The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-07-27
CHINA AND THE JAPS
HISTORY OF THE TWO ARMIES
THAT MAY SOON BE AT WAR.
Forces of the "Son of Heaven Great
Iy Outnumber Those of the MikadO,
but Fighting Strength Is Weak.
New York Herald.

New York Herald.
Now that, according TO the latest ad-
vices, outbreak of actual hostilities be
tween China and Japan is momentarily
expected, it is interesting to take a glance
at the fighting power of the two nations
There are reasons which render ii difficult
TO make accurate comparison between
them. In the first place, the numerical
strength of the respective armies is not
known with precision. and in the second
there are no available data on which TO
form a judgment as TO the advantage &C
cruing to Japan from the thoroughness
with which she has modernized her forces.
There are, however, one two points
connected with the subject which appear
to be beyond dispute. The first of these is
that If counting heads were an infallible
method Of predicting military success there
could be no doubt that China must inev-
itably triumph. There is enormous dis
parity between the two populations-be-
TWEEN the S6O,0OOOOO of China and the fewer
than 100000 of Japan-and this difference
is reflected in their armies. 1t has been
estimated that the Manchu or "eight ban
ner'' soldiers of China, forming the i'm
perial army proper, are about 2SS.0O0 strong,
of which perhaps one-thrd, about $4,000,
including the Pekn corps, 1900 strong,
are drilled in modern tactics and provid-
ed with modern arms. The troops of the
green flag are put at about $4,000, yield
ing, however, probably less than $4,000 in
condition and fitness for war, There are
also troops in Manchuria, with militia in
Mongolia and Thibet. In round numbers
the Chinese military establishment might
be put at from 100000 to 100000, with
little more than one-third, or perhaps 100000
to 100000, now prepared for service in war,
and still smaller portion thoroughly
trained and armed according to modern
European methods.
In the matter of costume the Chinese
army to-day presents brave appearance.
Its modern uniform is a compromise be-
tween the Monaghan and the European
form of dress. The blouse and the wooden
soled shoes, the saucepan hat and the flow
of the officers are diStinctiyely Chinese, 50
are the ragged jb-shaped flags. The zou-
ave trousers, legginss and belted jackets,
however, are European. The new style of
uniform is, in every respect, a great adj
vance on the loose and Tapping garb that
was formerly won.
THE BLACK FLAG ARMY.
The Tapping rebellion. in 1865. was the
direct cause of the great Improvements
which have been made in Chinese military
affairs. The great army of General Chi
nese'' Gordon was disbanded in June of
LII Hung Chang, Viceroy of the Two Kiang,
recruited many of these veterans in his
own army. This formed the nucleus for
the present armed force, and valuable
one it has proved to be. In 1870 the Viceroy
was promoted to the metropolitan district
OF Petchili, where he succeeded the famous
TSeng kwofan. Since then he has devoted
most of his time and talents to the adj
vancement of military science among the
frn moi oil riC1Va Of
the former generation has been converted
into an efficient army, equipped and Off
cered in accordance with modern require
ments.
The central army is intrusted with the
defense of the principal approaches TO the
city of Pekn, and, upon it's efficiency the
fate of the empire may depend. 1t is called
the Black Flag Army of Ii Hung Chang.
1t would be interesting to note the trial of
this force in actual warfare. 1t has, up to
the present time, been engaged only in
drills and skrmishes, garrison and road
duty. That it should be able TO Highland
| fight well, tools undisputed. 1t is admir-
ably drilled and excellently uniformed and
| armed. 1t is a question, however, how
bravely and wisely these gifts would be
used on the battle field.
Pekin is well supplied with military de-
| tenders. Besides the Black Flags. there is
| the Pekin Field Force-the picked men of
| the Manchu army. This body was the es-
pecial pride Of the late Prince Chun who
regarded ii as Frederick the Great did his
regiment of Titans: Through his efforts
OF the entire army. To 1t Is intruSted the
| garrisoning of the imperial city. A large
| gan, a large city northwest of the capital
and on the great wall. The best of Euro
| pean instructions has been used in pre-
| pairing the Field Force for service Several
| German officers of high rank spent years
| in drilling the men and officers in their
duties. 1t is armed with the latest make
| of guns and side arms. Physically it COM
| prises the flower of the Chinese army.
| Another section of the new army is the
| Manchurfa garrison. 1t has two divisions.
| one OF which has its headquarters in Monk
| den and the other in TSitSihar. Both
| branches are under the direct command of
| the Viceroy of Manchuria. This force
| guards the Russian and Corean frontiers.
| But the safety of China from Russian in
| vasiOn or Corean insurrection does not de-
| pend entirely upon this Manchurian corps.
| The Mongol tribes and Manchu Bannermen
| would be conscripted and the army would
be largely increased, as also would its
fighting ability. The fourth and last di-
| vision of the army is the New Dominion
corps. This body looks after the Central
| Asia possessions.
| In spite of it's vast army and in spite of
| the equipments and the modern in
struction, the Chinese army would make
| a sorry show compared with one of the
| great armies of one of the great powers
| A Russian authority declared not many
was not as efficient as the foreign public
had been led to believe that it was. The
foreign instruction had been dispensed
with, the modern guns had been neglected
and allowed TO fall into a bad condition
and, worse than all, the great Krupp guns
had become almost wholly useless. The
garrison of Manchuria, he added could
not successfully oppose the onslaught OF
the army OF a great power.
| JAPAN'S NEW MODEL ARMY.
On any estimate it will be seen thai
Japan is greatly outnumbered. She has
however, studied and adopted methods
including that of compulsory service in the
active army or the reserve between certain
ages. Every Japanese adult male has Il
serve for twelve years-namely, three
years with the colors, four years with the
first reserve, five years with the SECOND
reserve. The system gives a standing
army which in peace numbers roughly 800
electives and is calculated to produce
characteristics of the Japanese soldier are
cleanliness and order and the military
administration is marked by economy anC
complete absence of corruption: while II
point of equipment and discipline the army
seems in many respects TO fall little shor
of European standards The japanese
army, in fact, is not a paper sham. but
complete living organization, framed or
the best models, and, as a rule, thorough,
adapted to the requirements of the country
The German system of conscription Is
practiced, and all japanese subjects, OF
highest TO the lowest, become conscripts al
twenty years of age. The recruits are
drawn by lottery, as, of course, there
are more than the war department could
possibly manage. The lowest standard oi
height accepted is five feet. Students at
tending colleges or schools have certain
special privileges accorded them, and
scholars of the Normal School need serve