Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-04
THE CHINESE FORCES.
Composition Of the Army-CorruPt Officers
and UndiscIplined Men.
ITItTaIu'
A gcuflemon who has travelled o,-'

A gentleman who has travelled extern
siyely IN the Monaghan Empire and other
parts OF Asia chattcd yesterday nj consid-
cradle length with n Hcraid reporter
upon the subject of Chinese military or
ganizaiion. From this interview it APP
pears that OF late the Chinese have given
much attention, in their own way, TO
military organization. They have endcayOr-
cd TO initiate. though rather unsuccessfully.
il appears, the best models furnished by
France. Germany, Russia, and England
The Government has frequently admitted
foreign officers into the imperial service.
This was espe cially the case when General
Gordon, at present blOckadcd in Khar-
.Qum. at the head Of an sever victorious
army" gave powerful assistance I'm putting
Iown tbe TAPPING rebellion. lie was
awarded nd yellow jacket as the highest
military honor which :'Huld Rq conferred
upon any mortal.
The Chinese War Office may be consid.
cred rs a civil tribunal. II is called the
Ping-Pu, and Is presided over by a super
iniendcnt, who usually enjoys the exalted
privilege OF q seat in the EmperOr's Cabi-
net. To this Board Of War all reports and
communications must be addressed by
officers i'm command OF either land or sea
forces. The Board is divided into four
bureaus. which are-First. the WI
siucn, which has charge Of the lists
for promotion; this bureau has thir-
teen secretaries second, the Chin
fang, or acknowledgements Depart
mtnt. with niue secretaries; third, the
ebay ma. or the department for the dis
tTbution Of cavalry horses aud remountS.
having nine secretaries attached TO it (:
fourth. the Wu-hu, or ordnance and quar-
termaStCr's departments united. This
Board has seven secretaries serving in
II. The Red Book, which is kept II Pekin.
shows on The rosters OF the War Office =
force Of lJ1 employees, OF whom not more
than one third are Cinnamon. The Board
has no authority over the bannermen.
TROOPS OF TIE IMPERIAL HOUSEHOLD.
Al Pekin a short time ago there were in
garrison four battalions OF infantry, each
one consisting Of. $40 officers and men.
These were armed with Russian muzZe-
loading rifles. These troops understand
something about European tactics. During
the past few years 400 officers and men in
each battalion have gone regularly to TENT
sin for the purpose Of getting instructions
from western oiiicer', so that what they
learned In this way might be taught in
turn to other portions OF the Chinese
troops. Another species Of infantry is to
be found in the cadet corps, which serves
directly under the eye Of the Nui-wu.Fu. or
Court Of the Household. Ii is composed OF
500 youths, who carry spears, bows and
arrows, and other weapons OF Chinese de-
sign. There Is also a battalion armed with
small mstcblocks. Another class of ill.,
fantry ba,talons carries large matchlocks
| or gingaiS. II requires two men TO man.
| age one OF these cumbrous weapons, the
barrel being six feet long, and when
about TO be fired, the piece. near
the muzzie, il rested upon the shoulder
OF one Of the men. The man who thus
converts himself into a temporary. rest
takes a STOPPING attitude and places his
hands upon his knees, so as TO be able TO
raise or lower the elevation. Sword and
shield battalions are made up Of corps num-
| bering 200 men, armed with these weap-
ons. wing of Il battalion. consisting OF
sone two hundred rank and file. forms the
body-guard OF Prince Chun. the seventh
prince. These guardsmen are armed with
several sorts OF cutting aud thrusting weap-
ons peculiar to China.
CAVALRY AND ARTILLERY TROOPS.
OF the cavalry arm there are around
Pekin what they call two divisions, Of
1000 men each. Next come two bsttalions
OF 200 men each. who carry matchlocks.
About i've wears ago the artillery in garri-
soR at the capital consisted OF twenty-lour-
FOUNDER guns, made in Russia. These
pieces are drawn by two horses, and served
by SIX men 10 each gun. All are smooth
bore brass pieces, excepting two that
are rifled. What is called the ar
tillery brigade serves with the four
infantry batialions that carry the muz-
zle-losding rifles. A very peculiar
sort OF force Is made mp OF 1000 so-called
artillerymen who are supplied with small
iron swiyelgun, which Is fred from a tripod
or other convenient rest. The calibre OF
this gun varies FROM one ounce 70 one
pound. The troops In aud around Pekin
usually come up 10 about $1,000 men; that
is. l0,500 infantry, $500 cavalry. and 1900
artillery. This Is the nucleus OF the per-
manent army garrisoned In or near the
capital.
STRENGTH OF THE ARMY.
At PekIn the auxiliary troops, II this
phrase may be employed. are made up Of
enrolled Chinese, Mongols. and Manchus.
The drtnsmed Glass are the descendants
Of those Chinese who In the year i6l3 took