The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-08

at the top. Forts built according to Eu-
ropean notions are only to be met with at
a few places on the coast. OF those in the
North, the fortTesses which, in conjunction
with the fleet, were deSi gned to defend the
entrance into the Gulf of Pe-chi-li have
passed into the possession of the Euro
pean powers. Port Arthur and Ta-lien-wan
now belong to Russia Wei-hai-wei TO Eng
land and Kiao-Chau to Germany This
rendes illusory the fortlhcations at Tsin-
chu, in the neighborhood of Ta-lien-wan,
and of Chi-fuan, the northeast point of
the Shan-tung peninsula. There remain
to be mentioned the forts which protect the
coasts of the Gulf of Leao-tong and of the
Gulf of Pe-chi-li, OF these, In-hu, on the
LaTlho river has to protect Mukden The
most important link in the chain of for
tifcations defending the approach to Pc
king is Taku, at the mouth of the Pelho
river. 1t is intended to protect the barrier
of the river, and there is a line of forts
extending from Taku TO Tien-Tsin and the
camp of the northern army. OF the forth
fications of the Yang-tse river, the fort at
Wusung has recently fallen into complete
decay The Nan-shi-tang and the modern
Szetzein battery still remain. At Kiau-
yong, too, there are a few modern batter
les existing side by side with the ancient
ones, and the same is true of Tsin-Kiang.
Further up the river the batteries at Nan
king are the only fortihcations of any inn
portance.
To the more important fortresses of the
southern coasts of China belong the for
tifications of Tsin-Hai, which guard the
entrance to Hang-Chau, and those of Flu
Chau al the mouth of the River Min,which
consist of five forts built by French engi-
neers. Further south we find the fortres ses
OF Annoy and Swareau. and, opposite Hong
Kong the group of fo is at Canton. These
last consist of three zones intended, IN con-
nection with mines and torpedOes. to pro
tect Canton from attack. 1t would not be
worth while TO consider more fully the
importance of these various fortified lions.
The high clay walls of the majority of the
forts, the sentry houses, the flag poles
and the high gates offer magnificent
marks for artillery. The projected shoot
ing places are quite antiquated. The size
of the court-yards. with The clay huts
which they contain, facilitates the des-
truction OF the forts. Only few batteries
correspond 10 modern conceptions. Bat
teIies, too ale TO be found which are COM
posed of twenty or more guns differing
entirely from one another in size and con-
structon This fact alone would render
it impossible for the action of the whole
battery TO be directed by a single viii,
and the same effect is produced by the
placing of a single gun a the summit of
each Of The hiis at Kiau-Yong and Nan
king. But the important principle that
the fire of a battery should be directed
from single center is not understood by
The Chinese W Tn whom IL is n5t the of-
ficer but Ire man in char sc of the gun,
who direc the firing.
The guns, TOO are in Il 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 on the other hand b. own plismaic
powder is USED for firing salutes wi h Arm
strougs Tables Of charges are only TO be
found when they have been fixed to the
guns. Coverings ana packings are not, as
a rule, wafer tight Ammunition is gener-
ally paced in damp rooms, and nobody
has any IDEA of he ballis,ic capacities of
the guns.
CO-Operntion Not Understood.
But even if the fortiications were in
better state they would be of little use 10
China, for there is no commander who -
capable of UNDERSTANDING what is meant by
the cooperation of troops and fortl1ca-
tions. There is moi even an officer who has
any clear idea of the cooperation of diff
ferent kinds of troops on the field of bat
tie and from this judgment | would not
even except Lieut. Gen. In-Chang who
speaks German and is at present In com
mand OF the northern troops. During the
many wears / spent in China | only once
heard Of a proposed combined strategic ac-
ton Of the troops ! refer TO the plan
which is reported to have been drawn up
by The council of war al Pekin and sane
toned by imperial decree for use in case
OF war with European power. According
to this plan, Lin-kun-i, the Niceroy OF
Marking. would De appointed as COM
mander-in-chief in the Yangtse valley with
6S 900 men under nim The Niceroy Chengr
Chi-Tung., in Watching, would be in
trusted with the command of 4S000 men in
the central portion of the Nang-tse The
defense OF the West would be under the
control of the governors of Hu-Pei ana
HUMAN with 12 600 and 10000 respective
~. The waterways of the Yang-tse would
be protected ~ Admiral Huan with 1000
men. Gen. Ii. of An-Hin would be APP
pointed 70 command the Southern fleet.
l have not been able to ascertain with