The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-17
BADGE OF HONOR ron THE BRAVE.
Victoria Cross of bronze Which All
British Soldiers May Hope to Win.

British Soldiers May Hope to Win.
From the st. Louis Post-Dispatch.
It Is probable that of the 10000 men who
have sailed during the last month from
England for South Africa there is hardly
a single officer or soldier who does not
look forward to returning home with
that little bronze badge known as the
Victoria cross, pinned upon his breast. 1t
is a distinction that is within the reach
of every member of the entire force
from the divisional generals down to
the smallest bugler or drummer boy, and
there is not one of them who would not
infinitely prefer it to any form of pro-
motion. For its possession indicates that
its owner is in every sense of the word
a hero, the cross being conferred only for
some signal act of altogether exceptional
bravery, partaking of the character of he
roism. 1t was founded at the time of the
Crimean war, and among those whose
breasts 1t adorns are generals such as Sir
Redyers Butler who commands in chief
in south Africa; Field Marshal Lord Rob-
erts and plain ordinary privates in the
army. In fact, at least so per cent of the
200 Victoria cross men won the distinction
as privates or noncommissioned officers
of the army and as common sailors in the
navy
Sir Redvers Butler, for instance receiv-
ed his Victoria cross for riding back
three times in one day in the face of a
holly pursuing foe to rescue wounded COM
rades and soldiers. Lord William Beres-
ford, who is married to an American
woman, received 1t for feats of a similar
character. General Sir Evelyn Wood got
II In India for advancing under a heavy
fire along narrow causeway to place a
bag of gunpowder against the gate of a
city which the English were to storm dur
fno he uhtla "a let FUN, Il
shipmen received the cross for picking up
bombs from the decks of their vessels
during the Crimean war and throwing
them overheard before the sizzling fuse
had time to explode the shell and carry
death and destruction to all around it,
In the case of military men the ribbon
is Of red, while in the navy the ribbon is
blue. The metal of which the cross is
made is of that same kind of bronze that
fifty years ago was used for field guns
The cross is of the style known as NAL
tese; has the royal crown, surmounted by
the lion, in the center, and underneath a
scroll bearing the inscription: For val
or" 1t is hung suspended by ''V" ring
to bar, on the reverse side Of which
the rank and name of the recipient is
engraved. while on the cross itself are in
seribed the name and date of the action
in which the honor was won
Any add lional act of bravery which
would have won the Viciora cross FIR It's
holder had he not all ready posses sed 1t is
signaiized by a bar or clasp lie ng adced
to the ribbon just above the bar from
which the cross is SUSPENDED. Toe cross
carries with it a pension Of $50 a year
and an additional So is given for Zach bar
To the best Of my knowledge there is nc
Victoria cross man who can beast Of an
additional bar 10 his Cross.
II must thoroughly be underst ood that
the feats Of bravery for which the or s.
Is nferrsd must have been performed il
war time and to all intents and puipos e:
urder the fl of the enemy. Acts of BRAY.
cry IN times of peace do not rece We any
such recognition, and, although Admir-
Lord Chares Beresiord has on several oo.
oasions risked his life at sea by divinp
overheard from a ship to save fellow Of.
heers and sailors from drowning. YET he
has never received the Victoria cross
which, as stated above, was gran Ell Ia ~.
brother 'B l." for roscuing one wonnde5
trooper under IRE.