New-York tribune., 1918-06-02
Boy Becomes Signaller
and Map Maker and
Knows First Aid Be-
fore Joining Army
By Edward S. Marten
Editorial Board, Boy Scouts of
america

ENHE training of the Boy Scouts of
America is primarily directed
toward character DEVELOPMENT,
the making of men physically strong,
mentally awake, morally straight" and
if this great end is of vital significance
in time of peace, it is doubly important
in time of war, if youth is to escape
the demoralizing, vitiating influences
which war inevitably brings in it's
train.
Scouting as practical worth while
system of boy training was already
proved when there was neither war
nor rumor of war in the world, but it
remained for the present hour to put
the supreme test of it's efficacy. As
Baden-Powell, the great founder of the
movement, says:
War has proved the inherent vital
lty of the organization; it has shown
that boys so prepared can respond to
sense of responsibility and duty in
time of national crisis to an extent
never before realized-which is pa
troitism far above ecstatic flag waving,
and in the by-product of soldier max
ing the foundation of character given
by Scout training is found to be as
valuable as it is in the making of citi-
zens in other lines of life.''
For Scouts in America war service
is just beginning. Their brothers in
England and other warning nations
have long been blazing splendid trail
The record of the work ACCOMPLISHED
by these boys inspires one with faith
that scouting is as great movement
as its adherents believe
The Variety of
A Scouts knowledge
A Scouts practical knowledge is of
course, extremely valuable in everyday
life. He is trained to know first aid,
and score of other useful activities
which serve him and his comrades in
good stead. 1t is frequently reported
that Scouts are peculiarly adapted to
trench warfare because they know how
to go about in the dark, without los
ing their sense of direction. The Scout
has a special way OF Crawling" which
is particularly useful in creeping up
to the enemy, and this method is con-
sequently frequently taught by ex-
Scout officers to their men, Boy Scouts
often assisting in the instruction. A
Scout is trained to resourcefulness and
initiative, habit of mind which comes
in handy in meeting war time expert
| ences.
In all branches of service ex-Scouts
are doing fine, efficient, often heroic
work. Many have been "called to high
er service" having kept faith to the
end and given their "last full measure
of devotion" to God and country. The
Scout, at homo too young to bear
arms, yet doing magnificent work, is
no less interesting and patriotic
| figure.
In the United States hundreds of
scoutmasters and Scout-trained young
men volunteered for service last year
4 III f1pIll 0IO nuu0TeuS iIiOIo nave JUluSu
the colors since. Those who believe
in scouting are confident that here,
as elsewhere, events will show that,
other things being equal, the man who
is Scout made" will prove the fttest
for the grim and splendid ordeal of
war. 1t is noteworthy that the govern
ment practically agrees with this
verdict, for one Of the questions
asked men who seek the aviation SER
vice, one Of the most rigorous forms
Of wartime work, is "What Scout
training have you had?"
l Scouts ara trained for xArvies in