The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-11-19
THE MILITARY In China
Soldiers of Eight Nations Almost
Elbow to Elbow.
Rare Opportunity fer officers of the
Various Powers TO study Their Ri
vuIs Under Actual Field Condi-
tIons Equipment of Americans
and British Apparently Superior.

anu orttAsu apparently superior
TIENTSIN, China, Oct 10.-With troops
of eight nations and every branch of se--
vice elbow to elbow under actual field
conditions, both Pekin and Tientsfn at
present afford a rich field of comparative
military observation. OF which the Office S
of the various forces are taking keen ad-
vantage. This is especially noticeable OF
the continental forces, whose staffs are
everywhere taking note of equipments
and methods. There are now CHARTERED
in this big camp what are said to be
representative contingents of every mil
itary power 1t is military congress as
complete as II devised only for display,
and the contrast between the forces is
very marked in equipment, method, and
discipline Yet, at the same time, OBJ
serving officers find little room for criti-
cism of any particular contingent of the
Chinese expeditionary force.
In equipment and uniform there is ap-
paFently little question that the Ameri-
can end British troops are superior. The
Eoh1r, business-like khaki is in strong
contrast to the snowy French and TAI
ian uniforms, while the Germans. other
wise q magnificent and picked body Of
men, are handicapped in comparison by
their iE-ftting clothing. The German uni
form is a mustard yellow khaki appar-
entl.- of very inferior quality. The blouse
is long and loose, without pockets, the
trousers loose, and no ieggings are worn
by the infantry. This is completed with
a wide brimmed straw hat such as is
seen il. the Southern part of the States,
turned up at the side and fastened with
corps barge. One almost overlooks the
awkEardnesS of the uniform, however IN
the splendid drill and discipline of the
Kaiser's Chinese army, while their field
equipment, though bit heavy, is well
Up TO date and compares fayorably with
that of any other force.
Picturesque Indian Regiments
By far the most picturesque troops here
are the British native regiments from In
dia- At present Great Britain has 10 white
troops here except a part of the Royal
Welsh Fusiliers, known in England as the
Dake Of Connaught's Own and battaI-
ion Of Australian Volunteer Naval Re
serves. The show Of Tientsin is the Six
teenth Bengal Lancers, the gentlemen
regiment Of India" out on parade Mag
nlEcenty mounted on counIrybreds superb
riders, equipment as perfect as care can
make it, with lance pennons fluttering, the
N1LNNSCAtAi regiment any udIlOu could
fesl proud OF. the Indian cavalry are
probably the heaviest armed mounted troops
IN The world Each man carries the long
heavy lance, revolver, carbine, and heavy
sabre. The uniform is khaki, the blouse
tight 81 the belt loose cord trousers. rus
set leather leggins and the inevitable tur-
BAH The Bombay Lancers are not inferior
and the foot regiment which include the
Rajputs, the Punjabs, and the Beloochis-
Jans. make splendid appearance, the men
being tall and slender, and carrying them
selves superbIy.
The Japanese are. perhaps. probably the
most interesting studies for the military
men mere One loses sight OF the rather
slouchy white canvas uniforms and Frenchy
high crowned caps in the machine-like drill
and discipline of the Mikado's men, In dis
cipline they are easily ahead of practically
all the other forces. The japanese soldier
works as none other does. He is always
busy, he does not drink, and he is not in
evidence on the streets. Detachments of
the little white clad chaps are always on
the move Wherever one goes in tie sur
rounding country for many miles out he
finds japanese outpost. Their field to-
biographical parties are always busy, and
their commissaTy and quarteTmaster's de-
partments are wonderfully active and com
plete. Many officers have found much to
admire in their transport system There
are no great bales or boxes in the Japan
csc supplies. Everything is tut up in COM
pact mating bound bundles. none too heavy
for one man to handle, and the result is ex-
petition. Il is the general opinion of OBJ
servers that the Japanese soldier is the
busiest. the quietest, the best-disciplined
man in the armies in China
Ideas From the Germans
The big German camp, which occupies
the grounds and buildings formerly used
by the American troops, lying east of the
foreign concession, is easily the model
of all the camps about Tientsin. 1t has
attracted much attention, and nothing but
favorable comment is heard The Ger
mans have, scheme for use of the shell
ter tent which is considered 10 be ideal
for warm weather. The pieces of canvas of
an entire company are dashed together and
erected in the shape Of a shed without
partitions. 1t is practically a roof and
rear wall, and is usually erected in the
shape of two. sides of a square, the walls
being TO the north and west The German
cooking equipment is complete in every
detail. and they have wonderful wagons
and transport There are new designs in
field ambulanceS, very narrow and spTingy,
wagonettes for general officers, field post
wagons and nearly every sort of vehicle !
an army can need. In variety and COM
pleteness OF outfit the German representa-
ton is beyond comparison with any other |
force here
The question of transport is naturally !
the most interesting to military observ- |
ers, and in this connection the British |
have come in for much praise. As organ
lied the British forces in China have the
most effective field transport for the char !
acter of campaigning they are called upon
to perform. Each company is complete |
with its Cwn pack train, from which it is
not separated. Stout little Indian mules, |
hardly much larger than donkeys. carry !
all supplies, and so far the British troops
have not suffered for lack OF supplies in 3
any OF the marches the allies have made
The same cannot be said OF the other ar
mics. In common with the japanese, the !
British employ a large number of coolies |
In fact they have the largest nou-com- /
blatant force here, each regiment having I
its own cooIie gang, who perform ali !
camp labor This is made necessary, how |
ever. by the fact that the Indian regi- |
ments are composed Of high caste men.
The ranks of the cavalry regiments are |
filed with blood relatives OF raiahs and
princes, and these men are never called /
upon for camp labor They are fighting !
men essentially. and it is almost safe to /
say that every enlisted man in the Six !
teenth Bengals and the Bombays has his /
own servant and groom
In size, rank. and file, soidierIy appear
ence- and good marching there is nothing
heard but praise for the American troops |
The camps are we'll poIiced the men we'll