WAR MISCELLANY

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15776, 18 December 1916, Page 3

WAR MISCELLANY

N*A VA L KHAK :. (?Eou orr. ew.s- cohkesfo>>'pe?>t.) LONDON". November 3. It is officially announced that naval officers employed on shore outside the United Kingdom may. when ordered by tho senior officer, wear khaki instead of blue or white- uniform. The mit-tons are to bo of bronze instead of gilt and the blue cloth naval cap will havo a khaki cover, but a khaki cap with a bronze badge may be -worn when, exposed to enemy fire. In hot climates only tho naval helmet will be worn, and this may be covered with khaki drill when under fire. FIVE DAYS' TREK WITH REFUGEES AND CATTLE. From tho war zone of danger by Lake Van to a region of safety at Igdiah, tho distanco is 1-50 miles. This space was successfully covered in five days, tho average distanco per day being thirty miles, by a body of unarmed civilians who numbered 25,000, who took with them COOO cattle. The success of this great retreat was due to Mr G. F. Graccy, of Belfast, who for many years has been working in Armenia under the American Mission. During the spring, the. Russian aut-no-rities had entrusted him with the resettlement of the vilayet of Van. Jtia-rly in August, while thus"engaged in relief work. Mr Gracey learned that Mush had been retaken by tho enemy. He heard, across tho lake, the guns of the Turkish advance, and he was warned b;y the glare of burning buildings, ine military authorities advised that the Armenians under his care should be withdrawn. Tho only available lino of retreat lay through the pass of Bekrikala. a lonely mountain outlet, infested by Kurds and other marauders. No Russian soldiers guarded this gateway to safety, and Mr Graccy began by hastily arming with rifles 250 volunteers. This improvised force seized the pass, dealt with the "Kurds, and secured the retreat of a. hundred times their number from interruption. In the guerrilla warfare there were a number of casualties and some deaths, but worse was a.voidod. The Russian troops at Van were, at Mr Graeey's request, drawn across the route in a cordon, through which only one thousand of the refugees were allowed to pass every two hours. By this arrangement, the column was distributed automatically over many miles of road, a halt of two hours being arranged every five hours. Thus the procession took two days to pass any given point. The final stages of the trek lay through waterless plains, but Dr. McC-alium and Mr Uaekhouso (representatives of the Lord Mayor s Fund) arranged thai, the travellers should be met with, soup, bread, water, and food. Subsequently the refugees were dispersed in. Alexandrojvol. Krivnn. and other districts, where their resettlement, continues. AI It II AT D WARNINGS. Sometimes people in public buildings have been told when an air ram happened to be in progress; most often, though, they have not, and the reason has been that knowledge might lead to panic and confusion and accidents. Now. however, it seems that a general notification will be issued to those responsible, and it will be left to the judgment, of each such ]>erson to notify the- audience or not,. When tho warning has beeu given it is for the manager and staff to inform the audience aud to provide facilities for those who wish to leave the building, but doubtless more often than not. the programme will eoDtinue. Efforts will be made to give the warning as early as possible, and those, who want to leave the buildin" will be warned not to loiter about the streets, but to take shelter directly any firing l>egins. Tram-drivers will rcccivc a signal from t-lio power sta,tions, and they are to slow down and shut'off on approaching ccrtain points where, flashing would ordinarily be produced by crossing. There is no intention of suspending railway train or bus services, since it is considered absolutely necessary for the. public safety and convenience thai, they should continue subject to certain precautions. POSTHUMOUS WAR HONOURS. - Considerable public interest centres round the announcement contained in an Army Order, that the King has been pleased to approve that, tho iusignia of on Order or decoration conferred by bis Majesty for distinguished or meritorious service, since August, 1911. upon an officer or soldier who has not survived to receive it, may be publicly presented to the next-of-kin. if they so wish, and aro resident in the United Kingdom. The Victoria Cross and the Insignia of G. 0.8., G.0.M.G.. K.C.8., and K.C.M.G., will be presented by the King in person. The Insignia of C.8., C.M.G., and D.5.0., the Military Cross, tho Distinguished Conduct Medal, the Military Medal, and the Meritorious Service' Medal, will be presented on his Majesty's behalf by general officers commanding at parades of troops, to be held from time to time at, convenient centres throughout the country. Moreover, expenses of conveyance -will be allowed to -the relative, or to two members of the family if age or infirmity precludes one member alono from making the journey. For relatives of officers, n first-class raihvay warrant will bo issued ; for relatives of those of other rank a. third-class railway warrant,. In other tvays, ine wishes of the next of kin will be consulted. TRIPLE DECORATION. On several occasions in the present war we ha.ve had records of the simultaneous bestowal of decorations upon one officer, in recognition ot special bravery, but, surely the receipt of three —the Victoria- Cross, the Distinguished Service. Order, and the Military Cross —must constitute a record. This triple bestowal was madeat Buckingham t'alace a few days ago, but tragcoy underlay Uv'» occasion, ior the officer on whom they had been bestowed was not, there to receive them. In his stead stood his widow. The late officer was Major V iliiam La Touche Congreve, of the Rifle Brigade; Ms young widow was formerly Miss Pamela Maude, younger daughter of Mr and Mrs Cyril Maude, and her marriage to Major Congrevc took place, only seven weeks before his death. Tho D.S.O. was won for special ga'lantry and resource, which resulted in the capture of two enemy officers and over seventy men. the Victoria Cross was awarded tor "most conspicuous bravery during a. period of fourteen days preceding his death in action. - ' "Wc are told that "this officer constantly performed acts of gallantry, and showed the greatest, devotion to duty, and by his personal example inspired all those around hint with confidence at critical periods of the operations. During preliminary preparations for the attack he carried out personal reconnaissances of the enemy lines, taking out parties of officers and non-commissioned officers for over 1000 yards in front of our line, in order to acquaint them with the ground. All these preparations were made under fire. Later, by night,, Major Congreve conducted a. battalion to its position of employment, afterwards returning -to it. to ascertain the situation after assault. He established himself in an exposed forward position from whence he successfully observed tho enemy, and gave orders necessary to drive them from their position." Two days later, when Brigade Headquarters was heavily shelled and many casualties resulted, he went out and assisted the medical officer to remove the wounded to places of safety, although he was himself suffering severely from gas and other shell effects. fie again on a subsequent ' occasion, showed supreme courage in tending wounded under heavy shellfire. He finally returned to the front, line to ascertain the iituation aft-jr an

un.-'iccr:.-fu' attack, and whilst m J llO act of "Tit-ins; hij report. ho was shotand killed instantly.'' Mr> Congrevo w a_- moFt- graciously received« by the Kinc;. who assured her of the deep sympathy felt for her by the Quern, ana himself in the- tragic loss of her .gallant, husband. Major Contrcve's father was a distingushed officer, and won * "-O Victoria Cross sixteen years ago. • VICTOR OF FORTY AIR. FIGHTS. Collision, with another aeroplane was the direct caufo of the death of Captain Boelcke, perhaps the most noted of German aviators, for whom it l is claimed that- he had shot, down his fortieth aeroplane just before his death. A few months ago ho had a keen, rival in the person of Lieutenant Mas Immelman, who, it will be recalled, wa? brought down by Flight-Lieutenant. McCubbLn. a younj; South African, and killed. Tlieso two men between them wero accredited with, ha vine: developed the methods which made the fame' of the Fokker machine. "When Boelcke s victims had numbered eighteen, the Prussian Order Pour Le Merito was bestowed upon him, as well as the promotion to captain. Before tho war ho had learned to fly, and when -war broke out he elected to servo in the aviation branch, and ho was allotted the task of attacking Allied aeroplanes scouting over the German lines. This duty probably accounted for his record of forty, seeing that our machines hover fearlessly over the enemy lines Boelcke is said" to have -won the respect of his opponents, and he had the reputation of giving courteous treatment to his few prisoners. He freely -acknowledged the courago and tenacity of British airmen. "Our newspapers," he said, "often say that it speaks badlv for British airmen that they are so often shot down behind the German lines. On the, contrary, that is the best proof of their intrepidity."