The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-24
THE CHINESE ARMY.
An Immense Force Can Be Sent
Against Japan.

Against Japan.
The old Chinese army In its three divis-
ions, Manchu, Mongo and native Chinese,
has nominal strength of 1000, 0O0 The
bulk OF it is represented by the Green Flag
Corps of $4,000, scattered throughout the
nineteen provinces of China proper, where
It's fractions are controlled by local vice
roys and governors. This force is Of little
or no value. Its arms are ancient and use
less and it has not been subjected to regular
discipline.
As a body from which to recruit the
trained regiments, and as a sort of reserve
police force. it has a certain amount Of
usefulness, but for other purposes it is OBJ
solete. The policy OF the central govern
ment. moreover, forbds the conversion of
the Green Flags into an efficient corps of
modern soldiers, The slender hold on the
provinces possessed by the Picking author
lies might, it is feared, snap if ambitious
vicerOys in distant provinces controlled
regular and well-aTmed troops. China's
military strength for operations against
foreign assailantS is to be sought accord
ingly, not in the provincial armies, but in
the imperial army created in recent years
= by Ii Hung Chang on European models
for the defense of Peking
The main object of military reform in
China has been the defense of The capital
and approaches thereto. the necessity for
which was revealed by the easy success OF
the Anglo-French expedition of 1860 When
the Tapping rebellion was finally crushed
by General Gordon his army was dis.
banded, buta part OF it was reconstructed
by Ii Hung Chang into a sort of body
guard and accompanied him when he was
transferred from Kiangsi to Pechili. This
was done with the ayowed purpose of max
ing it the nuclus Of an army that would
bear comparison with European troops and
render Picking secure against foreign at
tack. For nearly twenty-five years Ii
Hung Chang has been engaged upon
This task. At first the new imperial
army numbered about $4,000 men,
consisting partly of Gordon's old
soldiers, partly Of drafts from the Green
Flag army employed in the siege of
Nankin and partly of Tapping prisoners.
1t was known as the Divine Mechanism
army, which meant that it was armed
with rifles After the Franco German wal
mum Der Of German officers were an.
ployed to bring the force up to the highest
state Of efficiency. The training has been
carried Oh at Kalgan with the greatest Sc
crecy. 1t is known, however, that thi:
force-sometimes called Black flags-em
braces the cavalry and artillery as we'll a.
infantry and numbers about $4,000 men
with as many more, perhaps, as reserve:
to be called up when required. The ply.
sique of the men is described as magnificent
and their steadiness and efficiency on the
parade ground are beyond question
Though designed for the defense Of the
capital. campaign in Korea would be. i
is thought, within the range OF their du
ties.
The Picking army is lot the only dis
cipllned aud well-armed force in China
The garrison in Central Asia, under Lii
Kintang is an efficient corps of 80. 900 men
A third army, hardly inferior to Ii Hun.
Changes In strength, embraces the two
branches Of the old Tartar army will
which the present dynasty conquered The
country IN the seventeenth century. These
are the Banner army and the army Of
Manchurla, both OF which have had train
ing and are equipped with modern
weapons The Banner army number.
100000, OF whom 100000 are stationed a
Peking and!sOme $780, GOO in Manchurfa. Til
recently they were armed with bows anC
arrows and obsolete firearms, bnt tho
equipment is now vastly better. The lat.
Prince Chun organized 10000 of them intr
fairly efficient force that may be com
pared with the Black Flags,
A select corps of $4,000 weIl-armed mer
is maintained in Manchuria, and for opera
lions in Korea this ''army in Manchuria'
is most conveniently situated. A consid
cradle portion of its strength has already
tits stated. been dispatched to the Yalo
River, which lies between Korea and tn
Fengten division of Manchuria. The ad
vance by land along the main road, oftel
traversed By Chinese armies in the pas,
to Pingyang and Seoul presents extraordi
nary difficulties. At the most moderat