The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-07-04
The Chinese Army.

On Friday. at the Royal United Service
Institution, sir Rutherford Acock presiding, Capt.
W. GIN, Il. e., read paper on the Chinese army.
lie gave account OF the present allen dynasty under
the Manchu Sovereign, and described the " Banner
army. called because 1t ranged under eight
banners, numbering roughly some 40, 900 COM
mssIoned officers and privaes besides 40, 900 eaves
aid expectants to the higher ranks and s. 900 arti
cers and followers There are about 50. 900 In Pekn
another 80 900 distributed about the province Of
Pe-Chih-Li, there are 49, 900 In Manchurn, and the
remainder furnish the Tatar gariisons of the chief
cities throughout tile empire. by far tile most ln-
portant OF all the Banner Forces is that which Is
known rs the Tliau Ki-iing, and which, according tn
Sir Thomas Wade Is the only corps which tan have
any claim TO he considered as an army They number
some 49, O0O besides 90. 900 Giaves hut ii is commonly
believed that of the whole Banner Forces throughout
the empire ut the present time no more than 30, 600 Of
the IIiau XII Yung In Pckin, with, perhaps, another
IS, 600 of those that make up the Is garrsons, can
said to be effective Military exercises are almost
universally carried On In the Imperial hunting park
immense tract OF country surrounded by wall, the
to which is Jealousy forbidden TO foreigners.
In pekin there Is force of field artillery with modern
-loading guns. but of their numbers and effect
iveneSs he could form no Idea. lie then proceeded
Iu- Wing, which was In fact the constitutional army
of China-the Banner-men being the soldiers Of M
| alien. though suzeran Power.
The duties of the Luh- Wing We're, however. by nc
means confined to those of European army; the
sponsbiliies OF police force were imposed on them;
by far the larger portion Of the n- Wing land force
seemed to he devoted to the duty Of preventing rob-
berry, conrabandism. and other crimes. Besides the
land force the Iu- Wing manned the navy of the sea-
Uoafu provinces. anu organization O
divisions and garrlsOns each under Its general. Sc
| completely were these forces under the Governor.
General OF provinces that the Imperial Cabinet
ut Pekin found 1t very difficult, and sometimes i'm.
possible, to Induce These officers to move their army
beyond the borders of their province. The strength
OF these provincial armies varied with tC3ize OF tt
province, and with the duties they had to perform
Taking all the provinces, the average for each wa'
ABOUT "a, 500 men aud $40 oicers-0ne Offcer to s.
men. OF the capabilities of the nation he said
'Fhe Chinese, especially those of the North, are
fine people physically; they are hardy and enduring,
fn. "a tlaAvn rltt.
| CUES on small amount OF food. and win supper
| great privations without complaint They are law.
discipline In their armies Is ut present lax the histor
OF Gordon force shows what 1t might be II til,
| soldiers were properly paid properly onicered an'
properly looked after' lie held thai the Chinese,
properly trained, properly armed, and properly led
by officers In whom they placed confidence, woul,
| certainly furnish material for admirable soldiers
| London Times, Mdy7.