a female head representing the republic, surrounded by the inscription, "Republique Francaise, 1870," and a wreath of green enamel instead of the crown.

The Medaille Militaire (Military Medal) was established in 1852 by Prince Louis Napoleon. It is awarded to general officers in command of armies, flag officers in command of fleets or squadrons and to non-commissioned officers and men who especially distinguish themselves by courage in action. The medal consists of a silver gilt head of the republic, surrounded by a circlet of blue enamel bearing the inscription, “ Republique Francaise, 1870," enclosed in a silver wreath of laurel leaves, and surmounted by a trophy of arms in silver. It is suspended by a ribbon of orange edged with green.

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This medal is the one worn by Marshal Joffre during his recent visit to the United States.

The Croix de Guerre (War Cross), a distinctive decoration of the present war, was founded by law on April 8, 1915, to be conferred upon all persons, whether military or civilian, who are mentioned in the order of the day for deeds of great valor during the war against Germany and her allies. It is a four-armed cross pattée of Florentine bronze, with two crossed swords between the arms, with a central medallion bearing the head of the republic, surrounded by the inscription, "Republique Francaise." On the reverse are the dates, " 1914-1915." The ribbon is green with red edges and five narrow red stripes.

If the citation for which it was awarded was in orders from army headquarters the ribbon bears a bronze palm leaf (palme en bronze); if from the headquarters of an army corps, a gilt star; if from a divisional headquarters a silver star; and if from the headquarters of a brigade or regiment, it bears a bronze star.

BRITISH WAR DECORATIONS

The Victoria Cross is considered to be the highest decoration conferred by the British Government upon the officers and men of the naval and military forces of Great Britain. It was established by Queen Victoria during the Crimean War to reward individual officers and men of the British Navy and Army for signal acts of gallantry, courage and devotion under the fire of an enemy. To win this rare reward the act of gallantry must be one over and above the requirements of duty as laid down in regulations and orders.

The V. C. has never been conferred upon any one except officers and men of the British land and sea forces, including regulars, volunteers, reserves, colonial forces, auxiliaries and persons serving in some capacity with the forces. It takes precedence over all other decorations and medals and whenever it is possible to do it is personally pinned upon the breast of the recipient by the king.

The decoration consists of a bronze cross pattée suspended from a bronze bar by a link made in the shape of the letter "V," for Victoria. On the center of the obverse is a royal crown with a lion passant gardant standing upon it and a semicircular scroll surrounding it upon which is the inscription, " For Valour." Upon the reverse, which is plain, is engraved the date of the act for which the cross was awarded. The name and rank and the ship or regiment of the recipient is engraved upon the back of the bar from which it is suspended.

The ribbon is blue for the navy and red for the army, and in the very rare cases where the reward has been given for a second act deemed worthy of the V. C. a bar is attached to the ribbon.

The Military Cross is a distinctive decoration of the present war, having been established on December 31, 1914, to reward captains, lieutenants and warrant officers of the land forces for conspicuous service in the war who have been recommended for the honor by the Secretary of State for War. It is of silver and bears in the center the imperial cypher "G. R. I.," and upon each arm an imperial crown. The ribbon is white, purple, white, in stripes of equal width.

The Distinguished Service Cross was established in 1901 to reward warrant officers, midshipmen, naval cadets and clerks of the British Navy for distinguished service before the enemy, under the name of the Conspicuous Service Cross. In October, 1914, the name of the decoration was changed to the Distinguished Service Cross and it was ordered that it should be awarded to officers of the navy and marine below the rank of lieutenant commander or major, thus making it correspond to the Military Cross for the land forces.

It is a four-armed silver cross with the arms convexed, bearing upon the obverse enclosed in a circular rim the imperial cypher, "G. R. I.," surmounted by an imperial crown. The ribbon is blue, white, blue, in stripes of equal width.