Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-11-07
CHINA's SOLDIERS.
How the Warriors of the Celestial
Empire Fight.

In the vicinity of the Notifications of
Canton, says letter to the New York
Telegram, are established strongly forth
fed camps, in all containing, l have
reason to believe, not more than twenty
thousand soldiers, although many who
profess to know place the figure much
higher. have seen these soldiers at
drill in the European school of the
soldier and consider them more efficient
than one would expect who has seen
only the old school Chinese maneuvres.
The material is good, and their simple
diet requiring no cumbersome transpor-
tation, they would be very efficient
soldiers under competent European off
GERS. They possess one quality that is
very good thing in soldiers-they do
not mind being killed. say this with
some reserve and mean it to apply
only when their officers accompany
them and direct their movements on
the field. Generally speaking such
would, however, be considered con-
duct unbecoming a Chinese officer
after he has advanced sufficiently to have
large command there are so many ways
for him to accumulate money, though
dishonesty, that his life becomes too
precious to be risked upon the battlefield.
He therefore orders an advance, while he
remains in the security of his tent in rear
of the battle, or is borne along the line
at a safe distance comfortably seated in q
sedan chair. 1t could scarcely be ex-
pected of soldiers to exhibit courage and
tenacity under such guidance. When,
however, their superior officers accom-
pany their men upon the field and direct
their movements with consequent intel
ligence, the Chinese prove to be good
soldiers. Look, for instance, to the COM
bats Of the Black Flags with the French
invaders of Tonquin. Admiral Courbet
won a well-deserved and hard earned
victory from them at Sontay, with about
equal numbers engaged and under
the cover of the guns of his
fotilla. The desperate, dashing
courage of his Turcos found worthy foe
in the followers of Low-Wing- Fook.
During the first days fight, there a small
fort at Fooksai was carried by the
Turcos at the point of the bayonet. The
Chinese rallied and recaptured the po-
sition by similar assault, but were again
driven out by the Turcos, supported by
detachment of marine infantry. Still
again the Chinese rallied and again
captured the position, which they held,
when operations were suspended at
night. These "Black Flags who fought
SC well there are simply Chinese soldiers,
but under the command of leader who
says to them, "All ask of you is to keep
up with my horses head" the difference
between such an army as follows the
fortunes of the freebooter Low Wing
Fook and the regular Chinese army is
not in the material, but in the officers
who handle it. Another essential to a
strong army, which is lacking in Chinese
commands, is properly conducted drill,
to make them effective as body.
Chinese drill has always aimed at devel-
oping the individual soldier rather than
making him portion of powerful ma.
chine. The troops which [ have seen
drilling in the fortified camps on the
river approaches to Canton recently
showed evidence, however, of proper in
struction in the school of the battalion
and displayed unexpected proficiency in
various maneuvres, such as changing
front, massing and displaying from mass,
with volley and file firing which would
be very effective where the nature of the
ground permitted such movements.
Their great advantage, however, is in
numbers and that they go in light march
Ing order, unencumbered with knapsacks
Or supply trains, and that, barefooted
and with their trousers rolled up to their
waists, they can move rapidly over rice
fields where European soldiers would get
stuck in the mud and be rendered almost
helpless by losing the shoes to which
they are habituated.