The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-12-08
THE CHINESE ARMY,
The Condition aud Strength of the Force
Engaged Against the Rebels.

The Condition aud Strength of the Force
Engaged Against the Rebels.
Apart from the Chinese and Manchoo
militias. each province possesses a regu-
lar army OF enlisted troops under the inn
mediate command OF It's Viceroy. or these
the best organized ls the army of Pe-chi-il,
which. Instructed by European officers,
also we'll armed and clothed in uniform,
serves as model for the others. The Or
ganization OF the army OF Manchooria has
recently been uEdertaken-pat tly because
China wishes to colonize that region as q
bulwark against Russia, and partly be-
cause she fears that power as dangerous
rival In the Corea. This reorganization
was begun two years ago. Manchooria
being divided into three districts, the
united military strength OF which is said
to amount to from 25O, 900 to 500. 900 men. or
these, we are told, one-third are armed
with breech- leaders, the rem ainder with
old-fashioned firearms, bows. arrows and
lances. Thirty thousand are constantly
under arms, the nucleus being composed
o! 10 900 troops from the Pe-chi-li armyp
who have been disciplined after the Euro
pean model.
Grin, the military centre OF Man.
chooria, 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 cav
airy, formed into squadrops of $50 men,
are armed with Winchester magazine
rifles or Remington repeaters; and their
horses, though small, are active and serv-
iceable.
They are described as bold riders, with
kn aia
to say, they make no use OF steel weapons
in some cases are not even 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
trumpets, the officers being In rear OF
their men.
Near the Russian Ussuri frontier are
stationed eight battalions OF Chinese in
fantry. each 500 strong, which are chiefly
employed in the construction OF fortifca-
tions. These are rapidly sprlnging up all
over Manchooria, two OF its towns, Grin
and Ningati, being defended by a girdle
OF detached forts, which are built on the
European pattern, and In part provided
with steel plates. The infantry receive
twelve rubles a month, with clothing, and
are armed with the Remington repeating
rifle, which carries a bayonet like that OF
the French chassepot. New drill regula-
tions. 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 bat
TALON is divided into four companies,
whose chiefs hold the rank OF major;
nevertheless. a maior-general is not un-
frequently content TO assume command Of
one OF them. The officers make good the
deficiency OF their pay ty defrauding their
men. The soldier Is often forced to till his
own land as a laborer for the profit OF his
officer.
The officers are represented as wholly
uneducated, aad deps ndent for promotion
on the caprice OF some magnate. for whom
they are ready to perform the most
menial offices. They undergo an examina-
tion prior to appointment, which. how
ever, chiefly consists In fencing with one
sword or two), wrestling etc. They spend
their leisure on the divan. dicing. chatting
or playing sle guitar. Most OF them arc
addicted TO smoking opium, although the
practice is forbidden. Drunkenness 10
also common.