Milford chronicle., 1915-09-17

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A brave scout, says the note "has
the courage to face danger in spite of
fear, and to stand I'D for the right
q against the cOaXings of friends or the
leers or threats of enemies; and de-
Feat does not down him."
Baden-POwelI's Statement
NOW It IS not denied that the discip-
llhe or the scout program, the physical
development, the habit of literally fol-
lowing out the scout motto-"be pre-
pared -unquestionably has enabled
multitudes of boys to take care of
themselves at crisis, and to take
care OF others in a sudden emergency
For instance, in a signed statement
which has reached this country Gen.
Baden-Powell declares that while he
has seen no boy scouts doing active
military duty in Europe and none
whatever in the field of of hostilities
yet on every hand he did find bow
scouts at home taking the place of
fathers, elder brothers and other men
who had gone to the front. Not only
n France and Belgium were bov
scouts doing heavy work around their
homes tending signal lights and walk
ing railway tracks, guarding packages
acting as guides and escorts for
strangers, but in England itself the
boy scouts have been of inestimable
service in such directions.
Gen. Baden-POwell adds that while
he saw no boy scouts in the warning
armies, yet he did find that a few of
the best soldiers in the field are young
men who have outgrown their boy
scout years, and are putting into prac-
tice the lessons of obedience, loyalty,
heroism, that they learned in past
times under their scout leaders at
home.
The Situation in France.
M. Jusserand, the French Ambas-
sador, has been kind enough to take a
great deal of trouble to ascertain
whether any boy scouts of France are
at the scenes of conflict, or whether
they are allowed within the area of
hOstilities. And for the information
of our readers he sends the following
note, written from Washington.
Il have vainly tried to secure among
my cOmpatriOts here the information
you want about boy scouts in or close
to the scene of conflict in France. All |
the testimony l could get from officers |
lately returned from France led me to |
believe that wherever they have been |
they made themselves most |
useful, but none could tell me that |
they were really allowed near thefir-
ing line.
Their duty, not less profitable to
their country during this great crisis,
is fulfilled further back, our authori-
lies considering that their help can be
turned to better use there than at the
'front.'"
Further Testimony.
Another who speaks of the matter
With a knowledge derived from Obser-
1atiOn at first hand is Richard Hard
ng Davis, who says that he is con-
ident no boy scouts are actually en-
yaged with the armies of the Allies.
Il have never heard of any being
permitted in or near the trenches" he
continues. But the valuable services
by boy scouts, in England
specially, were such as to command
.dmiration from the time war was
declared.
"At the outbreak of hOstilities and
or a long time afterward the greatest
onfusion and anxiety prevailed in
many places, among them London.
hundreds and thousands of Ameri-
ans were arriving, fleeing from
rance, Belgium, Germany, many of
hem without money sufficient for
upport, without trunks, with little
lothing other than that which they
,ere wearing, when suddenly they re-
eived word to start for home.
How Scouts Helped.
Even at this time, long afterward,
is impossible to convey an adequate
lea of conditions, even in London.
tut on every side saw boy scouts
-orking like nailers-meeting trains,
liking strangers here and there, ar
angling about lodging and food, car
lg for letters and kilograms, and in
very way trying to facilitate the ef-
,rts of adults who likewise were
raining every nerve to bring some
rder out of what was almost chaos.
"Why, the boy scouts were even on
lty at the American Embassy, and
} not see how the force of that en-
lssy ever could have got along with
1t them. Many were youngsters, but
lev were bright, cheerful, seemingly
reless. They knew what to do and
lW to do it. A great many AmerI-
ms, now safely here at home, who
rived in London at that time OF sud
IN explosion among the nations l
I'VE good reason to be grateful to
ose little chaps who helped them so G
ten and so well. 9