The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-19
cH1NA's FIGHTING STRENGTH

A Navy Department Dnlletia About
the FOrtihcntionsgAn d Army.
The Navy Department yesterday issued
bulletin of informatiof prepared by
Captain sigsbee, concerning the forts at
Taku and those on the Pei7Ha, River. and
as to the Chinese armyst The bulletin
gives the defences at TakpaoaS follows:
North fort No. 1. at smosth,a left bank.
North fort No. 2. several hundred yarcs
up. left bank.
South fort. at mouth. right bank
New south fort, south Of south fort
Maritime arsenal. 1900 yards west Of
south fort.
The defences at Tientsin are the east
ern arsenal and the western arsenal.
The forts at Taku are the real prctec-
tion Of Pekin and Tientsin.
THE object Of the Taku Notifications Is
to defend the bar at tine mouth of the Pei
Ho River, which is accessible for deep
draft ships at high water. The forts ale
built in the Chinese style. and are Of
enormous dimensions. They are armed
with guns of the most diversified types and
calibres.
THE large fort has three bastions
equipped with large calibre guns for firing
over the parapet. These bastions are so
high that they can easily be seen from
the sea- and hence the guns can be easily
dismounted.
The forts are built of soft clay which
cracks and crumbles in the dry season.
Only constant repairs prevent serious IL
juries even from the guns in the forts.
Eat Taku are stored the materials for
closing the mouth of the Pei-Ho River.
Mines are stored in the forts. The inner
Notifications consist of a lot Of old forts
of the Ii Hung Chang army. These are,
from east to west. as follows: Lutaj, Sing
Tscheu. Siao- Tschang. Ma-Tseheu. TsJu-
Ljang-Tschu, and Tientsin. The only one
worthy of notice is Sing Tscheu. being the
only one armed with modern guns. All
these points are connected with Tientsin
and the sea by a gravel road The railroad
beginning at Tieltsin also passes through
here.
The Chinese army is composed Of the
Eight Banners. containing about 500. 600
men, descendants Of the Manchu coaq-ero
and their allies. The number maintained
on war footing is from $4,000 to 100000
men. The whole force Is sub-divided in.o
three groups. consisting. respectively. Of
Manchus, Mongols. and Chinese. and forms
a sort OF hereditary profession. within
which marriage is compulsory. About b.
900 men are stationed in garrisous in Man.
churia; the Imperial Guard at Pekin con-
tains from 1000 to 5000 men.
THE Ying-Ping or national army, called
the Green Flags. and the Five Camps, COL
sists of eighteen corps, one for each pro-
vince. under the governor. The nominal
strength is from .0G0 to GEO. 900. Of which
about 2C0. 600 are available for war. TIE
most important Is the Tientsin Army
Corps, nominally 100000 strong. really
about 5000. with modern organization.
drill. and arms. which does garrison duty
at Tlku and the forts.
"M.rcenary troops are raised in ene-gen-
cy with Monaghan and irregular cavalry,
about 10000 strong. and of no mill AIRY
value. The total land army on peace foot
ing is about 100000. The army as
whole has no unity or cohesion; there is no
discipline: the drill is mere physical exer-
else; the weapons are long since obsolete,
and there is no transport. commissariat or
medical service