The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-26

the mouth Of the peiho river. II Is intend
ed ID protect the barrier Of the river. and
there il a line of forts extending from
Taku 20 Tfentsin and the camp OF the
northern army OF the Notifications OF
the Ysngsse river, the fort at Wusang has
recently fallen into complete decay. The
Nanshitang ana the modern SzetZin bat
terry stsii remain. At Kiauyonx, too. there
are n few modern batteries existing side
by side with the ancient ones. and the
same il true OF Tslnklang. Further up the
river the batteries Of Marking are the only
fortiricatiofs OF any Importance.
To the more important fortrssses OF tho
southern coast IF China belong the FORTH
flcations OF Tsin-Chau, and those OF Fu-
Chau at the mouth OF the River Min,
which consists of five forts built by
French engineers Farther south we fnd
the fortresses Of Annoy and Swatsau. and
opposite Hengkong the group OF forts st
Canton. These last consist OF three
zones. intended. in connection with mines
and torpedoes, to protect Canton from
attack IL would not be worth while TO
consider more fully the Importance OF
these various Notifications The high clay
walls of the majority o. the forts, the
sentry houses. the flag poles and the high
gates offer magnificent marks for artii
iery. The protected shooting places are
quite Anticipated. The size of the court
yards. with the clay nuts which they con-
tan, facilitates the destruction of the
forts. Only few batteries correspond TO
modern conceptions. Batteries. too. are
TO be found which are composed of twen-
~ or more guns differing entirely from
one another in size and construction. This
fact alone would render IT impossible for
the action of the whole battery to be di-
rectea by a single will. and the same
effect Is produced by the placing of a
single gun at the summit of each of the
hills at Kian-Yong and Marking. But
the important principle that the fire OF
a battery should be directed from sim
gle center is not understood by the Chi
nese with whom IL is not the officer. but
the man in charge of the gun, who d.
reefs the firing.
The. guns too. are In a very sad state
where there are no European instructors.
In the forts on the Yang-tse fine powder
is even now used for heavy krupp guns,
while ora the other hand. brown prismatic
powder is used for firing salutes with
Armstrong;.
But even IL the foriiheations were IN q
better state, they would be of little use
TO China. for there is no commander who
Is capable of understanding what Is meant
by she cooperation of troops and FORTH
cations. There Is not even an officer who
has any clear idea of the corporation OF
different kinds of troops on the field OF
battle, and from this judgment would not
even except Lieut. Gen. ln-Chang. who
speaks German and who is at present In
command of the northern troops During
the many years | spent in China / only
once heard of a proposed combined STRAIT
egic action of the troops. / refer to the
plan which Is reported 10 have been
drawn up by the council of war at Pc
king and sanctioned by imperial decree for
According TO this plan. Ilnkuni. the vice.
roy of Marking, would be appointed as
commander-in-chief in the Yangste valley
with 63,0 900 men under him. The viceroy,
Chengchitung. in Wutchang. would be In
trusted with the command of 5000 men
In the central portion of the Yangste. The
defense Of the west would be under the
control of the governors nf Hupei and HUI
nan with 1900 and 60e01 men respectively.
Gen. Ii, OF Anhn. would be appoint
Cd TO command the southern feet.
II is not soldiers nor modern weapons OF
which China has the creates. need. What
IS wanted IS a man with the courage and
ability TO break with the old traditions. to
utilize the treasures which exist IN the
country. TO reorganize the administration,
officials. to create an efficient body Of
troops under the control of one central au-
thor.ty and to construct roads ana rail-
ways. so that troops could be Immediately
dispatched wherever a display OF military
power was necessary to defend the empire
Berlin Letter TO London Times.