The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-12-29
Four and Half Million Of Soldiers and
Sailors viii Have Tribute
Of Grateful
Nation.
ALL NATIONS JOIN IN
1t viii Go Only to Combatants Who
Helped to Bring Germany to
Her Knees in World Con-
fIict.

Some 100000 American soldiers
and sailors soon are to receive the
Victory medal--tribute of a grateful
nation to all the men in uniform
who aided In crushing German anabi-
ton to dominate the world.
The National Geographic Magazine,
Iin its military insignia number, pub.
fishes the first authorized illustra-
ton of the medal as accepted by the
United States government. and fur
nishes the following descrip ton and
history of It's adoption, by Colonel
r. Z. Wyllie, Of the general staff,
U. S. A.;
During the spring of 1918. while
hostilities were still at their height,
the different allied and associated
nations agreed to adopt a medal
which would be the same for all, to
commemorate the great war.
This plan has two advantages:
In the first place, it Is symbolical OF
the union and solidarity Of purpose
which animated the countries fight
ing against Germany and her allies;
secondly, it obviates the necessity OF
following the practice Of exchanging
service medals.
"In previous wars it had been Gus
tomary for nations to bestoW their
war medals on the personnel OF their
allies who were attached to them,
or associated with them, in different
campaigns and engagements. Inc
immensely of the operations in this
war. the millions of soldiers engaged
intarminQtfnR OF
large units under one command, all
point to the impossibility OF sucn
procedure in this instance. But py
the adoption of medal, the same
for all it would be unnecessary, since
no matter in what army a man
served the medals would be alike.
country's Own Designs.
'In order to carry this plan into
execution, an inter-ailied commission
met in Paris after the armistice. This
commission found that it was i'm
practicable to adhere strictly to the
original plan to have the medal iden-
tical for all, as it would have re-
uuired the submission of designs
from artists of all the nations In
volyed. with a critical examination
by special commission OF artists, IN
order to select the most appropriate
and most artistic, and there was NOT
sufficient time to go into such detail.
The armies were being demobllized
and the soldiers had no desire. to
wait for years before receiving their
medals. so it was decided to have
an identical ribbon, but allow each
a medal ac-
cording to general specifications
which were drawn up by the COIL
mission.
SIN this way the medals, while not
identical, will follow the same gen
eral design, and the artists OF eacn :
country will have the opportunity OF
executing the medals for their own
soldiers. The competition is Keen
as every nation is DESTROYS OF having
fine most artistic production, and the
result should be collection OF great
beauty. -,
"The name of this medal in all
Countries as determined by this COM
mission. is the Victory medal. Inc
ribbon is a double rainbow. having
tbe red in the center and with a
white thread on each edge. 1t sym,
holizes the dawn of a new era OF
calm after this storm. 1t was de
yeloped In France under the lmme'
diate direction of the commission
and when a satisfactory ribbon was
produced a piece was sent 10 eacn
of the allied countries as standard
sample.
specifications of Medal.
"1,he snecifications of the medal
are as follows:
"To he bronze. Sc m IA inches}
IN diameter. and suspended from the
ribbon by ring, the same as mos'
of our medals. On the DIVERSE a
winged Victory, standing, full length
and full face. On the reverse me
inscription The Great War for ClVlii
zation.' in the language OF. the coun
trv concerned. and either the names
ar the arms of the allied and asso
ciated nations.
.By the terms of the interalliec
aereement. this medal will be award
! cd only to combatants. 1t is not rol
general distribution to all who par
1 t,c;nated in war work. In France
for example, almost every male was
mohiIized as soldier, but great
numbers did no real military work
being utilized in the manufacture 9
munitions, in agricultural pursuits
IN the railroads, and other similal
| service which was essential to carr!
on the war, but which could not D.
considered as military The meda
cannot be awarded to them, although
thew we're technically members OF ths
French army.
Only combatsnts There.
1--WE had no corresponding class
in our army and navy; therefore oul
| victory medal will be given to al
members of those two services wht
served on active duty during th'
war. they are all considered com
batants In this connection. This con
sfderation also decided the question
as to which Of the nations shoult
appear on the reverse of the medal
Under the specifications, as alread.
set forth, It would have been per
MISSILE to have included all thos'
that declared war against Germany