The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-10-23
BOY SCOUTS OF ITALY SERVING
 BEHIND ARMIES
Mobilized in the Same Man ner as Grown Up Soldiers
 and Given Duties.

Headquarters of the Italian Army, Oct. 23.-That the Boy Scouts of Italy are taken seriously was indicated by the recent order of the Minister of War calling upon them to do service in the war zone or behind the lines in other military capacities according to their age.
 They were mobilized in the same manner as grown-up soldiers. the various sections moving by train from various points in Italy to a central headquarters at a concentration camp to the north of Bologna. Here they were reviewed by generals from the front and assigned to various divi- sions, some 500 being sent as far south as Brindisi on the Adriatic Sea, where they were assigned to duty in sections, each section had its own cooks. it's own rations and it's own field equipment.
 While many of the boys have been serving individually in their capacity as Scouts since the war began, many of the older ones even having suc- ceeded in being enlisted in the reg ular army with the consent of their parents, this was the first occasion
 
 mobilized The reports on their use- fulness and conduct receive recently at their national headquarters in Rome indicate that they met their first trial efficiently. Three division generals wrote letters of commenda- ton, stating that they had been struck particularly by the smiling manner in which the lads bore camp hardships.
 Tfol lxy differs from that in the United States in the respect that 1t is organized un- der the rules of and controlled by the War Department. Its watchword is "Be Prepared" While it's object in peace times is primarily to make cheerful, truth telling, manly lads out of adventurous boys frequently label led as bad they are trained along military Hines under regular army of ficers. One of the advantages of this Boy Scout service is that for each year served, one month is taken off the legal military service of the mem Der.
 The Scouts, whose name in Italian is Esploratori, (Explorers) have a code of honor to follow as high as that of any army. It is called "The Decalogue." the first law of which is this: The word of honor of a Scout is sacred. Another law of this Deca- logue is courtesy and gentleness to each other and to all strangers; yet another is Implicit obedience to scout officers and to parents. The last law but one requires the scout to be sober, temperate, and saving with his money.
 Although the war has increased the popularity of the Scouts, it was not needed to give impetus to the organ ization among boys. As in the United States 1t has many physical attrac- tions which endear it to the boy heart Aside from the social life, the weekly excursions, and other sporting fea- lures, common in the United States, the Italian Scout on entering is as- signed to a certain class, and accord ing to this assignment he becomes a Scout wireless boy, a Scout mechanic, al Scout aeronaut, an interpreter, a guide. a musician, a cyclist and so on through a host of military specialties. There are two great divisions of the Scouts, a land Scout and a water Scout. since in the seaport cities an effort is made to train the boys for seafaring life. Huge rooms in the ar mories and arsenals of the army and navy arep laced at their disposal. such rooms being all their own.
 Only boys of 12 years or over are permitted to carry the title of Scout, boys between the ages of nine and twelve being entered as Scout novices. In order that the organization may not be limited to wealthy boys. the yearly dues are limited to sixty cents, with the government, paying for the more expensive equipment.
 The color of the uniform of the Italian Scout differs from that worn in the United States, England. or France. The blouse is sand colored like that worn by Italian soldiers of the African army regiments, while the pants are of the grey-green shade worn by the Italian army proper, now fighting in the Alps. The hat IS of the typical American cowboy pattern.
 When on military duty, Scouts wear on the left arm a cloth band striped with the national colors of green, white and red, like all soldiers on duty, but not serving under arms