The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-05-20
The Chinese Army and Navy.
From the London Palt Mull Gazette

80
Some of the Russian newspapers, in
view ofthe contingency of war with
China, give some particulars, of the
military and naval forces of that coun-
try. The chief portion of the Chinese
army consists of the first Army Corps,
composed of eight Mantchou, eli int
Tartar and eight Chinese corps, and the
garrison OF Pekin. The soldiers of
the First Army Corps are. seldom
drilled, and are mostly armed with
swords, bows, spears and other anti
quated weapons. Being badly paid,
they earn their living by working at all
sorts Of trades. and are of but little use
az soldiers. Their total strength, ex-
elusive of officers, is about los, 900 men
Ehe garrison of Pekin, also badly
ARMED, consists Of II $40 strong, which
form the Emperor's body-gaurd, and a
division of infantry of 10000 men
whose duty it is to keep order in the
capital and its suburbs. There is also
q third army, which during the present
century has beenSalmost exclusively
employed in time of war. This is the
80 called "Green& Banner 3. Army"
which is composed of eighteen army
corps, in correspondence with the eigh-
teen provinces Of the Empire. Each
army corps has Eve divi-ions, and each
divisions Eve camps. A General COM
mands each division, and the civil Gov
ernors are the CONFERENCE.-The Chief of
the troops stationed in their respective
districts. The total strength of the
"Green Banner Army" on paper is
about 651 900 men, win 7'O0O officers,
but it is probable that not more than
one-half of this force could be brought
into the field. Barely $4,000 of them
are armed with European weapons and
drilled according to the principles of
European tactics; the remainder still
carry spears, matchlocks, and short
swords. Finally, there is q kind of ir-
regular volunteer corps, which is called
in when the regular army has proved
incapable of supervising an insurrection
or putting down :~*brigandage. This
corps is even worse armed than the
others, possesses hut little training, and
hardly amenable to discipline. As for
the Chinese navy, its ships are for the
Smost part badly constructed and in
sufficiently manned. There are q few
EIAAOpV01 OAAANVA0s OuS viz AAAuJOAAVy VI
the naval officers are Chinese, who are
very ignorant and inefficient. The
fleet is divided into three groups-those
of Canton, Fukien and Kiang-su. The
Canton division consists of twelve ves-
sells, three of which are screw junks,
two Eoglish gunboats and seven steam.
ers, also purchased in England, and
commanded by foreign officers. The
ships of the Fukien fleet were build at
the docks of Foo. choo, under the direc
ton Of q Eench Lieutenant of the navy
in the Chinese service The ships are
provided with good engines, and are
armed with French naval guns; among
them are q corvette with thirteen guns,
six gnnboats and eight transport ships.
The Kiang-su division cosists of two fri.
gates, nine gunboats and a few trans
ports, badly built and manned. It il
said that the Chinese Government il
now preparing to reorganize it's army
and navy, and some Chinese officers
have been attached to q Plusslan regi.
ment with this object.