The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-02-08
CHINA'S GREATARMY.
Il Contains More than Million Pig
Tailed Soldiers.
But to Large Degree Their Weapons Are
out Of Date and the Men Are Unframed
Reforms Recon- mended by Prince Wang

the cnleI facts ~ may DC nalu tuat tnc
military organization on paper is only
slightly less elaborate than the civil
administration. and that the emperor
controls forces OF nearly 1000 900
armed men only. to large degree,
the arms are out OF date and the men
unframed. says the London Times.
Although events have compelled the
authorities 10 show greater activity.
and 10 increase the number OF troops
by the formation OF fresh corps
such as LII Hung Chang's trained
regiments and the garrison in Manchu-
ria and Central Asia, the division OF
the army remains unchanged. and goes
back TO the date OF the Manchu con-
quest when IL became necessary TO or
ganize the permanent forces OF the en-
pire. They were then divided into
three separate bodies. composed OF
tine races to which they belonged
Manchu, Mongol and Chinese. The
Manchus number 678 companies OF
100 men each. or nearly seventy thou
sand fighting men. The MongoIs fur
nish about eight thousand men and
the two combined give what has gem
er.lly been called the Tartar army.
The Chinese or Green Flag army
numbers between 10000 and 700. 600
men. but no attompt has yet been
made to organize this force for modern
war. China is strong in numbers,
even in respect 10 her army which
has always been relegated TO an infc-
rior position In her community, pTid-
ing itself on the prc-eminence OF the
educated civilian, but she Is lamenta-
bly, deficient in organization.
or late years strenuous efforts have
been made 90 render efficient those
portions OF the Chinese army which are
intrustcd with duties that are consider
cd. OF exceptional importance. The
army Of Iii Hung Chang. garrsioning
the metropolitan province OF Peehihii,
has for twenty years been subjected TO
stricter discipline than the rest
caused AS much by Lis experience OF
war. gained against the Tapping rebels
In cooperation with General Gordon.
as by the desire To- save the capital.
This force, known rs the model crops
or Black Flag army. numbers about fifty
thousand men.
The garrison OF Pekin is still COM
posed exclusively OF the Tartar or
Banner army. The Pelxin field force
is always commanded by a Manchu OF
high rank. and latterly it was under
the personal orders OF Prince Cnun
himself The organization OF this force
Is backward, and only feeble attempts
have been made TO bring up its arma-
ment TO the cxigencies OF modern war.
On the other hand. the raw material
Is the best In China IL consists OF
the elite OF the Manchu and Mongol
Bapners. men of fine physique, who,
unlike tho Chinese. believe that the
sword is bettcr than the pen and that
courage is superior 10 chicane- II
their training were taken seriously
In hand China would possess In
her northern province AN army which
could safeguard Pekin against
any conceivable invasion. Greater
progress hns been made with regard
TO the Tartar army garrisoning the all
important province OF Manchuria.
Twenty years ago the garrisoa OF that
part Of tho empire consisted Of the
tribal ievies armed with bows and
arrows aud spears. A niut-lock APP
peaned an engine OF destruction. To-
day there are nearly two hundred
thousand Bannermen on the rolls la
Manchurir alone. and Of these IL is
stat, that one-thlrd are armed with
Winchester and other rifles and arc
performing garrison duties at Mouk-
den. Kirin. and ON the Ussuri. IL Is
moi commended that these troops are
yet as carefully trained AS tho model
corps OF Ia. but they probably possess
superior fighting qualities.
Leaving wide margin for exaggcr-
ntion there is the important fact TINT
China now has one strong army 10 de-
fcnd her capital against attack from
the sen. and another 10 oppose any
assault by land from the Amour and
Russian Maschuria This really means
"A complete revolution In tho military
position of China.
Prince Wang considers that the sys-
TEN Of military competitive examine
tious should be wholly altered. The
present dynasty owes its existence TO
| the practice OF archery, but the condi-