South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-01-28
PhikanthrOphy

in the councils OF the nation are Of
more Importance. and therefore de-
serve higher reward than do indivi-
dual acts of gSllantry on the battle
field" says the bulletin which is
based on a communication 10 the
society by Col Robert E. wyllie. L.
s. \.
Two Exceptions To Rule.
The exceptions TO this rule are
Great Britain and the United States.
in both of which countries the pri-
mary valor decoration takes proceed
ence over all others. and it is worthy
of note that the standards set for
these two rewards are not only high
er than in any other country. but
they are also more vigorously ap-
Piled
Awards Of the Victoria cross
British and of the Medal of Hon
or (American) are so rare and so
jealousy guarded that they are un-
doubtedly the two highest honors
which can be bestowed for valor, and
this may serve to explain why they
are placed first in their respective
countries, contrary 10 the custom Of
all others. An additional resem-
blance is that neither is ever be-
slowed on a foreigner. The Victoria
cross is limited 10 British subjects
by royal decree; in the case Of the
Medal of Honor, there is no law pro-
hibiting its award to a foreigner, but
it has never been done, and custom
is sometimes more potent than acts
Of congress.
Earliest L. :. Decoration.
The Medal of Honor was instituted
by act of congress in 1851 and was
the earliest American decoration.
However, it applied at that time
only TO enlisted men of the navy. In
the following year enlisted men of
the army were included, and by an
act approved March 3, 1863, it's pro-
visions were extended TO include Of
ficers in the army. but naval officers
were not eligible for this decoration
until 1915.
The conditions under which the
army medal Of honor may. be award
ed have been changed from time to
time Today the law provides that:
The president is authorized to
present in the name of congress, a
medal of honor only to each person
who. while an officer of enlisted man
of the army shall hereafter. in &C
tion involving actual conflict with
an enemy. distinguish himself con
spicuously by gallentry and intre-
pidity at the risk Of his life. above
and beyond the call of duty
Second Military Honor.
THE distinguished service medal,
the American decoration which is
second only to the medal of honor,
can be awarded by the president to
any person who, while serving in
any capacity with the army of the
United States, shall distinguish him
self or herself by specially meritOr-
ious service TO the government in a
duty OF great responsibility. The
distinguished service medal for the
navy is awarded under exactly the
same conditions as for the army and
was established by act of congress
in February. 1919.
1T should be noted that the ser
vices 10 be rewarded with this dec
Grafton do not have TO be rendered
at the front. much less in action, the
requirement of great responsibility
being the governing factor. 1t was
as the legion of honor of France
and other similar orders with which
European countries reward the great
leaders OF their military and naval
forces.
Recognizes Wider Service.
The institution of the distin-
guish service medal in the army of
the United States was in recogni-
ton Of the fact that in an army Of
modern times all the fighting is not
done on the lighting front, but that
those who served by way Of pre-
pairing others and those whose ser
vices were specially necessary in as
sociation with military operations
are equally serving in the cause.
The distinguished service cross
is purely an army decoration and is
bestowed as "A reward for Individual
acts of extraordinary heroism in
connection with military operations
against an armed enemy not war
ranting the award Of the medal of
honor.
1T is indicative of the growing
recognition of the important posi-
ton of women in the modern state,
that both the distinguished service