New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-03-19
The ChiAeae AIRY.

The Chisese Army.
War 10 reported - hsving just broker
out between japan and Cores, and II 10 q
| most impossible that China should nss b,
dragged into hostilities, especially on %
count of her Jealousy toward Japan. It i
interesting to bear, ct this very moment
what British Chinee says about the com
position, strength and availability OF The
Mong0lisu army.
The present army Of China consists d
two great divisions. Under the 6rtt are In
cluded the Msnchu, M0ngol, and Chinese
B4nnermen. distributed 10 the permanen,
while tho second 10 made up Of Chinese
troops. The Manchu Tartars 1.-THE present
dynasty, when they conquered China in
1914, divided their army into four c0rpa,
distinguished - being under white, blue,
red, and yellow banners. Four bordered
banners of tho same col0rs were subse-
qusntly added, and in course of time there
Of Moogois and eight Of Chinese,
invaders. Tao chief command of these
corps (which exist to the present day,
and are of . mixed civil and military or
gsnization. all being liable TO bear arma.
but by no means ell being paid - soldiera1
10 vested in high officers Of the three nation
alities, the Msncbu, ON the whole, prodom-
mating. Tho Governors General and Gov
| ern0rs have each . email force 1T their
| disposal, but they do not command the
| military or naval forces Of the province.
| Permanent Manchu garrisons under Man.
| chu officers are established. Is I have said,
| in the great cities on the coast and along
| the frontier. The Chinese army is alto
/ mnthap AiatSunk THE E<,rOo mt "a nunap
| . separate general officer, below whom 10 .
| series of subordinates of . number and de-
nomination corresponding to those Of our
own army, if We count from ensign to
Major General. These all draw pay, never
theless the troops assigned to them exist,
to some extent. only IN paper. Were tho
military snd naval services of China ~
real and effective - the civil service of the
country. foreign governments would have
to deal with one Of the greatest powers in
the world.
The civil competitive examinations held
under government secure to the poorest
students of the land the certainty of pre-
motion by merit to the most lucrative posts
in the empire. Under the present dynasty
military examinations are periodically held
among the troops, but the competitors are
men Of property, who supply their own
weap0ns and acc0utrements. and not the
rank and file of the army. Military rank
is conferred not for personal bravery and
talent, but for prowess in raising heavy
weights, welding enormous swords, and
bending bows, a. we'll Is for skill in horse
%s ;. for and m sssas1y asnSssa the
open to all who are eligible tor tho
civil service, few engage in the contests. e.
the posts 0btainable are in every respect
inferior to those of the administrative de-
partments of government. Few men Of
genuine talent, therefore, are to be found
among the officers of the Chinese army,
and probably none who deemed it worth
their while to acquire knowledge of mill
tary engineering, Notifications; and all that
constitutes the science of modern warfare.
1t must, however, be said. in Justice to tho
Chinese government, that they are not alto
gether ignorant of the defects in their sys-
tenn. Within the last ten years great efforts
have been made to introduce q certain
the navy we're chosen from the land forces,
not that they knew the bow from the stern
post Of Q war vessel, but because they
were big and clustering men, whose az
pesrance would strike terror into the
hearts OF an enemy. Schools have
been established for the training
of naval cadets under the European
siOns in the gunbOats and cOrvettes of the
modern Chinese navy. Li-hung chang has
foreign drill and arms, and is
doing his best tO promote discipline and to
strengthen the army. He would introduce
other and more sweeping Innovations had
he not to contend agsinst the jealousy an0
suspicion of the central government. Lis
last scheme, the centraliz alton Of the army,
viewed unfavorsbly by the mandarins,
~, backed by the power of the army, he
might at once ascend the dragon throne.
The real army of the empire is mainly
composed of natives of China. How fay
this army may be considered effective, anc
what may be its numerical strength, are
question: which can not be answered with
any degree OF certainty. 1t suits the pur-
poses OF the central government to have
it broken up into . multitude of campo
widely distributed over the empire. each
province having probably from 20 ,OOe to
lO0, GOO men during time of war. But the
Chinese army is seldom much
larger than what is required to act a. sort
Of c"nstsbalary. resident in guard ststions
and camps in the various departments OF
the empire. The number of officers in o.
tive service can always be ascertained BY
to the quarterly army and navy
returns published in Pekin, while the 60
luAl numOer Of men in the service can only
like the population in China, be approx
mately estimated.
In regard to the question Of military
roads, good roads, such as would be avail
able tor thoroughly equipped transport
'oIps. Can hardly be said to exist in any
part Ut China. The rivers and water
,ourses to great extent supply the place
0f roads and form u network Of intercom-
all over III. land. MANY Of
these waterways could only be used for the
transport Of troops anu baggage by such
appliances AZ the Chn-se ihr inst Ives Dos
spe ciaiy adapted tor the navi-
cation OF shallow lakes, laxO0ns and
streams.
What We understand BY y properly
equipped transport service ACCOMMODATING
IN invading force, would prove almost use
ess IN such country as Chm, whero
here are extensive tracts of land subject to
annual foundations; where there are few
Dads other than the footpa rs along the
,snks Of irrigated fields: where. in TACT. a
0relgn army would require either to make
Dads or intrust its stores and baggage n
contingent force in the shape OF Chinese
transport cOolie corps, armed with nothing
more formidable than their bamboo cnrrv-
ng poles.-Ne,o York Commercial Adre1.
User.
Bloody Siege.
Late telegrams have given an account of
he relief OF Fort Pease bv the military. A
orrespondent of the New York Hood
ives the following interesting account Of
he condition of the fort Just before its in
by the Indians, and the pa rticu-