AMERICA'S VICTORIA CROSS.

Taihape Daily Times, 27 November 1917, Page 3

AMERICA'S VICTORIA CROSS.

THE MEDAL OF HONOUR. With America's entry into a new war, the subject of reward for valour naturally comes up. H Merian Allen, writing in the Bellman of the origin of America's Victoria Cross, says:— The emblem which the United States pins upon the breas*t of officer or prive for "gallantry and intrepidity above his comrades" is the Medal of Honour. It had its origin during the second year of the Civil War, when j an act of Congress was passed providing for striking the medal and rewarding with it valiant "sergeants, corporals and soldiers." But in 1563 a supplementary act extended the list of those eligible so as to include all service grades, as appears from the fact that of the 3269 of these decorations which have been awarded in the half century the army has received about three-quar-ters of the number, and the navy and marine corps dividing the remainder. It is further worthy of note that Congress, desirous of making the Congressional Medal of Honour a real distinction for gallantry and conspicuous bravery, declared that it could not be granted merely for "the brave discharge of duty in battle," or to an officer for leading his command into action, even if a vef y great measure of gallantry be shown in such leadership" It must be won through "some conspicuous act of personal bravery or self-sacrifice above or beyond the mere call of duty."