The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-10-24
The Chinese Army.

The Chinese army, which looks suf-
ficiently formidable on pap r. is div.d
ed into three classes, namely: ID the
Bannermen, ca the troops of the Green
Standard, 60 the olunteers, or
"Braves." The Bannermen are the
descendants of the Mantchoo Tartars
who conquered the country in the sew
teenth century, and number about
100000. "but they do not form one
effective army corps; they are only a
class of men who will draw profit from
the conquest of hina achieved by their
ancestors. Indeed, in order that Ger
ia privileges which they enjoy may al
WAYS remain in the hands of the origin
al grantees. they are not allowed to
marry hinese women unless there be
deficiency of girls beIonging to the reg
ular banner families. Such a case, it
may BE- added. is of extremely rare oc-
curence. During the period immedi-
ately following their settlement on Chi
nese soil it was a positive necessity for
the artars to keep themselves consti-
tuted as an armed force if they wished
to maintain their ascendency; but
nowadays, when that ascendency is
less and less disputed. the Banners
pre-, erve little more than the outward
show of military organization" Only
y small part of this remarkable force is
paid. privates receiving between a
pound and ten shillines a month, with
a ration of rice. Some o iicers are ap-
pointed tor life, others hold a heredi-
tary rank.
The troops of the Green Standard are
said to number $4,000 men. Wretch
eddy paid, these soldiers have nearly
all OF them other callings besides the
mi itary one, and they are careful to
wear their uniforms as seldom as pos
sible. Sonnet. ines they act as police
men. and they are :he only postmen In
the Empire. In China the State does
NOT nude. take to forward the CORE
spondence Ct private persons; but the
dispat hes of mandarins to the Central
Govern lent, ETC, travel if urgent at
the rate of $50 miles in twenty-fOur
hours In EMERGENCIES, however. it is
neither on the Zimmerman nor on the
postal police that the authorities at Re
kin rely. but Cd "Braves" or Volun-
teers enlisted for the occasion.
The surest way to tain military
promotion Is to know the standard mil
ltary aui hors by heart. The latest in
date would appear to BE- a treatise of
TIE year l e. 1t is divided into ten
chapters or ''precepts," and contains
the whole duty of a private Firstly,
the said private should love and
respect his parents; secondly, he
should honor and respect bis
elders; thirdly, he should be on
good term: with everybody: fourthly
he should instruct children and
his younger brothers; filthy, he
should dill emily till the earth; sixth
", he should perfect himself in arch
cry. on horseback as we'll as on foot
seventhly. he must be economical;
eiahthiy. abstain fron wine and in
tnxicatigg diiaks: nthlf, avo d gam
ing lie thlv, keep out of suarfels.
Officers must know their Sun-tse. an
extraordinary writer on tactics. who was
probably contemporary with the anthor
OF the Iliad. .un-tse understood war
rs did L b lip of Maccdon. who boosted
that he ad taken more towns by gold
than by steel With hi n the sence
of the military art is corruption and in
tugue. Labor upceas;n gly, ne SAYS,
ito embarrass your enemy You can
do SO in many WAYS. but here is the
best Neglect no opportunity of de-
bauching the best men on his side; omit
nothing-ne;ther offers, nor gifts, nor
caresses. Deceive / you can entangs
the most honorable OF his followers ia
disgrace nj aflairs-....and then be
careful and show the up. Be in CON-
finual correspondence with any vicious
nan in the enemy's camp. aud bring
him into communication with other
,ic.ous.m N; SOW discord among their