New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-07

,, ccb, &C by the general or th' ~
,r;r,l Every country has its decorations '''
MILITARY services but since many # them con
vev privileges If rank and nobility th'! "
wand q certain social standing Of the recipient
ora hence are no; to be won by the rank anu
file in the army and navy.
One ~ the most famous OF the few great " -
ders feryalor which makes nodistincNoh Oh Glass;
is the Victoria Cross Of Great Britain. IL Was III
.,itu,ed AT the close OF the Crimean campaign !"
ISM the Queen deeuing 1t desiral y I'D nav
soue suitable reward Of the kind for h'T "fA''
soldiers and sailors The Victoria '''SS ="
given only 10 those who perform III ID" enemy >
presence some signal act of Nal'T 81 d''"'""
70 country. 1t may he granted to volunteers
as we'll as 10 the regular forces II 'h' 'o'u'
tecrs are serving against an eheH| ~ W.
Britain The decoration consists oi '""'"
Maltese cross. in bronze, having III me ''"'
the royal crown. surmounted by the lion. ana
be,ea,h the crown a scroll with the words "f"T
valour"
q, tho reverse are inscribed The name or IN"
,ecipient and the date Of the decd II gaiian'ry
for which the cross was conferred Ihc fl''"h
which goes with the cross is blue Tor tN' navy
ard red for the army. on the clasp "hch d
tachos cross and ribbon are t"' hrai'h'S ~
Laurel. Bronze bars are added 10 thc ribbon
,or further brave deeds On tho rart - the
holder. ard these bars are inscribed WITH Inc
names # the actions in which The services were
rendered a pension Of II" year a'c"i"i' ''''''
the decoration. \ curious and interesting fact
H. regard t. the bronze Of which The Victoria
Cross is made is that it IS The metal 81 guns
which nave been taken from the cH"i-y
The manner in which a scldi'r in the fed
{..1 {, it - "a
action. having been observed by hif own com
mandirg officer is reported t. The genera c.r.
manding the army or thu division. liz. III tatn.
transmits the news to TIE british Secretary .
state for War who informs tAc Queen. The
awarding cf The Victoria Cross L. always an
nounc,d in The Gazette" aud fuil description
is published e the act Of conspicuous Bravery
which won the honor. The recipient IS cA'il
thereafter t. sign aft'r his name tho letters
"V C." As q matter II fact. however. this
privilege has never been used by tn ia"| aid
file but has been confined to the '.i- Who
have received the cross Why this -ou!' be
so it is difficult 10 say; certainly Il ai"r"5
great nodcsty on Tin" part Of Tommy Atkins
and his brother Jack Of the navy. II ray be.
too. that tie commiss. ned officers dis outraged
the asyufnp,i0n Of the ~. G." 10y Those under
them
During the terrible Indian Mutiny in 1874 the
cross was conferred many Nm"s upon private
soldiers 4 notable case was that Of young
drummer who helped To fastcn the powder
bags on the gates Of Delhi BY means Of this
act the British troops were enabled to get pos
session Of the city. Another instance Of the
winning OF the cross at this time was that fur
pshed by an Irish private soldier. who carried
amid the greatest dangers and hardships an
urgent message from the besieged garrison of
Lucknow to Sir Colin Campbell. begging him 10
hasten TO the relief Of the city recent prcscn-