New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-03
PRIZES FOR DISOBEDlENCE.
CONFERRED WHERE WIT AND SPIRIT RISE
ABOVE RED TAPE.

| NONE Wl1EhE WI AMI "a 'A'AA -'-'-
ABOVE RED TAPE.
That there are Gses where disObedience be-
comes a virtue is no means SO new paradox
as people might Be tempted to believe from the
! comments made in both this country and Europe
upon the verdict of the recent court-martlai AT
Malta which practically censured the British Rear
| Admiral Markham for not having dlsobeyed the
orders of his commander-in-chief, Vice-Admlral
| Sin, George Tryon-obedience in this case having
resulted in the death of the latter and of the loss
of his flagship. the Victoria, with 400 OF the crew.
So far from the principle being of recent origin,
there are in existence in the Old World certain
highly priced decorations that are conferred al
mast exclusively for successful acts Of daring per-
formed either without orders in direct defiance
to commands received-feats that in the event OF
failure would have resulted iI death, or worse
| still DEGRADATION Most notable among these
orders of chvalry which may be regarded IN the
| Uoht of premiums for disOedence, is the Aus
trian IMPERIAL Order of Maria Theresa, the lowest
class Of which carries with it the hereditary title
of Baron and a comparatively large pension. 1t
il conferred not b., the sovereign, but by the
Chapter Of the Order which gives careful con-
sheraton not only To the deed of valor itself,
but also TO all the circumstances under which 1t
was performed, before admitting the fortunate
soldier or sailor TO membership. The latter
does not exceed at the present moment twenty
natives and six foreigners, and only hity-sM
crosses have been conferred Since the battle of
Waterloo.
As an illustration of the deeds requisite to
qualify man for membership in this order it
will suffice to give a brief description of The case
Of the senior knight General Baron Hansen, who
recently died at Vienna at the advanced age OF
ninety his remains being escorted to their last
resting place ny the celebrated irOnclad and
medieval looking mounted knieht known as Der
eiserne Ritter" who only makes his appearance
in the streets of Vienna the occasion Of the OBJ
sequies of a Knight of Mara Theresa. He rode,
as usual, in front of the hearse, with his superb
armor, the pcnnon OF his lance and his black
charger all shrouded with Grape. Baron Harser
was only the junior captain OF an ordinary infantry
regiment when he performed the feat of arms
which secured for him this much coveted reward
II was during the war Of s40 when, owing %
the senior officers Of the battalion being placed
hors de combat, Hansen found himself in COM
mand Of the corps TO which intrusted the
duty Of guarding the retreat of the division TO
which il belonged. This retreat had been rendered
necessary by the non-arrival Of the main body of
the army, with which junction was 10 have
been erected. Hanser, Oh reaching the town oil
Volta, found its situation favorable for defence
that he determined 10 make a stand there with
his regiment, instead OF following the remainder
of his division, in accordance with the strict in
structioDs received. IL was open act of dis
obedience 10 his superiors in command, but he
made up his mind TO risk the consequences. and
gallant was the defence he made of the little
town. and favorable the strategica locltion OF
the place. that he succeeded il keeping the entire
Italian army in check for eighteen hours with his
handful of men. Just at the very moment when
the Italians preparing for final assault, and
when orders had been issued By their commanders
that no quarter was to be given TO those devils
OF Tyrolese," the main body of the Austrian army,
the delay Of whose arrival had necessitated the
retreat of the division 20 which Hanser be-
on8ed, appeared upon the scene, forcing the
Italians in their turn to withdraw in hot haste
For his splendid eaantry this occasion Captain
lianser was promoted ly the Emperor to the rank !
OF major while the Chapter Of the Order OF Maria
Theresa unanimously elected him member %
the association his diploma being, usual, signed
iy the Emperor
There is another order tha, bears Il certain re-
scmblancc to that OF the Marin Theresa. IN 'hit |
IL has sometimes been selected TO reward successful
cases OF dsobcdicncc in the field. IL Is that OF
ST. George OF Russia which was founded by the |
Empress Catherine and is only conferred for en- |
cfptionally brilliant services In time OF war. To
wear the first class tho order IL il necessary to
have coinmarGe. /. chief vc.orou, army IN !
tue field, aud ~ strict is this rule that none VI