The St. Johns herald., 1894-11-01
CHINA'S FIGHTING FORCE
Strength and Equipment of the
 Army and Navy.
Troops Commanded by German and Amer Ican Officers and Armed with Inn proved WeaDons-Fhe Chi
 nese as Soldiers.

China has made great efforts in the last few years to bring her army and navy nearer the standards of those of western nations, says the New York Tribune. The total strength of the army is about six hundred thousand men, of whom more than two hundred thousand are permanently stationed for the garrison of the city of Peking, the others being scattered throughout the various provinces of the empire. Besides these there is an Informed organization, which might be called a militia, which gets small pay and never serves with the colors. The discipline of the army is good, and so far as mili- tary punishments are concerned there is hardly more stringent organizar tion in the world. As fighting force, however, in the opinion of most foreign military men, the Chinese army has never counted for much. But the last few years may have made a great diff ference in this regard, as the Ameri- can, German and English officers em- ployed by the government have done all in their power to effect proper changes.
 In addition to the troops mentioned there are the various provincial forces which are enlisted, paid and controlled by the viceroys of the provinces and mandarins of the cities in which they may be quartered. These are known as the Army of the Green Standard, in contradistinction to the Manchu divi- sions-the real Chinese soldiers, divided into red, white, blue and yellow divi- sions, so-called from the color of their battle flags.
 The arms of most of these troops were until recently of the most primi- tive types, and consisted principally of long spears or knives secured to long poles, bows and arrows and clubs. Within the last few years, however, many of these batalions have been pro- vided with the most improved modern arms. Two years ago several Chinese officials were sent so Europe to negoti- ate for the purchase of sufficient mod crn rifles to arm the entire forces gar riscning the frontiers of Siberia, Ton quin and along the sea coast. The army of Ii Hung Chang, lhe Chinese prime minister and viceroy of the province of Chihi, numbers about one hundred thousand men, and is the flower of the empire. These troops are armed with modern rifles, and have for years been under the leadership of German and American officers, who have brought them up to a state of discipline and eff ficiency hardly second to any similar body of foreign troops. It is the pos session of this army, in love with its chief, which has made him so indcpen- dent Chihli is regarded as the gate to Picking, hence the care and attention bestowed upon the troops forming it's garrison.
 The Chinese confine themselves chiefly to infantry. The total cavalry force of the active army is only thirty thousand, and of artillery twenty thousand. There is, however, an Fir regular" class of cavalry which may number nearly one hundred thousand. This force is armed in the most primi- tive fashion.
 The navy is a different stamp from the army, and the sailors have been longer under the influence of foreign officers. They are also more trust worthy. Separated as they are from the in flucnces which surround the men on shore, the sailors are free from the temptations and conspiracies which have undermined the troops. The class of men employed on the vessels is also better. The naval officers have been educated in the various naval acad- cmies by foreign instructors, and are taught and discipled according to the systems in vogue in the service of the United States, England and France
 The imperial government supports three naval colleges for the education ot cadets or oficers-one at Tien- Tsin, another at Wei-Hai-Woi and the third at Foo-Chow. The instructors are graduates of naval academies of foreign countries, those of Annapolis predominating. The system of instruc- ton is as thorough as the Chinese boy can grasp, but is chiefly practical rather than theoretical so that by the time the course is finished the cadet is ready to assume his duties on man-of- war. The cadets arc usually chosen from the families of prominent officials living in the seacoaSt provinces, but members are admitted from any other official and mandarin class
 The Chinese navy proper comprises about seventy men-of-war, not includ- ing many small transports and revenue cutters which in time of need, such as the present, can be armed and placed in active service. The vessels are manned and officered by Chinese sub jects, the only foreigners allowed on them being the instructors in special departments, such as gunnery, seaman ship, electricity or torpedoes. As soon as a Chinese instructor qualities, the foreigner returns to the academy. Most vessels of the Chinese fleet have been built abroad.
 The Chinese navy is divided into two fleets. The northern, or Peyang squad ron, with headquarters at Wei-Hai-Woi, has under its jurisdiction the protec- fior, ond dafapoo of all tho cCoSt ly-ipo