Wichita eagle., 1889-11-20

then divided into three separate bodies, cu0-
posed Of tho races to which they belonged
Manchu, MongA and Chinese. The Manchuz
number 6s8 companies Of 100 men each, or
Dearly 7e,0o0 fighting men The Mongols
furnish about SO, 000 men; and the two COM
bined give what has been generally called the
Tartar army. The Chinese or Green Flag
army numbers between GOO, 900 and zoe, 0O0
men, but No attempt has yet been made to
organize this force for modern war. China
is strong in numbers, even with respect to
her army, which has always been delegated
to an inferior position in her community,
priding itself on the pre-eminence OF the edu-
Gated civilian, but she is lamentably deficient
in organization.
OF late years strenuous efforts have been
made to render efficient those portions OF the
Chinese army which are intrusted With
duties that are considered Of exceptional i'm
portance The army Of Ii Hung Chang, gar
risoning the metropolitan province Of Pc
chilli, has for twenty years been subjected tc
stricter discipline tn the rest. caused as
much by Lis experience Of war, gained
against the Tapping rebels in cooperation
with Gen. Gordon, as by the desire to save
the capital This force, known as the model
corps, or Black Flag army, numbers about
$1,000 men, and Is intrussed with the special
duty of garrisoning Port Arthur, the forts al
Taku and on the Peiho and TientGn. II
China possesses such thing a an efficient
corps d'armee, it is to be found in this force
which IS mainly recruited from the Chinese
population. The men are well armed, and
there are many foreign instructors, among
whom Germans are the most numerous. The
late Gen. Prjevalsky was very skeptical oil
the military value Of even this force, but
other and equally competent critics entertain
no doubt that it is fafrly efficient body OF
troops, and that the work to be done-nsme.
", the defense of forts-is peculiarly suited
to them.
The garrison of Peking is still composed
exclusively of the Tartar or Banner army.
The Picking field force is always commanded
by Manchu Of high rank, and latterly was
under the personal orders of Prince Chun
himself. The organization Of this force is
backward, and only feeble attempts have
been made to bring up its armament to the
exigencies of modern war. On the other
hand, the raw material is the best in China
1t consists of the elite Of the Manchu and
Mongol Banners. men of fine physique, who,
unlike the Chinese, believe that the sword is
better than the pen, and that courage is su-
perior to chicane. If their training were
taken seriously in hand China would possess
In her northern province an army which
could safeguard Picking against any con-
ceivable invasion. Greater progress has been
made with regard to the Tartar army gar
risoning the all-important province Of Man
churia. Twenty years ago the garrison of
that part of the empire consisted Of the tribal
levies, armed with bows and arrows and
spears. A hintlock appeared an engine of
destruction. Today there are nearly 200, 900
Banner1nen On tbs rolls In Manchuria alone,
and of these it is stated that one-third are
armed with Winchester and other rifles, and
ere performing garrison daties at Moukden,
Kirin and on the Ussuri It is not contended
that these troops are yet as carefully trained
as the model corps Of Ii, but they probably
possess superior fighting qualities
Leaving q wide margin for exaggeration,
there is the important fact that China now
has one strong army to defend her capital
against attack from the sea, and another to
oppose any assault by land from the Amour
and Russian Manchuria This really means
q complete revolution in the military position
of China.
Prince Wang considers that the system Of
military competitive examinations should be
wholly altered. The present dynasty owes
its existence to the practice of archery, but
the conditions Of warfare have greatly alter
ed, and in place Of the bow and arrow We
have the iron sword and the terrible cannon,
so that reliance can no longer be placed upon
Anticipated weapons. In western countries,
says Wang, every man from the prince down
to the hunblest person learns the art of using
firearms; and even foreigners in China prac-
tice rifle shooting periodically. In this man
ner they become skilled marksmen and for
midable soldiers He recommends, therefore
that in the military examinations, in addi-
ton to the practice with the bow and arrow,
lifting stones and other heavy weights, the
competitors be required to shoot at a target
with q rife, and that great honor be bestow
ed upon the best marksman. The successful
competitors should then be appointed to teach
rife shooting to townspeople and others in
the neighboriFood Of his home, SO that all the
people may eventually understand the &C.
curate use OF firearms, and he proposes that
decree should be issued that promotion in the
army should in future depend on the skilled
use Of firea1ms.-London Times.