The morning call., 1894-10-12

The Chinese time to realize where they
are at" They will take advantage of the
winter TO organize their army, drill the
men on Western lines, put modern arms
into their hands. and mobilize tremend Gus
forces before the invaders. Then the
japanese may not find victory so easy as
they did when fighting people wholly un-
prepared to meet them on the field.
In reply to question as 10 what the
European powers may do, he said LAS
war is being carried on more in China
than in Japan il is necessary for European
powers TO interpOse, for in large number
of provinces of China foreigners are res
dent. Different natianalI ties are repre-
scented. especially English. American.
French and German. On this account il
is well nigh impossible for foreigners sea-
tered around to be protected by China.
China has a double task OF carrying OIL war
with Japan and Suppresslng Instructions
among her own people. Therefore for
eigners are to be protected by foreign
powers as China cannot protect them.
With this as starter it is inevitable that
European powers will dictate regarding
the continuance of the war"
MIR. Reds view Of the war situation is
quite well defined
1.-THE JAPANESE army is tramping to
Pekipg," said he. 1.-The roads are very
poor, being little better than wagon trails
across county not we'll adapted to
travel. They are not repaired by the
Government, but seem to take care of
themselves. The tramp of one army is
a bout 500 or 400 miles, but the southern
army is so far from Peking that marching
thitber this year would be out of the quPs-
ton. 1t is more likely the japanese will
sail up the coast and march from the
nearest port to Picking. Either P,rt
Arthur. Tientsin or Shan hai-Kuan will
be selected. Tentsn is about two days
journey to Peklng-eighty mies-though
an army marching could not do it in four
or five days.
IF the Japanese want to reach the cap
ital they must do so in twenty or thirty
days, because the northern river freezes
early in December and communication IS
cut off with the source of supplies which
go to Picking on barges.
81 think there will be slight turn in
affairs in favor of China. The Chinese
have been waiting in order to gain some
advantage during winter. They will buy
guns, foTtify some cities and train their
| soldiers. Ii the men have confidence in
| their officers they are prompt to obey. and
as good deal of authority Is placed in
the hands of foreigners, Chinese are ready
| to obey orders and train for war. China
was taken unawares, whereas Japan has
| been making preparations for the last
! two or three years. Japanese surveyors
made survey of the coast of Korea and
China. and have accurate maps of every
place where Japanese men or war or trans
ports might sail.
The japanese army is trained more on
| the German model, which requires every
! able bodied man to go through certain
military service. Physically they are not
| equal 10 the Chinese soldiers. either in en-
durance or strength: but the trouble with
| the Chinese is. they haven't been either
| equipped or drilled according to modern
ideas. The Chinese army has 100000
! soldiers, but robablv not more than &c, 0G0
are after our style. The rest fight after the
| ancient style, with long bows and arrows.
and other curious weapons. They have
old guns six feet long, which take from
two to four men to handle. I've seen those
queer soldiers drilling with these guns. One
| man kneeIS down, and the band near
the muZzls is laid on his shoulder.
| another kneels q few feet behind him and
| supports the gun about the trigger, ana a
third takes the stock against his shoulder.
They all huld on like grim death while a
fourth fires the touch powder These fell
lows have been regarded as invincille
warriors. Drilling with them IS merely
development of the muscles. They lift
weights, draw their big bows, which we
could not bend, and 90 through system
of Chinese gymnastics. But as for diScl-
pine or utility as soldiers they are worth
less. After the winter, however. with
new weapons and Western methods OF
drilling hey may form an army that car
easily cope with japan.
Another reason why the Chinese soldiers
in many instances were beaten is that they
had IOtten weapons which would moi
shoot when needed in fight. The man
darins, instead of thinking OF war. bought
old guns that were absolutely useless and
nocketed the difference, after charging the
Government with iifies Of most approved
modern pattern. l knew Sheng Taotai
the mandarin degraded by Ii Hung Chang
| for chatting the Government in buylnl
rotten guns and representing they were
costly rifles"
Mr.. Reid lived three years at Chefoo