The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-07-13
THE CHINESE ARMY.
1t Is Getting Reorganized and Put into
Fighting Condition.
From the 81. James Gazette.

Those who believe that in the not remote
future the Chinese empire will prove
thorn in the side of Russia will find their
views corroborated by an article in the
current number of the Internattondte
Revue uber die Gesdmmeten Arnleen uhd
Fl0tten, which treats of the latest reforms
introduced into the Chinese army.
Apart from the Chinese and Manchu
militias, each province now possesses reg
ular army OF enlisted troops under the i'm
mediate command gifts vlceroy. OF these,
the best organized is the army of Pe-chi-li,
which, instructed by European officers, also
well armed and clothed in uniform, serves
its model for the others. What, however,
concerns us most in this country is the reor-
ganization of the army of Manchurla,
which has been recently undertaken-partly
because China wishes to COLOMBO that region
as bulwark against Russia, and partly
because she fears that power as a dangerous
rival in the Corea. This reorganization
divided into three districts, the united
military strength of which is said to
amount to from 250 900 to 300 900 men. OF
these, we are told one-third are armed
with breech-loaders, the remainder with
old fashioned firearms, bows, arrows, and
lances. Thirty thousand are constantly
under arms, the nucleus being composed of
$1,000 troops from the Pe-chi-li army, who
have been disciplined after the European
model.
Kirin, the military center of Manchuria,
possesses an arsenal, and watches the
Russian frontier with detachmentS, which
scour the country continually to clear it Of
banditti and keep the roads open for postal
communication. The cavalry, formed into
squadrons of $50 men, are armed with Win
chester magazine rifles or Remington re-
81 + ~
active and serviceable Thev are described
as bold riders, with the usual ugly Asiatic
seat; and, strange to say, they make no use
of steel weaponS-in some cases are not
even provided with them. Their forma-
ton is in single rank; their pace the walk
or gallop, the trot being unknown. They
attack in a swarm after fire, and to the
sound of trumpets the officers being in rear
of their men.
Target practice takes place in July and
August, when 100 cartridges are expended by
each man. Bad shots are punished, and at
the autumnal inspection of the general COM
handing, the best marksmen are rewarded
with square silver medals but, as the gen
erals dog is permitted to wear the same
adornment, the distinction is not overfat-
terlng. The soldiers are well paid. Each
cavalry soldier gets the equivalent of
twenty-one roubles per month and MS
for the keep of himself and horse, six re-
naming for shoe leather, washing and
Undertaking. AS food, he receives rice
millet and tea; four times a week meat and
small quantity of Spirits while hay,
straw and crushed beans are served out to
his steed. There is a regimental fund for
providing remounts, but the soldiers do not
willingly borrow from it because the bam-
boo is too frequently employed to acceler-
ate repayment.
Near the Russian Ussuri frontier are
stationed eight battalions of Chinese in
fantry, each 500 strong, which are chiefly
employed i'll the construction of fortifica-
tons These are rapidly springing up all
over Manchuria, two of its towns, Kirin
and Ningati, being defended by girdle of
detached forts, which are built ON the
European pattern, and in part provided
with steel plates. The infantry receive
twelve roubles month, with clothing, and
are armed with Remington repeating
rifle, which carries bayoneU like that of
the French chassepot. New drill regula-
| tons, similar to the French, are being in
troduced; on parade the officers look on
merely intervening when the application of
the stick seems necessary. The battalion is
| divided into four companies, whose chiefs
hold the rank of major; nevertheless, a
| major general is not infrequently content
| to assume command of one of them. The
officers make good the deficiency of their
| pay by defrauding their men, The soldier
| is often forced to till his own land as
laborer for the profit of MS officer.
The officers are represented as wholly I'M
| educated, and dependent for promotion on
| the caprice of some magnate, for whom
| they are ready to perform the most mental
Offices. They undergo an examination prior
to appointment; which, however chiefly
consists in fencing with one sword or two),
wrestling, ETC. They spend their leisure on
the divan, dicing, chatterng, or playing
| the guitar. Most of them are addicted to
smoking opium. although the practice is
| forbidden Drunkenness is also common.
| The non-commssioned officers are trained
in a school at Kirin but they are not bet
ter paid than the ptivates, their sole privi-
| lege being to adorn their hats with brass
| button; but the entire pack of menials be-
| longing to generals establishment assume
| the distinction as matter of course where
fore it cannot be held in high estimation.
| The ammunition consumed by the troops
| in Manchuria is brought by sea from Tien-
| tsin; but it is proposed to erect powder
mills in the province itself at Kirin and
| Tsitsihar.
Articles in the Chinese press which APP
pear from time to time afford ample proof
| that the dangers of Russian aggressi n are
beginning to be appreciated. The Chinese
have augmented their ironclad fleets, are
setting their military institutions II an eff
Gent footing, and what is quit IS signifi-
cant, have connected Pekin with Al~un Oh
the river Amoor by line of telegraph.
In Thibet the women do all the hard
work. This is why Americans go abroad
and get dissatisfied with their own country.
Remedy, smoke Grand Republic Cigarrcs
and Buffos. Sold by all first-cass dealers.
The Best Time to Buy Valuables.
This is the dull season of the year. This
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