Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-12-22
AMERICAN SCOUTS PRAISED.
Colonel Baden-Powell In His New
Book Advises Initiation.

Colonel Baden-PoWeIl In His New
Book Advises Initiation.
Next TO General Lord Methuen.
whose advance to the relief of Klmber-
ley has made him the talk of England,
there is no more popular idol among
his British brethren than Colonel Ba-
den-Powell. His defense of Mafeking.
with only n handful of trained soldiers
and against terrible odds, has impress
ed the public mind Colonel Baden
Powell is 4 cavalry officer--in fact, lie
is the only real rough rider in the
British army. He has made scouting
a study and has developed it into an
art, says the New York Journal. In
doing this he has looked to the Ameri-
can army and TO the worldwide fame
of the western warriors for his inspira-
ton. In the hook that he has just is
sued he frequently attests the value
that he has received from following
the hints and habits of Colonel w. F.
Cody and other American scouts.
Buffalo Bill" he always calls his tu-
tor, while of Burnham, who was mas
sacred by the Matabeles on the Shan
gani, he tells the following interesting
story. showing the extreme value of
American scout, who made his way
back to the main body when Wilson's
party were massacred on the Shangani
in Matabeleland. did so by feeling his
way along the track made by the party
in coming"
In chapter on "Quickness of Eye"
Colonel Powell says: "Quickness of
eye and ear gives a scout immense ad-
vantages. 1t is one of the secrets of
successful scouting. Once you know
that you are little sharper at it than
most men and are not likely to be
caught mapping by an enemy you can
work with the greatest confidence and
certainty against him. Quickness of
eye means ability to see an object the
moment it is within possibility of be-
ing seen, whether before or behind
you, far away or near. 1t should be a
point of honor with n scout that no
body sees any object that he has not
already seen for himself. For this
your eyes must be never resting, con-
tinually glancing around in every di-
rection and trained to see objects in
the far distance. 4 scout must have
eyes at the back of his head.
''Riding with a really trained scout,
such as Buffalo Bill or Burnham. you
will notice that while he talks with
you his eyes scarcely look you in the
face for moment. They keep glanc-
ing from point to point of the country
round from sheer force of habit. AS
you move along, say in n hostile coun-
try. your eyes should be looking afar
for the enemy or any signs of him
figures, dust rising. birds getting up,
glitter of arms, etc.
when riding as one of a party, to
practice Quickness of eye 1t is n useful
practice for the leader to ask questions
to test the men as to whether they
have seen some figure In the distance
or any small points near by. 1t should
become a constant practice with you
to notice everything. whether it is a
broken cart wheel at the roadside, n
bent weathercock on n steeple, the
color of the wool which an old woman
is knitting in an up stairs window.
Let nothing be too small to escape
your notice.
always try to be the first to see any
new object. 1t should be n point of
honor with a scout that nobody sees
anything. either near or far. that he
has not already seen for himself, and IL
should be a matter of shame for him
II he passes by n man without seeing
him. even IL he be to a certain extent
hidden