New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-24

posing forces at Arta, stated that the Greek
gunners were working very well. but there was
marked nervousness" He went on:
las the feeling apparcnt-and 1t was
wholly justifed-Mr. knight and -, who
were about to write long kilograms did not feel
justified in availing themselves Of the shelter
Of the fort for that purpose, but considered II
our duty to get our writing materials and do our
work under fire. / think am not exagSeratlng
when say that this decision produced excellent
results Certainly the action was appreciated.
The officers thanked us most warmly; and when
at length there came a long lul in the firing, all
the officers and men available, assembled and
cheered us very heartily. an attention that we
greatly appreciated"
SOME BRAVE DEEDS.
Even Lord Wolseley, who has been for thirty
years describing the correspondents al
"those newly invented curses of modern ar
miles," admitted, at the dinner OF the Press CluD
last year. that from the chairman, Charles Will
Jams. he he at various times received the great
est possible help in the field. Yet the War
Office has long since decided that civilian war
correspondents are not to receiyc medals, even
when they have done excellent military service
under fire An exception Is in this respect MADE
In favor Of military officers who are acting as
newspaper correspondents. They are eligible
for decorations in recognition Of military services
rendered during the campaign. NlscouDt FIN
castle. a military officer. who represented
British newspaper in the Indian frontier war,
was awarded the Victoria Cross for an heroic
though unsuccessful attcmpt-under the fire OF
the enemy-to save the life Of journalistic col
league, Lieutenant Greavcs, whose horse had
bOted with him. No one will begrudge Viscount
Fincastle the distinction for 1t was nobly
earned But in the Afghan War. on the same
northwest frontier OF India, DR. Archibald
Forbes saved the life Of a soldier who shot
through the thigh, and was fast bleeding to
death. while the bullets Of the enemy were hiss
ing about him. by pressing with his fingers the
severed artery until assistance arrived and the
disabled man was carried off the field; and yet
a mention In the dispatches was considered
sufficient reward for the gallant act OF the civil
ian war correspondent. Again. after the Nile
campaign of 1Ss4-'S5 application was made to
the War Office for medals for Charles Williams
and Bennett Burlegh. Mr. Williams had been
twice requested to take command Of some OF the
men by the senior officers on the spot, and was
In every respect cOmbatant. both in the Zereha,
at Gubat. and II the attack on Metemneh. Mr.
Burlcigh was mentioned in dispatches for ex-
IRENE gallantry in the building Of the outlying
fort at Gubat, and for carrying dispatches under
fire between the officer commanding the column
operating against Metemneh and the Gudon
steamers Tho official answer. though the appi-
cation was supported by Lord Wolseley. VINO
was Commander in Chief on the Nile, and by
several other officers. including those who asked
the correspondents to undertake these military
duties under fire. was that the Duke OF cam
bridge the then Commander In Chief, and Ed
ward Stanhope. the then Secretary Of War
could not sanction the issue OF medals 20 men
who had Joined the expedition for their own
PURPOSES" unless they had been specially en-
ployed by the Com nander-in- Chief In the field.
namely Lord Wolselcy. who was one hundred
and scvcnty-fve miles away at the time. II
must he ad led that Edward Stanhope, in Tor
wartIng the official refusal to issue the medal
wrote a private letter expressing his regret at
the decision. which he. though responsible for It
was unable to alter.