The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-08-01
ABOUT CHINESE TROOPS.
rRAVELER F. IT. CHaPIS OF HART
 FORD TELLS OF fl REVIEW

fOhD TELLS of @ kt&F
 Few Weapons Were Carried and They
 were AntIauated- fiieers Accompanied
 by Their Wives in Sedan Chairs.
 F. II. Chapin of T. Slsson & Co.,, Hart ford, when abroad. witnessed a review of a detachment of Chinese troops at Shanghai His observation is interest ing to note, especially at this time when war is in progress between Japan and China. Mir. Chapin is n close and care full observer and his conception of sights witnessed is most correct, hence the following general description of the almond-eyed soldier is valuable. The review of which he speaks took place in the native quarter of Shanghai April 14 of this year. MT. chapin says:
 "The day was intensely warm and the people of the city swarmed the walks along the line of march by the thousands. I was very much surprised and amused to see the leader of the
  lowed by his servant on foot. At one time the heat evidently became much too oppressive and he took off his hel- met, passed 1t to his servant and re- ceived from him a straw hat which he wore the remainder of the march with evident satisfaction. The troops num- bered several thousands and were a ragtag, bobtail lot. Some of the off, cers, or mandari. as they are called, were carried in sedan chairs.On of these officers was followed by his three wives, also within sedan chairs and horribly painted. The greater number of the soldiers carried bikes six or eight feet long with spikes in the end and at- tached to which were flags. But com paratively few had weapons and these weapons were old muskets antedating the old Snyders. Several regiments were equipped to a limited extent with old sabres. Others carried spears re- sembling the old Roman Lictors, while a few were armed with battle axes
 "The march was magnificent dis play of disorder and irregularity. Evi- dently many of the troopers were peas- ants as they engaged themselves in viewing the crowds and shop windows rather than in keeping line. The troops were uniformed in dirty and in some cases ragged clothing which were de- cidedly repulsive. The martial music was blown from horns inferior in time and finish to even the Italian bugle. The sight was not only interesting but amusing, rivaling the frequent parades Of Antiques and Horribles' in this country in Fourth of July celebrations.
 "At Shanghai are English, German and French communities each having within its limits a company each of ar- tillery, foot and cavalry troopsBy way of contrast the third detachment made a combined parade in the afternoon which was a revelation to the natives in points of discipline, regularity and order. The parade was under the com- mand of a German colonel and I have no doubt that these few hundreds of well trained soldiers could have put to routrinstantly the thousands of Chinese troops. The Shanghai Chinese soldiers are by no means an exception to the general native soldiery. The army of the empire is disorganized, untrained force. They can do nothing with the Japs, am sure.
 In Wing-Poo there is a strong and well-disciplined army of natives off, cered by Englishmen and Germans and commanded by a native mandarin whose power is so much feared that he dare not step far out of Wing-Poo for fear of losing his head.
 "The review which I witnessed was an occasion in honor of the Seturn of chief mapdarin.