The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-06
THE CHIN sE TROOPS.

The Soldiers Whom the French Will En-
counter in the Far East.
New York Herald.
The Chinese troops are by no means un-
prepared for the difficulties of a long canl-
paign in Tonqun. The Chinaman, who has
spread all over the countries adjacent to his
own during the last few years, works JOY
fully from the first thing in the morning to
the last thing at night, never stopping except
for an hour or so to eat, and as careless of the
hot sun as though it did not exist He will
carry teak, saw wood, chop bamboo, load or
unload ships undertake, indeed, all the
heaviest work imaginable, and this in pres
ence OF such temperature as to the natives
OF the countries themselves is almost un-
bearable. This. no doubt, is the reason that
the Chinese coolie is fast edging our all the
other inhabitants of the lands that border
upon the Gulf of Tonquin. While they are
overwhelmed by the heat he is happy to
carry coal, rice stone ballast. All he
requires is regular pay; the state of
the thermometer is a secondary considera-
ton. In order however, to labor in this
fashion he does not ciothe himself very elab-
orately. A single rag round his waist COM
pletes his toilet, unless occasionally he may
wear a huge sun-hat, which gives him the
appearance, at a distance of walking mush-
room. But for all practical purposes it NAV
be SAID that the linen strip is his whole and
sole clothing, When nighttime comes
and the labors of the day are over, he will
unwind the pig-tail, which during the work
ing hours has been twined round his head,
and after taking his bath-the Chinese coolie
loves immersion in a stream, no matter how
dirty the water may be-he may array him
self in linen shirt. white pantaloons, and
perhaps brOad-sleeYed coat put the huge
mushroom hat on one side OF his head and
jauntily go off in search of endowment But
all day long he is clad in about two yards of
cotton goods and is therewithal exceed
ingly contented. His brother of the army is
not so very differently ACQUIRED In the
north OF China, during the cold weather, he
wears certainly V a great deal of clothing ana his
comfortable jacket and very serviceable boots
have been made the basis for many a foolish
caricature. But in tropical countries and in
| the great heat the Chinese soldier wears a
light and airy uniform, which consists solely
of cap, thin linen jacket, and gauzy pair
OF pants. He knows that with more clothing
he, even capable as he is of Drawing the sun,
would be at a serious disadvantage, and hav-
ing this knowledge he goes to war clad suita-
bly, for the climate he has to encounter.
The Frenchman who proposes to fight him,
on tue OLner nhnu, IS aJIlreu very much IN
| the same way as at home. A good, thick
blue uniform, with solid red trousers. and, of
course, a strong, thick shirt, with hard
leather boots, go to make up his costume. A
Chinaman would faintin such a dress. Is at
all surprising If the unaccimated Frenchmen
feel the heat? Europeans generally in these
climes recognize the fact that only the light
est clothing is at all bcarable, and conform
themselves TO a couple of the thinnest poSsi-
BILE garments, wear double helmets, carry
sun umbrellas and only 90 out into the
sun when absolutely obliged. venturng
| upon no severe abOrs except in the morning
and at night, and being particularly careful
not to run any unnecessary risk from the
climate. Even then the results of the heat
are not pleasant to dwell upon, and a very
few years sees them obliged to return home
to recruit their strength If any proof of
the difficulties which the French are about
to meet were, however, wanting, one has
only to cast bis eye across to the northern
end of Sumatra, where, in a much cooler be-
cause hitler country than that in which the
French are about to operate the Dutch have
year after year found themselves absolutely
unable to make any headway against the
Achinese. Shut up in a really very small
tract of land bounded by the sea, unable to
! obtain succor from any source, the Achin
people have managed without much diff
Guilty to hold back all the forces which the
experienced Dutchmen have been able to
bring against them. Thousands of Dutch
bones whiten on the soil of Achin thousands
of Dutchmen have been buried from the
effects of fever and exposure to the sun, but
vet the Achinese are rs free rs ever The
French would have probably done we'll had
they studied this problem before beginning
war in Tonqun.