The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-07-25
THE CHINESE ARMY.
II IL Getting Reorsanixed and Put
Into Fighting Condition.
Frona the 50. Janles's Gazelte.

II IL Getting ReorEanired and Put
Into Fighting Condition
From the st. Janaes's Gazette.
Those wiso believe that in the not
remote future the Chinese empire
will prove a thorn in the side uf Rus
STA viii lind their views carroborated
| hy an article in the current number of
the fafss7sstsoaais Rcruc iitscr die fles-
ammsea drRse<a Essd Fs0sfes, which
treats OF the latest reforms introduced
into the Ghinesa army.
Apart rom the Chinese and Man
ehu milltias, each province now pos
| sesses a regular army OF enlisted tFoaps
under the Immediate command OF It's
viceroy. or these, the best organized
Is the army OF Pe-ehi-ii. which, in
strnete3 by European officers, also
well armed and clothed in uniform,
serves rs model for the others. What,
however concerns MS most III this
country Is the reorganization OF the
army Of MancbuEia. which has recent
| IN been ENTHUSIASTICALLY because
China wishes 10 colonixe that region
rs butxark against Russia, and part
| IL because she fears that power as 3
dangerous rival IN the torea. This
| reorganization was hegnn two years
ago, ManeAuria being divided into
three districts, the united military
strength OF which Is said TO amount TO
| from 30 90 10 So, 900 men. OF these,
We are told. one-third are armed with
| breech-ioaderS, the remainder With
OLD fashioned firearms, boES, arrows.
aud ianees. Thirty thousand are con
stantly under arms, the nucleus be
Pe-chi-i army, who have been dis
eiplined after the European model.
hirin, the military center of Man
chuFia. possesses an arsenal. and
watches The Russian frontier with de-
tachmen;s which seour the country
continually 10 clear il of banditti and
keep the roads open for postal eommu-
nieation. The cavalry, formed into
squadrons OF 80 men. are armed with
Winchester magazine rifles or Raniing
ton rel,eaters; and their horses. though
small. are active and seryiceahle They
are described as bold riders, with the
usual ugly Aslatic seat; and, strange
To say. they make no use OF steel weap-
ons-in some eases are not even pro-
vided with them Their formation is
in single rank; their pace the walk or
| gallop the trot being unknown. They
| attack in a swarm after IRE, and to the
sound OF trulnpets, the officers being
| In the rear OF their men.
Target practice takes place in J tly
and August, when 100 cartridges are
depended BY each man Bad shots
are punished, and at the autunnal in
spectioa OF the general commandery
| the best irarksmen are rewarded with
| square silver medals; but. as the gen
erals dog Il permitted 10 wear the
same adornment, the distinction Ii not
overwhelming. The soldiers are well
| paid. Each cavalry soldier gets the
equivalent ef q roubles per month
and his clothing. IS OF these ronbles
20 to pay Tor the keep OF himself and
horse, SIX remaining fer shoe-leather,
washing aud Undertaking.. As food
he receives rice, millet and tea four
| times a week meat and small guam
tiiy Of spirits while hay. straw and
crushed beans are served ous 20 his
| : eed. There Is q regimcntal fund for
providing reInouats, bat the soldiers
| DO not willingly borrow from il, be-
cause the bamboo is too frequently
employed to accelerate repayment.
| Near the Russian CssGFi frontier are
| stationed eight battalians OF Chinese
Infantry, each SD strong. which are
| chiefly employed in the construction
Of Qualifications. These are RAPIDLY
| spYinging up all over Manehuria, two
OF its towns. kirin and Ningati, being
| defended bs grille OF ictacbsti fnFts,
| which are built on the European pat
tern. and ~ pas provided with stee.
| plates The infantry receive twelve
| r0uh.es a month. With clothing, and
are armed with the Remington repeat
ing rifle. which carries bayonet Ike
| the French chassepot. New drill reg
aiations, similar 10 the French, are
being introduced; on parade the OH
| GERS look merely intervening when
the application Of the stick seems nee
esSary- The battalion j. divided into
fonr companies. whose chiefs hold the
rank OF major; nevertheless, a major
general is not eafre4uentiy content 70
assume command OF Gee os them. The
| officers make good the deficiency OF
their pay by uetrauding their men
The soldier i often forced 70 till his
own land a a iahorer for the nroft OF
his officer.
The officers are represented - Who'll
| " uneaueated. and dependent for pro-
| motion on the capsice of some mag
nate, for whom they are isady % per-
| form the most meniaf otlces They
Undergo an examination prior 20 APP
pointment. Which, however, chiefly
| consists In fencing with one sword or
| tvol wrestling. etc. They spend their
leisuFe on the divan, aicinr. chatting,
or playing the guitar. Most u them
are addicted 90 smoking opium. al
| though the practice l. forbidden.
| Drunkenness il also common The
| non-somnaissioneA officers are trained
| IN school ST hifin; but they are not
better paid than shc privaies, their
sole privilege being 10 adogn their hSts
with hgasS button. but the entire
pack OF nacTial< belonging 20 q
| generals establishment assume the
| aiStiaetien rs \ matter o; course.
: Wherefore II cannot be held in
I high estimation The ammunition
consumed by the troops in MauehGria
| Is brought hy sea from Tien-t~ia: bat
u Is proposes4 Co erect powder mills in
the province itself AZ kiria and Tsil-
sihaT
Articles in the Chinese press which
appear from time 70 time. afford ample
| prcof that the dangers OF Russian ag-
erosion arc beginning 20 be appres.i-
| ated- The Chinese have augmented
their ironeiaa fleets. are setting their
military institutions on an efficient
footing, and, What is quite as sixnifi-
cant have connected Tcktn with
Aigun. on The river Amoor, By line
Of telegraph
- 49,