The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-02-21
CHINA'S ARMY.
\ MILLION MEN READY TO
FIGHT FOR THE EMPEROR.
Arms That Are Out of Date
Efforts Being Made TO Make
the Army Emcient-Modern
Weapons to be Adopted.

With regard to the military organiza-
ton and resources of China much might
be written, but, to summarize the chief
facts, it may be said that the military
organization on paper is only slightly
less elaborate than the civil admins
tration, and that the Emperor controls
forces of nearly 1 600, 900 armed men
only to a large degree the arms are out
OF date and the men unframed. AL
though events have compelled the
authorities to show greater activity
and TO increase the number of troops
by the information of fresh corps,
the division of the army remains
unchanged and goes back to the
date of the Manchu conquest, when it
became necessary TO organize the per-
manent forces of the Empire. They
were then divided into three separate
bodies, composed of the races to which
they belonged-Manchu, Mongol and
| Chinese. The Manchus number 67S
/ companies of 100 men each, or nearly
/ 10000 fighting men. The Mongols fur
nish about $4,000 men; and the two
combined give what has been generally
called the Tartar army. The Chinese
OF Green Flag army numbers between
600, 600 and ZOO, 600 men, but no at
tempt 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 herself on the pre-eminence of
the educated civilian, but she is lament
ably deficient in organization.
OF late years strenuous efforts have
been made to render efficient those por-
tons of the Chinese army which are in
trusted with 5Gties that are considered of
exceptional importance.
The garrison of Picking is composed
exclusively of the Tartar or Banner
army. The Picking field force is always
commanded by a general of high rank,
and latterly it was under the personal
orders of Prince Chun himself. The or
ganization 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 superior to chicane. If
that training were taken seriously in hand
China would possess in her northern
province an army which could safeguard
Peking against any conceivable invasion.
Greater progress has been made with re-
gard to the Tartar army garrisoning the
all important province of Manchuria.
Twenty years ago the garrison of that
part of the Empire consisted of the
tribal levies, armed with bows
and arrows and spears. A flint
lock appeared an engine of
destruction. To-day there are nearly
200, 600 Bannermen on the rolls in Man
churia alone, and of these it is stated
that one-third are armed with Winches-
ter and other rifles, and are performing
garrison duties at Moukden, Kirip and
on the Ussuri 1t is not commended that
these troops are earthly trained, but
they probably possess fighting qualities.
Leaving wide margin for exaggera-
ton, there IS the important fact that
China now has one strong army to de-
fend her capital against attack from the
sea, and another to oppose any assault by
land from the Amour and Russian Man
churia. This really means q complete
revolution in the military position of
China
Prince Wang considers that the sys-
TEN of military competitive examinations
should be wholly altered. The present
dynasty owes its existence to the prac-
tice of archery, but the conditions of
warfare have greatly altered, 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 antIquated weapons. In
Western countries, says Wang, every man
from Prince down to the humblest per
son learns the art of using firearms, and
even foreigners in China practice rife
periodically. In this manner
tuey become sklllcQ IuaIkSLneu anu IOf-
midable soldiers. He recommends,
therefore, that in the military examina-
tions, in addition to the practice with
the bow and arrow, lifting stones and
other heavy weights, the competitors be
required to shoot at a target with rifle,
and that great honor be bestowed upon
the best marksman. The successful com
petitor should then be appointed to teach |
rifle shooting to townspeople and others
in the neighbOrhood of his home, so that
all the people may eventually understand |
the accurate use of firearms, and he pro
poses that a decree should be issued that |
promotion in the army should in future |
depend upon the skilled use of firearms.
Times.