資料：1923年4月6日《Hong Kong Daily Press》第4頁
SCOUTS AND CADETS.
In anticipation of the forthcoming Jamboree to be held by the Hongkong Boy Scouts, a brief comparison of the objects of the Scouts with those of the Cadets might be of interest. It is not our object to attempt to make any invidious comparisons between the Cadet Corps attached to the H.K.V.D. and the local Scouts, but merely to endeavour to show how essentially different are the principles which govern these two distinct organisations, either at home or abroad.
The primary object of the Cadet movement is to give military training to lads with a view to rendering them capable of bearing arms should the necessity for so doing arise at some future date. The Cadet Corps are intended to be feeders, for the volunteer or territorial forces, the idea being that when the lads reach the requisite age, they will automatically transfer into the latter.
The Cadet movement is indisputably a military organisation, hence its recognition by the War Office and the assistance given to it from that source.
The Scout movement on the other hand is avowedly non-military. Sir Robt. Baden-Powell, the Chief Scout, in his handbook “Scouting for Boys,” which is regarded as the foundation on which the whole movement is based, both as regards its scope and aims and the nature of the training given, contains the following significant passage: “There is no military meaning attached to scouting. Peace scouting comprises the attributes of colonial frontiersmen in the way of resourcefulness and self-reliance and the many other qualities which make them men among men. There is no intention of making the lads into soldiers or of teaching them bloodthirstiness. At the same time under ‘Patriotism,’ they are taught that a citizen must be prepared to take his fair share among his fellows in the defence of the homeland against aggression in return for the safety and freedom enjoyed by him as an inhabitant.”
If we may be excused for again quoting from a writer who deals with this same aspect of the subject the following extract from an article which appeared in the Times of July 14th, 1918, may be regarded as of special interest. The article was a comparative survey of the Scout training and stated “Both the Cadet and Scout movements are out for the good of the boy. The outstanding difference between their respective methods of training is that of principle– one works through impression, the other through expression. The Cadet training imposes collective instruction upon the boys from without; while the Scout movement encourages self-development on the part of the individual from within. Military drill fashions him on to an approved standard as a part of the machine; whereas the aim of scouting is to develop his personal character as a first step.”
It is because so many people have an idea that the two movements are closely akin, or in fact one and the same, that we have ventured to present these facts. As far as Hongkong is concerned, it is hoped that the Jamboree will help to dispel this idea and serve to demonstrate in some measure the real value of Scouting for boys, both as a means of character training and as an adjust to education.– Contributed
翻譯：
童軍與少年團
在各位期待著即將來臨的香港童子軍大會之際，這裡或者需要對比一下童軍與少年團。注意以下不是為本地童軍與香港義勇防衛軍(H.K.V.D.)所屬少年團作出惡意比較，最主要的其實是突顯兩者在多方面性質上的不同。
少年團的目的是透過給予孩童軍事訓練，使之於將來有需要時可手執武器參與軍事行動。少年團的作用就是支援義勇軍或地方部隊，並於孩童適齡時，將之轉移至上述部隊。
少年團絕對稱得上是軍事組織，而且亦得到陸軍部的支持與贊助。
至於童軍運動，則是非軍事的。總領袖貝登堡爵士(Sir Robt. Baden-Powell)的理念，包括整個運動的基礎、範圍與目的、訓練的性質，都在其著作的《少年警探》一書中有所描述：「童軍運動完全沒有軍事的成份。和平的童軍運動參照了殖民開拓者的足智多謀、自力更生及其他技巧，使參加者成為人中之首。是完全沒有打算把孩童訓練成軍人或教導他們成為嗜血的壞人。同一時候，他們會根據愛國主義被教導成為一位隨時準備好在面對侵略時保家衛國的良好公民。」
容許再次引用同一作者另一篇較為特別的文章，摘錄自1918年7月14日的《泰晤士報》，該文對兩者有進一步的比較：「少年團與童軍運動皆對孩童有正面影響。而兩者的不同則在於訓練的方法，一種是「接收」，而另一種則是「表達」。少年團的訓練著重訓令，讓孩童「接收」外部定位的人格；而童軍運動則鼓勵培育人格，由內部「表達」自我。軍事性操練使之成為機械的一部份；而童軍運動的目的則是先要發展孩童的個性。」
就是因為太多人認為這兩個組織太過相似，甚至以為是同一個組織，所以這裡要進取地作出說明。就本港而言，希望即將舉行的童軍大會可有助消除誤解，並一定程度地展示童軍運動的真正價值，即人格的訓練及教育的輔助。
——投稿