New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-30
THE CHINESE NAVY.
ITS APPARENT STRENGTH AS TO THE NUMBER
OF VESSELS, MARINES AND SAILORS
ITS REAL WEAKNESS.

Willie ii Is question OF a possible naval demonSr2
ton Of foreign Powers the coast OF China. few
particulars about the maritime strength weakness
of the latter country may be interesting. The Chinese
feet numbers according 20 Lieutenant Buchard's book
recently published and confirmed by the latest nfOrma
ton received from French missionaries, 124 vessels,
forming four separate hotillas. They Organized
and supported by the viccrOys placed at the head Of
the shore provinces that to say. Canton. Foutcheou.
Shanghai and Tentsin. Most OF the vessels have
been built in Europe, and they strongly armed ;
the ships are of the English type but the guns gen.
orally come from the German foundry Of krupp.
The Armstrong shlpyards have recently launched two
fighting vessels tho Tsch Youst ard the TSuiYoust and
three cruisers for the Custom House each bearing four
guns.
The arsenal at FoutCheOu launched in January
1882 its sixth iron man-of.war with displacement
OF 800 tons and speed Of fourteen knots 1t IS
armed with seven guns and two torpedo launching
apparatuses In February. 1890, the Chinese Gov
eminent gave to the Krupp firm, for the fertilization
Of Ta-hin-Wan and Of Wei-ha-Wei. order for ten
guns Of IS calbre eight Of "a eight Of II and ten OF
IS These thirtysix pieces Of artillery must be de-
Ivered within three years. The Northern fleet com
prses two ironclads OF 7,430 tons, heavily armed;
twelve cruisers built between 1851 and 1850. Of
tonnage varying from 300 to 1900 tons; eight gun
boats with a speed OF from Ene TO ten knots, and
ten transports with a similar speed. The south
ern feet includes an ironclad frisac q $500 tons,
one ronead gunbOat armed with a kru2p gun Of Il
callbre two cruisers, eleven guntoats and fory-one
torpedo boats OF the frst-cass
The crews of the fleet number 10000 men. The
Naval school admitted yhve candidates 20 the rank
Of ocer in 1854 aud seventy In 1850. The course
Z studies is the same that ~ the British Naval
school, and the lectures are delivered IN tie English
language After four or five years study, the pupils
are embarked on board scho0lshp. The formation Of
this apparently powerful navy IS due mainly, not 70
say exclusively to the efforts OF the famous LilInng
Chang, the viceroy OF the PetchiH. But, SAYS Mr.
Buchard China not yet earned how to form corps
cf native Officers prOporiOaed u the material staining
Of her Navy Moreover. the ms sues and ealou'ieS Oh
the foreign Officers employed In the service OF the vice
rows contribute in augmeatlng the defects already III
heren 10 the naval organization, ana IN adding ~ 10
weakness.
Ii appears, indeed. dcs1ite The alleged opinion at
tributed 10 Admiral Maiget. formerly chief II saf Of
The late Admiral COurDet tse victor Of FOutcbeou,
that foreign Officers not get learned 70 impress
their teaching OF naval practice upon The t.lnnese
marines and saIlJrs Besides that the condition OF
the shns and fmnment which sold 10 The chinese
nv EuroDean firms s not ~ the hrs order, but COM
prises many old or imperfect articles. II must De
sald however that the naval squadron II tie Petchl
which Is under the direct control OF ii Hung Chls IS
in no such bad condition the rest os the Chinese
feet.