We are happy to announce that the Lords of the Admiralty have issued an
order for the distribution of medals to the officers and seamen who
served in the naval actions hereunder specified. We understand the
medals are of gold, set round with diamonds of the most costly
description. Great caution will be used in the distribution, to prevent
fraud in personating deceased officers, &c.
A.D. 876. King Alfred's engagement with and destruction of the
Danish fleet.
--1350. Great sea-fight between the English and the combined fleets
of France and Spain.
--1588. Destruction of the Spanish Armada.
--1702. Admiral Benbow's engagement with the French.
--1761. Siege and capture of Belleisle.
N.B. No officer or seaman will be entitled to a medal in respect of the
last-mentioned siege, unless he can satisfy their lordships that he was
"there all the while."
* * * * *
[Illustration: RATHER SEVERE.
_Regular_ (_manoeuvring with Yeomanry_). "Got to give up my arms, have
I? Umph! This comes of going out with a lot of darned Volunteers."]
* * * * *
[Illustration: YEOMANRY MANOEUVRES. (FIRST DAY IN CAMP.)--_Officer._
"What's all this? What are you doing with that cask?"
_Trooper._ "Tent equipment, sir!"]
* * * * *
[Illustration: OUR REVIEW.--The colonel is wondering what manoeuvre he
ought to execute in the circumstances.]
* * * * *
[Illustration: MANOEUVRES.--_Lieutenant Nobs_ (_just arrived_). "How
long will you take to drive me to the fort, Cabby?"
_Cabby._ "Ten minutes, Capting, by the shortcut through the halleys. But
the military allus goes the long way round, through the fashionable part
o' the town, yer honour, which takes an hour."
[_Cabby gets his hour._
]
* * * * *
[Illustration: TECHNICAL EDUCATION IN THE ARMY.
_Officer_ (_examining a Mounted Infantry class_). "Well, I think you
understand about the hoof and what the frog is. Now, just tell me where
you would expect to find corns?"
_Mounted Infantry Recruit_ (_suspecting a catch_). "In the manger,
sir."]
* * * * *
[Illustration: MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.
_Musketry Instructor_ (_who wishes, by simple practical examples, to
bring the fact of the air's resistance and elasticity to the mind of
intelligent pupil, No. 450, Private Jones_), _loq._ "For instance, you
have seen an air-cushion, and felt that it contained something you could
not compress. What was it?"
_Private Jones_ (_readily_). "'Orse 'air, sir!"
[_Enthusiastic instructor tries again._
]
* * * * *
[Illustration: DIVERSIONS OF DRILL (1860).
_Captain of Volunteers._ "Dress back, No. 3, do dress back. Comp'ny!
Fours! As y' were! No. 3, Mr. Buffles, how often am I to speak to you,
sir? Will you dress back, sir; further still, sir. You are not dressed
exactly yet, sir, by a----"
_Buffles_ (_goaded to madness_). "Bet yer five pounds I am--there!"]
* * * * *