The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1895-01-18
CHINA'S FIGHTING FORCE
Strength and Equipment Of the
Army and Navy.
Troops Commanded by German and Amer
icAn Offlcers and Armed with I'm.
proved Weapons-rhe Chi
nese as Soldiers.


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 mill.
tary punishments are concerned there
is hardly more stringent organiza-
ton 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 great diff
ference in this regard. as the Ameri-
can, German and English officers en-
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 iii 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 print
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
riSOning the frontiers of Siberia, Ton
Iuin and along the sea coast The army
of LII Hung Chang. he Chinese prime
minister and viceroy of the province of
Chilli, 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 n state of discipline and eff
ficiency hardly second to any similar
body of foreign troops. 1t is the pos
session of this army in love with it's
chief. which has made him so indepen-
dent. Chilli is regarded as the gate to
Peking, hence the care and attention
garrison.
The Chinese confne 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 ''ir-
regular" class of cavalry which may
number nearly one hundred thousand
This force is armed in the most print
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 f1uences 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-
emies 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
of cadets or officers-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 a man-of-
war. The cadets are 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-
cutters which in time of need, such as
the present, can be armed and placed
in active service. The vessels are
manned and Differed 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 Chinese instructor qualities, the
foreigner returns to the academy. Most
vessels of the Chinese feet 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-
ton and defence of all the coast lying
to the northward of FOO-Chow, and the
Tanyang, or southern squadron, with
ucd&lQ udfttTS dt NdtttOu, WHICH lS 10 Uc-
fend all the coast south of Foo-Chow.
Each squadron has hits own admiral,
but is governed directly by the Vice
roys of Chilli and Canton respectively,
who are held personally responsible by
the emperor for the efficiency and war
like condition of the two fleets.
sMALL-BoAT VOYAGES.
Stories OF FO0lhardy Men Who Have
Crossed the Atlantic.
The record of adventurous persons
who have crossed the Atlantic in crafts
of small dimensions is, comparatively
speaking, 4 long one. but nothing has
been accomplished beyond fame for a