Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-04

service among the INVADING Minchus.
These auxilIaries are organized according
10 their respective races under pd-kt, or
euht banners. The troops are divided
into divisions and wings, and those 81
each banner are known by the color oil IL.
The bauuer.men Of all classes and arm.
around the capital. including the vanguard
and the flank divisions, which are
coypsl deiife, number at least 10000
mon. when the brigands become too nu-
meroun or insurrcction threatens volun-
seer force called the Chandng fung. or
Braves, IL mustered into service and dis
lanued after the danger has passed. In.
quiries thai have been made into the ef-
jective strength Of the Chinese army show
It's forces 10 have been within the last lew
wears approximately these: permanent
cavalry, $1,000; infantry In active service
In The field. $4,000; garrison infantry,
900, C0O-total Of these two arms, 6V2,0Oo.
The so-caled artillery force IL subject 10
no rule OF calculation, but II may safely
be put down at 10000, giving a total OF
GOO, Oc0 men Of the three arms. This num-
her would 1uctuaie according 10 the in
terpal conditions Of the country and It's
relations with foreign powers. 40 that the
numerical force ranges back and forth
Ietween 100000 and 100000 OF men.
The most shameless corruption prevails In
the army. Officers often give the men
under them unlimited leave Of absence
and pocket their pay. On this account,
when an emergency arises and the ranks
have 10 bc filled up, men are laid hold OF
wherever they can be caught, arms are put
into their hands. and without the slightest
benefit of previous training they are thrust
TO the front like so many sheep.
TACTICS AND DISCIPLINE.
In these vital matters the military-men
Of the Flowery Land are as deficient rs In
other respects. The profession OF arms is
without honor In China, where the people
have have proycrb which says that AS
YOU would not use good iron TO make a
nail. so YOU would not take good man 10
make soldier" Although since 1860
portions Of Chinese troops have been from
time 10 time drilled in the treaty ports by
Europeans, the instructions impaired in
this way have only been partially commune
Gated 10 troops in the interior. Chinese Of
ficcrs knew nothing at all OF the variety
OF knowledge required by the expert
soldier OF our day, nor have they the re-
motest idea OF how troops ought TO lie
brought into action or taken out OF 1t.
Drills have not long ago been carried on at
the Chinese capital which looked like
burlesque upon military institutions. The
commanding officers had seats in tents
along one part Of the line. There
was neither step nor distance pre-
served. The men came up IN pairs,
threcs. or fours, talking and dis
charging their pieces, and the utmost
confusion prevailed everywhere. The cav
airy are mounted on horses resembling the
small mustang, and are for the most part
armed with bows and spears. The cali
brcs Of the weapons, as made in America,
have been changed from .45 inch or 80
inch TO leo inch or 1.25 inch. and the bar
rels have been heightened to six feet. The
Chinese superintendent thinks that this
makes them look more formidable. During
the last three or four years the importation
OF Krupp and Of Armstrong cannon into
China has been extensive.