Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-17
AMERICAN WAR MEDALS OF HONOR.
ny FREDERIC j. uAsKr,

wASHINGTON. June l6.-Doubtless.
one result of the cxpcditionary force
10 Europe Will be the creation Of IA
new medal of honor to be worn by
those who see honorable service In
inc campaign. Practically every war
In which the United States has had a
part. since the Civil War. has been
"ommemorated by Il medal. so that
thoiogy OF our history in arms
All governments recognize the emo
tional value OF the military decora-
tloh. Love and money are not more
powerful motives to effort than dis
tinction: AS George Moore cynically
ing dogs trying to ustonlsh each other
win our tricks: or. II you prefer to
state II that way. each OF us strongly
desires the appreciation Of his fellows
wherefore. tho giving OF medals Is an
artistic and effective way OF reward
ing merit and stimulating effort
The decorations which may be won
IN the service OF the United States arc
OF two general classes. In the first
place. there is that long list of medals
which have been struck out in accord
ancc with acts Of Congress to COM
memoratc particular wars or cam
paigns. and are generally given Ito all
men who have had an honorable part
In such campaigns. The other class
Is represented by the medals given for
FOR craftsmanship. These latter. In
the case OF enlisted men. carry with
them substantial increase in pay us
long as the decoration Is held.
The Workmanship decorations arc
OF special interest just now. because
they have TO do with n phase of war
in which American troops have always
been superior. Americans have always
been good marksmen because they
have always been a nation OF hunters
and in nearly all of our lighting, this
has been our most marked superiority
within tho last few decades. however
such "A large proportion Of our popu-
lation has been crowded into cities
that the percentage OF men who have
handled arms must DO much smaller
years ago Yet tho number OF these
men is SIN surprisingly large. The
love of the open field and the smell
of gunpowder is strong in our blood
and not easily downed. THUS. in 1915.
some 100000 hunting licenses were
taken out In tho United States. And
tho numerous rife clubs that have
been organized in the last few years
have added greatly to the number OF
those who know. to some extent, how
to shoot
The Importance OF this knowledge
can hardly be orcrcstimatcd. Marks
nanship is tho one part OF being
soldier which cannot possibly he i'm
parted in six months. Learning to
shoot even paSsably we'll Is matter
OF years OF practice. while TO become
ii first-class shot requires not only
years. but a good deal Of aptitude.
Furthermore. experience in the hunt
ing field cannot fail TO be OF much
greater value than any amount OF tar
get practice. Hitting running deer
il very different proposition from
plugging black bulls eye on white
background with the aid Of q wind
gauge. notebook. and an exact
knowledge Of the distance. 1t may
reasonably he supposed that hitting
charging German has somewhat the
same difference from target practice
And although artillery and the ma
chine gun have robbed the rine Of a
large part OF it's Importance. trenches
arc still won and lost by the quality
Of Workmanship in the opposing
forces.
The superiority OF Canadians as SOL
dtcrs seems to be generally conceded
and 1t can scarcely be doubted that
Il good part o: this superiority is due
to the fact that almost every Canadian
OF military age has had some expert
encc CT rifles Gather I hundred small
town raised or ranch raised Western
crs. who hunt every fall as a matter of