The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-09-09

cation in the collection Of the taxes,
and instead of serving the state by
preserving order and quiet they often
take part themselves in the popular
uprisings or the attacks on foreigners,
The strength of this organization is
estimated at 100000 men. They are
armed with bows and arrows, spears,
old fliptlock guns and the large caliber
guns called gingals.
The Bannermen were originally the
followers of the army of invasion of
the Mantchoos and date consequently
from the beginning of the seventeenth
century. They have remained a war
riOr caste; but, in the course of time,
by taking in Chinese and Mongolians,
the purity of the race has been destroy
ed, and they have lost their warlike
spirit. The descendants of the original
conquerors still receive money and
rice ration and are consequently pen
sioners of the state. They are armed.
as a rule, like the Troops of the Green
Flag. Their strength is estimated at
about 100000. of whom 10000 are
stationed in and about Peking. and the
rest in the provinces, principally Chill.
Neither these nor the Troops of the
Green Flag took part in the war with
Japan, nor has either Of these organi-
cations any military value whatever.
The Field Troops originated in 1850,
when it was found that neither the
Bannermen nor the Troops of the
Green Flag were able to subdue the
TAPPING rebellion, in consequence Of
which the governors of the separate
provinces organized detachments of
volunteers, and these, with the aid of
Gordon's "ever victorious army" sue
ceeded in Quelling the rebellion in 1864.
Then, as the old Chinese army in the
wars with France and England played
a very reprehensible part, the govern
ment was compelled to take up the
subject Of the reorganization of the
army.
The new army was Quartered in the
province Of Chini and stationed in the
important towns such as Nankin,
Shanghai, Canton and Hankou. A part
OF the volunteers mentioned above
were retained under the name of Fang
Wing (army of defense) in the new ar
my and armed with foreign weapons.
The Fang Ying is called out and in.
creased If necessary whenever internal
dissensions or foreign complications
are of sufficient Importance to demand
It. and as soon as the trouble is over
such as can be dispensed with are al
lowed to za il life
!. :. !
These first armed with
weAM Om several Euro
ri Hung Chang
limited his pur
needle guns and
n pand introduced Ger
pGaY Instructors. His example
was Bllowed by the governor
general ON VWutshang. and schools fol
the training of soldiers to become Off
GERS were established at Tien-tsin and
Canton, Nankin and Wutshang, where
German officers Wee also installed al
instructors. There were also a few
English. French. Swedish. Russian and
Japanese officers and noncommissioneC
officers utilized as instructors in the
army. but none of the foreign element
Seceived encouragement from the man
darins. so their success was only par
tial. Nevertheless something was &C
complished. as is evident in the late
battles around Tien-tsin and Peking.
Besides the Fang Ying. in most Of the
provinces so called Lien Chin troops
of instruction. have been organized anC
also armed with modern weapons
These two together constitute the Fiel(
Troops. and in the war with France IL
1SS4-5 and in the war with Japan thest
alone took part.
The unit of administration of the in
fantry is the battalion 600 men), o.