New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-09-26
Military Resources of China,

The Hong Kong Daily Press asserts that
there is no country SO wretchedly weak and
helpless, in proportion to its size and re-
sources, as China. With the command of
an unlimited supply. ct men she has COM
paratively few soldiers, and these are, for
the most part, unde serving OF the term.
Miserably armed, and almost entirely I'M
disciplined, they could not stand five min
ates before well ordered regiment OF Eu-
ropean soldiers. AS a rule, too, they con
sist of the soum of the population, and by
their insolent bearing and ruffianly habits
are the terror of the people wherever they
are stationed. Here and there a little i'm
provement has been eft .cted in the drill
and morale of the "bravesh when sub
jected, IS some battalions have been, TO
military training under European instruc-
tors. But these instances are few and ex.
ceptional. China has plenty of raw mate
rial, but it is not easily convertible into
effective troops. With regard to ordnance,
the Chinese government are not much, if
any, better provided. They have spent
good deal Of money in purchasing guns
which they are not able to Use with effect,
and they have erected great number of
useless Notifications, chiefly on the Peiho.
They would find these poor defenses if they
were mad enough to go to war with even
third rate European power. Lii Hung chang
mas, during his administration, considerably
reduced the imperial exchequer by his lavish
expenditure on these useless Notifications
sad munitions of war. lie is not by any
means alone in the belief that he is thus
greatly strengthening the country against
the possibility of war. There are a
Large number of belicos 40 Cinnamon who
firmly believe that it is only necessary to
obtain European arms to render their
Iegions invincible. IL is this belief that
prompts them to go on increasing their arm
aments, and it was no doubt with view to
nraiO q with this fha roiar NJ hot,
the late Customs Taotai at Ten Tsin recent
ly made Q gift of 10000 taels in aid of the
military requirements of Chilli 1t will be
remembered that this was the official whose
exactiOns caused such a panic in trade at
1ien-Tsin not long since. Doubtless he has
large donation for works in which so
naany of his countrymen take an inter-
est Ii the Chinese, pluming themselv' 9
on tancied increase of strength, are,
therefore-as seems bnt too apparent
waxing insolently defiant of foreigners,
and Indifferent with regard to the observ-
ance of the treaties, they will have to be
taught another lesson frcm foreign guns.
Their new acquisitions would prove poor
projections against English or French gun
boats, and their wretchedly equipped mob
of "brave6p would prove emuious only in
showing their capacities for flight. But the
councils of the peace party are still, we
nope, nost potent, ana tnougn their war
like brethren may be anxious to provoke
strife, and perhaps be allowed to insul. and
outrage Europeans, the former seem
fally determined to guard against an
open rupture. There are some Chi
nose statesmen, at all events, who must
be. acquainted with the real weakness of
their country, though they would be 10th
to confess it, It was this consciousness of
inability to meet trained troops in the field,
doubtless, that mainly contributed to induce
the government of Pekin to listen to the
wise and pacific counsels of Mr.. Wade, ard
agree to an amicable settlement of their
difficulties with Japan anent the Loochooans
shipwrecked on the coast of Formosa. The
read interests of China all lie in the mainte-
nance Of peace and the development of her
mineral resources, at present almost I'm.
touched. The great mass OF the people are
very poor, and the burdens which war
would impose would infallibly cause great
and widespread distress.