Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-09-14
boy SCOUTS ARE
DOING Splendid
WORK in BELGIUM
Service is Non-miIitary but Yet
of Great Assistance to War
Officers and Red Cross
by Latest NALL

| BRC SSELS.-Belgium is the first
country to make a wide use of the ser
vices of the Boy Scouts in time of
war. Here in Brussels they are en-
| plOyed as despatch riders between the
various departments of State; as or
| derlies at the numerous depots of the
| Red Cross Organization; as police
men they patrol the streets during
the day, and in case of any disturbance
can at once summon assistance: and
| upwards of a hundred are daily collect
ing money for the Red Cross Society,
| and for the various funds started for
| the relief of the families of the men
at the front.
There are today some $500 boy
scouts in Belgium-300O in the orgaai
zation based on the lines Cf the Eng
| lish boy scouts, and 1900 belonging to
| the Catholic Brigade Before hostil-
tiles commenced boys of ten years of
| age were admitted to the former, but
| in view Of the many duties which the
| scouts nov perform, the age IT'S hcan
raised to fourteen. Eacn candidate
must have a good general knowledge
and be of exemplary conduct. Their
uniform is identical with that of the
English boy scouts. The Catholic boy
scouts are founded on much the same
lines Their dress, however, differs,
color, and, when in full dress, they
carry knapsack on the shoulders.
In the Rue des Stables the boy scouts
have for the time being handsome
headquarters, labelled Boy Scouts
etat Major where an efficient staff
directs their movements for the day.
Here the scouts who have had no duty
assigned to them assemble at $50 a,
m. to take their orders. Singly, in
twos and threes. or in small squads,
they may be seen marching off on
some mission, conscious, yet not OBJ
trusively conscious, of their response
bilities. Each lad wears a band on
his right arm with the letters ':S.M."
service nlilitaire" Many of the
boys possess bicycles. while not few
have motor cycles. These boys are
employed as despatch riders" One
cannot but remark the facility with
which they handle their machines. es-
pecially the motorists; in streets which
at all hours are thronged with crowds
eager for the latest news, and with
numerous. motor-cars and motor yehi-
cles moving at a very rapid pace, and
all, or nearly all, bearing the letters
"S.M." or the Red Cross.
Courtesy and Celebrity. 49,
Other scouts may be seen in these
motors, hurrying perhaps from some.
school or hotel or other building.
which has been converted into tenn
porary hospital, in search of stores.
have seen a scout, of certainly not
more than dozen years, pack fair
sized motor-car with dressing and va
rious cases of utensils required by
some hospital, checking his hist and
working in a most businesslike and
methodical manner. Or, again. these
young and energetic citizens have, on
their handcarts, transported beds and
hospital furniture from the army
stores or from shops to buildings
throughout the town which have been
converted into hospitals.
Last FRIDAY found that required a
pass from the burgomaster. On arrlV-
ing at the Bureau du Bourgmestre, u
was at once asked my business by a
scoutmaster, who, with a score or so
of scouts under his commend, had
charge at the entrance to the build
ing. With the utmost courtesy, ana
with a CELEBRITY wholly unknown among
the older officials at any government
Or municipal Office with which am
acquainted, | was conducted TO the de-
partment, where | had to obtain the
pass. While talking to one OF the
scouts / observed in the COURTYARD OF
the Hotel de Vile, a crowd OF women
and children, who, | learned, had, come
to draw an allowance made by the
government to the wives and famllleS
of the men at the front. There were
some hundreds of people in the queue,
which was marshalled in perfect order,
and kent in that order. by four young.
sters, not one of whom was over 10
years of age. Two of the scouts, hold
ing a scout pole at. either end, stood at
the head, and from time to time al
lowed half a dozen women, with their
children. to enter the Office where the
money was being paid out. once that
role was placed in front Of the waiting
crowd no one attempted to pass 1t. 1t
was really amazing to see those four
small bovs-two in front and two walk
ing I'D and down-maintain order and
prevent anyone pushing in before her
turn. Outside in the street a similar
scene was witnessed There was an
even greater crowd, all waiting for
their allowance from the government.
The people we're drawn up in a long
line, in double file, so as not to occupy |
too much of the pavement Certainly
more scouts were engaged. but this |
was due to the fact that there was
also a constant stream of pedestrians
on the pavement.
Searching for Arms.
But even this does not exhaust the |
duties performed by scouts An order
was issued yesterday that everyone |
must have new "laissar-passe to /
which is affixed the photograph OF the
bearer. These were issued by Officers !
of the gendarmerie, assisted by two