Prince With Scouts

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 732, 3 August 1929, Page 9

Prince With Scouts

PAGEANT OF WORLD’S YOUTH A Message From the King GREAT JAMBOREE AT BIRKENHEAD British Official Wireless Received 10.55 a.m. RUGBY, Friday. TIIE Prince of Wales, wlio spent last night in camp at the Boy Scout jamboree at Arrowe Park, Birkenhead, was astir very early this incoming, and visited the camps of the Scouts of the various nations. His Royal Highness received greetings varying from enthusiastic cries of “Vive le Prince,” raised by the French Scouts, to a rattling on tomtoms by Scouts from the East, and weird cries of Zulus. The tour occupied three hours.

There was a great gathering of foreign Ambassadors and Ministers on the grandstand this afternoon, when the Prince saw an inspiring pageant of Scouts. Sir Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scout movement, on whom a peerage was yesterday conferred, had a great ovation from the 50,000 Scouts on the area, when he appeared with the Prince. Addressing the Scouts, the Prince said it was surprising to see how the movement had grown in the Britisli Kmpire, but it was almost more striking to find how it had caught on as it had done in foreign countries as well. The jamboree proved that the idea that lay behind the Scout, movement was really a big one, and one that appealed to all sorts of people, irrespective of nationality. “Every day,” he added, "scouting is growing and extending and bringing into closer touch the youth of the nations. The Scout movement is a wonderful thing for individual countries, and for better understanding between the peoples.” The Prince read the following message from the King: “I heartily welcome the Boy Scouts, who have travelled from their homes

in far-distant parts of the British Empire, and in many foreign lands, for the coming-of-age of the Boy Scout movement. This is a unique assembly, representative of the youth of all the great nations of the world, and I ask you to remember that the future of the world depends on those of you who are taking part in this jamboree. I hope you will thoroughly enjoy your stay in this country, and that you will have a happy and beneficial experience.” “I am keenly disappointed that it has been impossible for me to be present on this memorable occasion, but I am glad that my eldest son is able to represent me. “It has given me great pleasure to mark this event in your history by conferring a peerage on Sir Robert Baden-Powell, the Chief Scout. Ever since its inception, he has been the mainspring of this adventure, from its small and almost humble beginning until today, when you number nearly 2,000,000 in your ranks. This recognition of his valuable service to the cause will be welcomed by all who realise the importance of training the world youth both in mind and body. “At the same time, I am aware that the splendid achievement of this organisation could not have been possible without the support given to the Chief Scout by his officers. I wish God speed to you all, and may you go from strength to strength, development and prosperity.” Although the weather in the last few days has been stormy, the Boy Scouts in camp there remain extremely cheerful. Lads of various nationalities have rapidly reached terms of friendly intimacy with one another. While the Prince is at Arrowe Park he is living under the same conditions as his fellow-scouts. His tent has been pitched on a strip of lawn shaded by trees in front of Arrowe Hall, It contains only a camp bed, washstand, table, and chair. Sir Robert Baden-Powell, who is the Prince’s equerry, has a tent alongside. Mr. Mortimer Schiff, a millionaire American banker, vice-president of the American Boy Scouts’ organisation, has handed to his Royal Highness a cheque for £IO,OOO to establish a fund for the promotion of a boys’ international fellowship, which the Chief Scout will direct from London.