The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-04
CHISd'S NEW IMPERIAL ARMY.
A Model Corps of 5000 Men Organized by
Gen. Yum.

TIENTsIN. China. April 2O.-Prime Minister
jung Lu has recently reviewed the Chinese
imperial army at Hsiao Chan. a fact OF the
most profound significance in the affairs Of
China. 1t marks the awakening Of the empire
to the need OF great modern army with which
to repel the crowding OF the nations OF Europe
The review OF Jung Lu was the first attention
that the Government at Pekin has given this
new army.
This army. officially named the new imperial
army. has its camp at Hsao Chan about TWEEN
ty miles east Of Tientsin. midway between 1t
and the sea and a few miles south OF the Pei
Ho Three years ago. in December. 1895. about
a year after the war with japan, n few thou
sand raw recruits quartered at Hsiao Chan
were put under command OF Yuan shin
Ka. commonly called Gen. Yuan. whose
rank Is civil ana not military Previ-
Gus to the war with Japan Yuan was
for nine years Minister to Corea. having
been promoted to that post on account of ex-
ceptional bravery and ability shown in 1894.
when. at the head OF a company OF Chinese
soldiers he entered the Corean capital, drove
out the Japanese. and saved the Corean Kings
life. To this man is directly due the high
character Of this army and the fine showing
that 1t Is able to make Timothy Richard one
OF the best known men in China, said TO the
writer a few months ago: Yuan is the best
man In China: he is a man who Is bound to
rise" Lord Charles Beresford. before whom
there was given Just such review as has since
been seen by Jung Lu. said: :, have met one
man in China. and that man is Yuan"
ability and strict ntsgT 'i The The former is
probably as common in China as elsewhere.
than the, latter All the world knows that
from the Eiceroy of province down to the cook
IN his khs sveFE is to
nized as TO be almost lifted out Of its legally
dishonorabe place and to he p,aIr,t Of the I'M
manders who receive from the central gov
eminent ,apprTnpriations according to the
commands. and the amount supposed to
be paid them. have had exceptional on
condition OF the forces OF china wotliHd
indicate that this has too often been their chief
care But Yuan stands ont noble execution,
China. and of that company. who are not few.
ot like character who are beginning to rise
is because the money Appropriated for the uses
upon 1t. that here is here an army of9.ouO mon,
well equipped with modern guns. we'll housed.
and iae than hi xeept 900 recent
cruts. so well drilled as to have drawn forth the
highest praise from lord EhnTes
spoke. with unstinted admiration OF the army
and OF the fine showing it had made on review.
The army consists OF 1000 infantry. armed
with one of the hest modern rifles: 800 cavalry.
1000 artillery. serving 40 field guns II noun
tain guns and u rapid-fire guns. and 500 men
q the Infantry. 1000 xers rcSruitcd late in
1898. It is understood that after being thor
rSya Snard Thern are also ooo camp foI s
lowers, every ten soldiers having cook and
two other servants. officers having a stlll
It IS IS not the least surprising thing about this
army that SO few and umnimportant posts are
with 1t a Portuguese bnndmaster a Belgian
tnctcian. German pontoon bridge builder.
guns. a Norwegian cavalry dri master, and
Chinese-speaking, German. whose duties are
t6n gehe The n%Mry "pG 81
iicers. trained either abroad or in Chinese mill
tary SCHOOLS of which there, is at present. but
one in North China this being at Tientsin.
Yuan has at Hsiao Chan a large class Of young
men under in1tructi9P, showing good Tore ore
surply the demand that must soon be made
Something entirely now in China is that the
treated daily, The hospital is in charge of four
One OF the revelations Of the possibilities OF
the Chinese rnce that this camp affords is the
band OF musicians. OF whom 1t is not too much
to say that except by bands composed Of pro-
ffeTsona u;icians their playing could scarce
Nothing is more noticeable than the uniform
good behavior Of these soldiers. mere quiet
orderly. rrSp"ctiul lot OF men could not he
found anywhere. Although they have many
HOLIDAYS. when they. rnmhle al 1.-THE town and
CANT at will. there il almost never II hrawl or
trouble,o Of any kind, though usually the Chi
neso soldier is an out-iind-out rowdy and ruff
tlan, Possibly in the way Of discipline foreign
natives may be able to learn something from
Yuan; who in this matter has absolute author
fly. First and Of course. Of greatest mpor-
lance, there is absOut" prohibition of liquor
drink sing, gambling and opium smoking. For
the first two named offences the punishment
is severe WHIPPING: for the last the death
penalty by decaptatiOn.
Whatever may be the ability ~ this army to
meet foreign troops In its capacity aS home
guard and aS pattern for all the military