Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-10
Ii Hung Chang Not a Great
Soldier.
OPINION OF AMBASSADOR PATENOTPE
He lntimates That China Cannot
Furnish a Strong Army.
ID EFEN SES OF PEKIN

Ambassador Patenotre. the representative
OF the French republic in the United States.
is regarded as Ole OF the best-informed
men In diplomatic life on China ana the
scenes OF present conflict between that
country and Japan. A good part OF his life
In the French diplomatic service has been
spent at Pekin and Tien Tsin. where he
was In constant communication with Ii
Hung Chang. His views on eastern affairs
therefore, are of interest. He was inter.
viewed last night. AT the time the ITEM
Tsin treaty of peace was signed" he said.
Il was brought In contact with Ii Hung
Shang almost daily for six weeks. and
while had known him before the close
intercourse i'm negotiating so important a
treaty gave me opportunity OF a somewhat
personal acquaintance with him. He does
not speak English. French or any other
language than his own, all intercourse with
foreign officials being carried on through
an interpreter. There appears to be a set
tied Policy among the Chinese DIPLOMATS
and officisls TO adhere to their own Ian
guage. SO much so that a Chinese diplomat
at Paris. who became proficient in making
French bon mots created something Of a
sensation and was afterward recalled Vice.
roy Ii impressed me, however, as enc OF
the very few Chinese officials who at least
desired to adopt the modern ways of Eu-
ropean countries and II he had not been
held back by the Overwhelming sentiment
OF China against eastern civilization, he
would have modernized China long ago
As II Is he has introduced quite a Euro
pean atmosphere into his private house.
hold. He has a French cook to serve him
French dishes. Some of the dinners he
gave me were what he termed double din
ners.' as there would be a Chinese dish and
then a French one. thus alternating courses
throughout the dinner.
Not a Warrior.
LII strikes one as a student and states
man rather than as a warrior. His tenden-
cies are all those Of a scholar, although
his great authority as v.ceroy OF the met
ropolitan province of China, ana speciM
guardian of the emperor. have made him
the head of the war power. But he is not
a genius of war as he is OF craftsmanship.
He has sought TO modernize the Chinese
army ana navy. and such strength as these
arms OF defense have are due TO his intro
duction of foreign officers, including Gen.
Gordon, and his adoption of modern arms
and ordnance. The artillery he has secured
is fairly good, but compared with the equip
ments of European and American troops.
which improve constantly. they are far out
of date"
Pekin's Defenses.-
NJ Patenotre was asked as TO the de-
fenses of Pekin. which the japanese now
threaten to strike, and the roads over
which the invaders will have to pass IL
they march on Pekin.
THE defenses are very primitive" said
the ambassador. THE outer wall is a huge
affair, completely encircling the city. 1t is
about the height of a six-story building and
wide enough for travel by horses and car
riages. But as a means Of defense IL would
amount to nothing against modern artil-
lery. The walls about Tonkin were even
stronger, being built by skilled engineers,
but they quickly gave way before big guns.
There is hardly any such thing as roads
about Pekin and Tien Tsin, that travel
is very difficult. There are occasional
stretches of good roads, paved with large
stone blocks. but these are exceptional"
the climate will be the greatest dificul-
ty." continued he. 1t gets intensely cold
about Pekin the latter part of October and
everything is frozen UP in November. The
cold is SO severe that IL almost puts a stop
to travel ana communication. The japanese
are from warm country, entirely unused
to severe cold, and. as far We hear. with.
out special provision OF clothing for the In
tense cold coming on the latter part OF this
month. That promises to be the greatest
difficulty they will have to contend against"
Great Difference.
The ambassador was asked IL HIS observa-
lions of the great latent resources and enor.
nous population of China led him to be-
lieve that they would ultimately be aroused
and prove resistless.
Undoubtedly the population IL vast
something like 4O0,0000Oo" said he. But"
added the ambassador, significantly, ''thero
is much difference between a great popula>
ton and a great army"