The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-03-22
.,.nent Has Progressed Greatly
in All Of Countries Of Europe
Which are at
War.
RoYs HELP RED CROSS
chief Scout Executive Makes state
ment in Which He Speaks o. )
Activities Of
Patrols.

KeOkuk mas a large membership OIL
Row Scouts. In Europe the Boy Scout
movement has spread widely, and the
scouts are performing valiant service
at this time in the warning countries.
The scouts and the scout movement
stand for peace, but In times of stress,
the scouts may be depended upon to
aid their bigger brothers who are
forced to fight. The following state
ment from James f. West, chief scout
executive, which was published In the
official scout Journal recently, will no
doubt be of interest to the scouts
here:
Unexpectedly the great powers of
Europe have become involved IN a
fierce and desperate struggle to settle
their differences by ancient methods.
This has been a distinct shock to
everyone engaged in scouting both
here and abroad From the informa-
lion thus far available to us there
seems no reason to Justify any of the
steps leading to the development of
this conflict. Certainly all scout Off.
cals and all scouts deeply deplore the
present European situation and its
awful prospects.
All connected with the scout move
ment here and abroad have been con.
scientious and firm in their purpose in
advocating universal peace The fact
that apparently a few individuals
have been powerful enough to involve
practically the whole of Europe in
what appears to be an uncalled for,
cruel and terrific war, has no bearing
whatever upon the merits of the aims
end purposes of those engaged in
carrying out the program of scouting.
What part the scouts will have n
the pre.ent war is naturally Of grave
concern and deep interest to all en-
eaged in scouting the world over. It
is too early to make any intelligent
comment upon the significance of the
reports thus far published in the
press. Certainly all connected with
each scout and scout official will, fol-
lowing the scout oath and law to
which he has subscribed, do his full
duty.
Help for Red Cross.
We may reasonably expect that be-
cause of the scout training, boys will
prove themselves efficient in co-operat-
Ing with the Red Cross society and in
numerous other ways, giving express
sion to their training and obligation to
be helpful to others at all times. Like
wise we may reasonably expect that
young men who have been scouts will
prove themselves loyal, thoroughly
patriotic and efficient-in every sense
better citizens because of the scout
movement.
/ % IJ1ys oil ne vA oil a.
received from the countries engaged
IN war tells Of scouts doing all they
can to relieve distress aid suffering
In Germany the scouts have volun-
teered to assist in gathering the har-
vests. In England the scouts have
volunteered their services as messen-
gers where lines Of communication
nave been cut. to patrol the exposed
lines of communication, and to give
warning If danger threatens. 1t is
also reported that scouts may be used
to help care for the wounded. The
Red Cross is organizing scouts to as
sist in its work.
Each Country Has Patrol.
The scout movement has definitely
been established in each one Of the
countries now at war with an esti-
mated enrolment of $4,000 boys.
Everyone interested in scouting
here will watch for all references to
the Boy Scouts or the, Boy Scout
movement with keen interest, and it
Is hoped that we may, working to-
gether, be effective in having correct
" and clearly understood the sig11fi-
canoe of authentic reports which may
De received from time to time.
All friends of the movement will be
SAFE in maintaining that when the real