willingness which they displayed I am_ convinced that they will ’not \ stop short with their endeavours of that day.:—J. R. Paton. ' , Sir, —I would like, through the courtesy of your columns, to express my deep appreciation, from personal experience, of the thorough and efficient work put in by the Scouts who were on duty at the’ wharf upon the arrival of the Empress of Asia last Saturday afternoon. I had occasion to return to the wharf late that evening to search for baggage which friends of mine from Shanghai had still not been able to get possession of, and found the Scouts still working away as cheerfully as ever. The assistance they volunteered to me for the purpose of finding the

missing baggage was the most cheering thing that had happened to me that day and words cannot express my gratitude.—Hongkongite. KENT MAN’S TRIBUTE. High praise was paid to the Boy Scouts of Shanghai for the wonderful services performed after the bombing raids and in helping the police when Mr J. A. Fuller, of Kent, who has just returned to England, described the incidents to a representative of the Daily Telegraph and Morning Post. Mr Fuller was in the Shanghai police who were responsible for clearmg away the dead after the raids. He was present when bombs fell on the Yu Ya-chiug Road, killing more than 1,400. It took nine hours to remove all the dead and wounded. Within a lew minutes of the bombing Chinese Boy Scouts, youngsters of about 12 years, appeared on tlie scene as if by magic, and assisted tlie police in distributing masks to protect them against contamination. TROOP NOTES. AH Saints’.—At our meeting held on Friday last the inspection was won by tlie Morepork Patrol. It was announced that our camp would be held in the last two weeks of January as usual. After this a scout, P. Haxton, was invested and introduced into scouting. Then the patrols went to their corners and the boys were shown the correct way of doing square and diagonal lashings. Then followed a series of games, “company advance.” During ..the evening some boys passed i their second-class ambulance and pace work. Third Palmerston North, West End. —The troop meeting held on Monday was poorly attended. The programme was that of passing two sections of the athlete’s badge, R. Kelly and D. Humphries ' both being successful. D. Humphries cleared 3ft lOin in the high jump and for a boy 6st 121 b in weight this will take a lot of heating. Next Monday will be the troop’s final night before the Christmas holidays and will consist of a swim and picnic.