The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-12-05

Foreigners being now in the seagoing ser
Woe OF China. The greater number of
Chinese ships of war are bulls in Europe
according to the latest improvements in
naval architecture. and are indeed formid-
able fighting machines. The fleet recently
sent to Japan to serve as a sample COM
prlsed four heavily nrmored modern cruis-
ing battle ships and two rams. These
vessels could cope, and with a fair degree
OF success, with many of the ships of
foreign powers which might be brought
against them. Besides this class OF men,
of-war, there are a number of moderately
large gunboats for harbor and coast de-
tense, armed with one ten-inch rife each,
and g number of torpedo boats. A torpedo
station for the manufacture of these
weapons has been established near Foo
chow and is being pushed toward compile
ton AZ rapidly Us possible. Money for i'm
provements of this kind in China's defenses
10 plentifuliy supplied, aud when completed
this torpedo depot will be fully able to
meet all demands made upon it.
There are three naval academies for the
education of otficers-one at Foochow, an
other at Weiheiwai, and the third at Tient-
ain. Cadets from the families of any prom
lnent Chinese official living in the soa-coast
provinces are admitted. The instructors
are all foreign officsrs-principally French
and English, with All occasional American.
The system of instruction is very thorough,
much more so than is ordinarily the case in
schools in the far east, and by the time a
cadet passes the several examinations he
has IL very fair knowledge of his profession.
There are arsenals ind dry docks at Foo
chow, Weileiwai, and Port Arthus, where
large supplies of ammunition of all kinds
are constantly kept OIL hand and every
facility made for the rapid and effective re-
pairing and rohtting of men-of-war. These
a~rseuals and docks were constructed by
French engineers, and are the most sp-
proved models-or at least were when built
from 1883 to 1883.
The divisions Of the Chinese fleet are
known ns tho Pelyang (northern) and Tan
yang. (soutern) %squadrons, and are sup-
posed to operate along the northern and
southern coasts respectively. The head
quarters OF the northern squadron is at
Weiheiwai and that of the southern at
The movements of the two
hquaurons are controlled by the viosrovs Of
the provinces Of Chihie and CantoA respec-
lively. and each is held personally RESPONSE
BILE that the ships should be kept in as
a state as possible.
While the Chinese army has never shown
itself to possess any very great degree of
soldlegly qualities when arrayed against a
foreign foe, the record of the navy has been
quite different. At the battle of Foochow,
i'll August, 1884. the few obsolete Chinese
ships resisted, until every vessel was sunk
or blown up, the attack of an overpowering
French squadron, armed with the most i'm
typos of runs and armor and sup
piled with an outfit of torpedoes. In deal
with tho Chinese navv the fact must be
recognized that tho usual Chinese conserya-
tism has been disreaarded, and that OPP
posed to foreigners will be Il large feet Of
powerful modern-built vessels, armed with
all the modern improvements known to
lavnl warfare, and Differed by II class OF
men instructed according to the best sys-
ems of foreign naval education.