[English] PRINCE AS A SCOUT CHIEF. STIRRING WELCOME BY 60,000 CUBS AND SCOUTS.

PRINCE AS A SCOUT CHIEF.

STIRRING WELCOME BY 60,000 CUBS AND SCOUTS.

The Boy Scout Rally, or "Posse of Welcome," in honor of the Prince of Wales at Alexandra Palace on October 7th, attended by sixty thousand Wolf Cubs, Boy Scouts, and Sea Scouts from all parts of the kingdom, was an overwhelming manifestation of youth's sincerity and ardour in a cause which it has at heart. There were many exciting episodes. The most thrilling of all was a wild charge of about thirty-six thousand of the bigger lads - yelling their patrol cries and clashing their staves above their heads right up to where the Prince stood on a small platform to take this their tumultuous salute.

It was magnificent, as well as hearty, demonstration of loyalty and affection for the Heir to the Throne by the picked youth of the country, representative of all classes - disciplined, responsible, unselfish. The sight of it - and it was witnessed by tens of thousands of the general public - sent a surge of emotion through the oldest of us. To be among the charging boys must have been very heaven.

The Prince made his appearance in a new guise. As Chief Scout of Wales, he wore, for the first time, the Scout uniform of the higher command, all khaki-coloured - hat, with a yellow and green plume, belted jacket, shorts, showing bare knees, and stockings - and well it became his slim, athletic form. He also carried the long pole or staff, but what was most noticeable, and greatly admired, was the devil-may-care expression of the true Scout, lurking under the Prince's happy smile, that was imparted to his face by the rakish cut and set of his broad-brimmed hat.

A TRIUMPH OF DISCIPLINE.

The Rally was a triumph for the discipline, order, and co-operation inculcated by the Scout movement. The sixty thousand boys were brought to Alexandra Palace and sent home again without a mishap. The Chief Scout, and founder of the movement, Lieutenant-General Sir R. Baden-Powell, had every reason to feel a proud man. And before the Prince of Wales arrived on the ground a well-deserved and signal distinction was conferred on the Chief Scout by his being decorated with the Legion of Honour by Vicomte de la Panouse, Military Attaché, French Embassy, who said the President of the Republic had sent the decoration as a mark of his appreciation of the moral value of the movement which Sir R. Baden-Powell had inaugurated.

It was 3 o'clock when the Prince of Wales came, and there followed for him about three rushing, breathless hours of hand-shaking, sight-seeing, and speech-making. He was accompanied throughout by the Duke of Connaught, the President of the Boy Scouts Association, who wore the service uniform of a Field-Marshal, by the Chief Scout, and by Lord Hampton, D.S.O., the Chief Commissioner, who was in Scout uniform. With the zest so characteristic of him, the Prince played his great part in the Rally, noticing everything, asking numerous questions with a pleasing diffidence and a sincere appreciation of it all.

20,000 WOLF CUBS.

The first to be inspected were the Wolf Cubs, the junior branch of the organization, whose years range from eight to twelve. Twenty thousand strong, they assembled in the Grove, an open space among trees, and were under Mr. N. Danvers Power. Forming a great circle, and sitting on their haunches, they raised an eerie, haunting howl when the Prince stood up on "Council Rock" in their midst. "A-ke-la, A-ke-la!" they cried, thus designating the Prince as "Big Wolf" and when the Leading Cub called out to them their motto, "Do your best," expressing it in sounds like "Dyle, dyle, dyle," they responded with a roar: "Dob, dob, dole, dole" - "We'll do our best."

The Prince, speaking through a wireless telephone, so that his voice might be carried to them all, said:-

Cubs, I have seen Wolf Cubs in many parts of the world, but I have never seen so big a pack before. Nor have I ever heard such a howl. What a howl! It was quite splendid. I was glad to hear it because I know you mean it when you say you will do your best to carry out whatever "the Old Wolf" tells you. Stick to that. Always try to do your best whether at work or play.

And then don't forget your good turns to other people, and especially do your best in helping your mothers in your own homes. Never forget all through your life if you do your best you can't do better. So good luck to you all.

After that, the Prince was bustled away to the lake, to witness a display of the Sea Scouts, and going there he passed through enormous crowds of the general public, who seemed determined to outdo the Scouts - though not quite succeeding - in yelling their appreciation of the Prince. The Sea Scouts - boys of fourteen and over in navy blue - also counted by the thousand - were under Admiral Hickley, their Commissioner. They gave a dramatic exhibition of life-saving at sea. A small island in the centre of the lake was rigged up like a ship. An explosion was heard on board, flamer burst forth, and, amid heart-rending cries of the passengers, signals of distress were sent out. The response by Sea Scouts on the shore was marked by the prompt action, pluck, and resource of the "handyman." Line of communication were fired across to the doomed ship, and, these having been securely established, passengers and crew were safely landed.

A THRILLING CHARGE

Then followed the grand culmination of the crowded afternoon's proceedings - the parade and the charge of the Scouts under the Chief Commissioner, Lord Hampton. It took place on the South Terrace, and was witnessed by many foreign Ambassadors and Ministers, and other distinguished visitors, as well as by the general public. The Scouts were drawn up at the foot of the terrace, in nine divisions, each about 4,000 strong, forming a crescent, the horns of which were about a quarter of a mile apart. They were beautiful to look at, these 36,000 youths of from 11 to 18, bare of arm and leg and in all the bravery of coloured cords and tassels, many-hued scarves of their particular troops, and carrying staves and totem flags and banners.

The Prince was escorted to the saluting base by a band of Scout pipers in kilts playing "Hielan' Laddie," and when the Royal Standard was unfurled by Scout Mar, a sturdy boy in kilts who was in the Quest Expedition, five hundred Welsh Scouts gave vent to the great national cry of the Scouts, which they have borrowed from the Zulus, "Eengon-Yama" they yelled - "He is a lion," referring to the Prince. But having scrutinized the Prince more closely they saw in him qualities of greater size, strength, and endurance than even the lion possesses. So they chanted - "Yah boo; Yah boo; Invoohoo" - "No, he is better, he is a hippopotamus." After that, the Prince well deserved the badge of the Silver Wolf - the highest distinction in the power of Scouts to bestow - with which he was invested by the Duke of Connaught.

All this time the splendid array of Scouts down in the hollow stood tensely awaiting the signal for the charge. A gun was fired and immediately the long close lines of boys dashed forward up the slope with a thunderous roar and a clashing of staves and a waving of flags. "Cheer like Billy-O" was the word of command from the Scoutmasters. The response must make Billy-O - whoever and whatever he may be in Scout mythology - hang up his diminished outcry, for the future, as a thing outclassed. The onrush came to a sudden stop at the top of the slope, the Scouts still maintaining the crescent formation, and a deep silence fell upon the ranks, that was all the more impressive for the deafening uproar which preceded it. It was indeed, magnificent.

THE PRINCE'S ADDRESS.

"My hat," cried the Prince at the sight - or so he is said to have cried - and certainly the exclamation struck the appropriate note of mingled wonder and admiration. Then, standing alone on the platform, under the folds of the Royal Standard, the Prince addressed the Scouts. By means of stentorphones his words were carried over a wide expanse of the grounds. He said:-

Scouts,- I want in the first place to thank you for turning up in such large numbers, and from such distances, to give me this great welcome. I know in these hard times how difficult it must have been for many of you, and for your parents, too. So I appreciate it all the more.

On my travels during the last three years, I have seen your brother Scouts in most parts of the world overseas with the same old hats, staves, and bare knees, and the same old smile when things look bad, and there they were doing just the same good turns to other people as you are doing.

You are members of a very big and jolly brotherhood, and you are doing a fine thing by making yourselves strong, active, efficient Scouts, because you are thereby carrying out your motto "Be prepared" - to be good, useful citizens for your country and for that greater brotherhood of free nations which forms the British Empire. There is on harder duty than that, so stick to it, do it well, and good luck to you.

The Welsh Scouts sang "Land of our Fathers" in their native tongue. At the call of the Chief Scout three rousing cheers were given for the Prince, who, taking off his hat, called out: "Three cheers for the King." Up went their hats on the staves of the sixty thousand Scouts - for they were all now assembled together - and it was not three cheers they gave but six of their very best for his most gracious Majesty the King.

Source:

1. Page 7, "Hong Kong Daily Press", Tuesday, 21st November, 11th Year of the Republic of China

   • 3rd Day, 10th Lunar Month, Ren-xu Year

   • Tuesday, 21st November, 1922 Common Era