Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-09-14
BOY SCOUTSARE
DOING SPLENDID
WORK IN BELGIUM
Service is Non-miIitary but Yet
of Great Assistance to War
Officers and Red Cross
[By Latest NALL

country to make q wide use of the ser
vices of the Boy Scouts in time oi
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 tbs
Red Cross Organizations: 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 fol
the relief of the families of the men
at the front. IT,. =. r. "-
There are today some 1900 boy
scouts in Belgium 5000 in the organi
cation based on the lines Cf the Eng
fish boy scouts, and 1900 belonging to
the Catholic Brigade Before hostil
ties commenced boys of ten years OF
age were. admitted to the former. but
in view Of the many duties wiiicil the
scouts lo4y .ierform, The aga aas been
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,
the tunic shirt being dark blue in
color, and, when in full dress, they
carry knapsack on the shoulders.
In the Rue des Sables 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 $3.50 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
trusiyely conscious, of their response
bilities. Each lad wears a band on
his right arm with the letters SIN.
service miIitaire." 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 Vehi.
Giles moving at very rapid pace, and
all, or nearly all, bearing the letters
tS.M" or the Red Cross.
Courtesy and Celebrity.
Other scouts may be seen in these
motors, hurrying perhaps from some
school or hotel or other building.
which has been converted into a tenn
rorary hospital, in search of stores.
| have seen a scout, of certainly not
more than a dozen years, pack a fair
sized motor-ear with dressing and va.
rious cases of utensils required by
some hospital. checking his list 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
pass from the burgomaster. On arriv,
ing at the Bureau du Bourgmestre, !
was at once asked my business by a
who, with score or so
of scouts under his commend, had
charge at the entrance to the build
ing. With the utmost courtesy, and
With celebrity wholly unknown among
the older officials at any government
or municipal Office with which ! am
acquainted, was conducted to the de-
I I'D r. oh
pass While talking to one OF the
scouts / observed in the courtyard oil
the Hotel de Vile, crowd of women
and children, who, learned, had come.
to draw an allowance made by the
10 the wives and families
Of the men at the front. There were
some hundreds of people in the queue,
which was marshalled in perfect order,
and kept in that order. by four young
sters, not one of whom was over IL
years of age. Two OF the scouts, hold
ing a scout pole at either end, stood ~
The head, and from time to time al
owed half dozen women, with their
children, to enter the Office where the
money was being paid out. Once that
ole was placed in front of the waiting
,rowd no one attempted TO pass It. IL
vas really amazing to see those four
;mall boys-two in front and two walk
ng up and down-maintain order and
prevent anyone pushing in before her
urn. Outside in the street a similar
.cene was Witnessed. There was an
wen greater crowd, all waiting for
heir allowance from the government.
Fhe people we're drawn up in long
inc, in double file, 80 as not to occupy
90 much of the pavement. Certainly
nore scouts were engaged, but this
vas due to the fact that there was
lso a constant stream of pedestrians
in the pavement.
searching for Arms.
But even this does not exhaust the
|uties performed BY scouts An order
vas issued Yesterday that everyone
must have new slaisser.pass to
rIi11 s. a|IIxed the photograph of The
10I6I These were issued by officers |
{ the 1end1rmerie, assisted by two