The Penn's Grove record., 1888-09-22
THE CHINESE ARMY.
Its Organization, Equipment and
General Condition.

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General Condition.
-
Those who believe that in the not re-
mote future the Chinese empire will
prove a thorn in the side of Russia, will
find their views corroborated by an
article in the current number of The
lnternationale Revue ueber die Gesam-
melten Armeen und Flotten, which
treats of the latest reforms introduced
into the Chinese army.
Apart from the Chinese and Manchu
militias, each province o possesses a
regular army of enlisted troops under
the immediate command of its viceroy.
OF these the best organized is the army
of Pe-chi-li, which instructed by Euro
pean officers, also well armed and cloth
ed in uniform, serves Its model for the
others. What, however, concerns III
most in this country is the reorganiza-
ton of the army of Manchuria, which
has recently been undertaken-partly
because China wishes TO COLOMBO that
region as II bulwark against Russia,
and partly because she fears that power
as a dangerous rival in the CoTea. This
reorganization was begun two years
ago, Manchuria being divided into
three districts, the united military
strength of which is said to amount to
from $50, 000 to 300, 600 men. OF these,
we are told, one-third are armed with
breech leaders, the remainder with old
fashioned firearms, bows, arrows and
lances. Thirty thousand are constant
ly under arms, the nucleus being COM
posed of $4,000 troops from the Pe-chi-
Ii army, who have been disciplined after
the European model.
WATCHING THE FRONTIER.
kirin, the military center of Man
churia, possesses an arsenal, and
watches the Russian frontier with de-
tachments, which scour the country
continually to cIelr it of bandjtti and
keep the roads open for postal commu.
nication. The cavalry, formed into
%squadrons of $50 men, are armed with
Winchester magazine rifles or RemIng-
ton reporters; and their horses, though
smallare active and serviceable. They are
described as bold riders, with the usual
ugly Asiatic seat; and, strange to say,
they make no use OF steel weapons-in
ONT cases are not ever provided with
them. Their formation 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 %truinpets, 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 inspec-
ton OF the general commanding the
host mnrksrlpn aIn fnNNurflnI with
square silver medals; but, as the gcIl-
erals dog is permitted TO wear the
same adornment, the distinction is not
overwhelming. The soldiers are well
paid. Every cavalry soldier gets the
equivalent of twenty-one roubles per
month and his clothing: fifteen of these
Goubles go TO pay for the keep of him
self and horse, six remaining Tor shoe
leather, washing and underclothIng.
As food, lie receives rice, millet and
tea; four times IL week meat and Il
small quantity of spirits; while hay,
straw and crushed beans are served out
to his steed. There is Il regimental
fund for providing remounts, but the
soldiers do not willingly borrow from it
because the bamboo is too frequently
employed TO accelerate repayment.
Near tie Russian Ussuri frontier are
stationed eight battalions of Chinese ill
fantry, each 500 strong, which are
chiefly employed in the construction of
Notifications. These are rapidly springs
ing up all wei Manchuria, two of its
towns, klrin and Ningati, being de-
Tended by a girdle of detached forts,
which are built on the European pat
tern, and in part provided with steel
plates. The infantry receives twelve
roubies u month, with clothing, and
are armed with the Remington repeat
ing rifle which carries "a bayOnet like
that of the French chassepot.