The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-22
CHINA'S NORTHERN ARMIES.
y Recent Japanese Estimate of Theil
Strength.

Japanese military expert, familiar
with conditions in the Celestial Empire.
gives the following estimate of the nu-
mericai strength of the Chinese armies
in the north. the situation of the troops.
and their leaders:
ut seems somewhat late in the day to
describe now the available forces of the
Chinese in the north. but in view OF the
great perplexity among outsiders on this
important question. the following latest
estimates abriged from the Osaka Mani-
chi may not be out of place. Our south
ern contemporaries estimates are based
on the letters received from its Pekin
correspondent some time prior to the pres
eht outbreak. and are prefaced by the re-
mark that both in respect to numerical
strength, arms used, and, We may add
training, the defence of northern China
has become markedly improved since the
time of the Japan-China war. and espec-
tally since Kang Yuwei's active attempts
two years ago
The backbone of the northern forces
is the Wuwei troops or Guards which are
sub divided into five divisions namely
the centre. van. rear. left. and right. all
of which with the exception of the first
which was only formed after the fracas
i'll question. had existed before. Their nu
merical strength the names of comman>
ders. ETC., are tabulated below:
Numerical
Names. Commanders, strength. Headquarier
Centre. Nung Lu. 10. 900 Suburb OF Pekin
VAN. Mich Tszcheng 1000 Lutai
Rear. .Tung Fuholang. 10000 Fungcow
Lett 80. Sung King. 600 Shanhaikan
Right. fuen Shikai.... 1900 Siaochau
~
iotai .........--....-.. 65OVj
THE five divisions number Sc 900 alto
gether. but. according to others. the total
strength is put at $500. follows Cen
tire. 10000; van, 10000; rear. $1,000; left.
$500; right 10000. Anyway the Guards
must number so, 0CO at least.
Then there are three independent ar
niles The first OF these is the HUI Shan.
otherwise called the Shank army, composed
of the cons and brothers of the Manchu
bannermen and forming the Imperial Body
guards. The estimates of the numerical
force of this army range between the two
extremes of 10000 and 5000. Next cones
the Wei army. of about 1900 strong, dis
tributed among the forts in Taku, Tient=in.
and elsewhere. The Chinese troops that
fought with the allies at Taku and Tientsin
must have come largely from this army.
The Lien army that follows next may be
regarded somewhat in the light of volcn
teer corps. composed as II is of young men,
recruited in the country. The troops are
distributed among Paoting-Fu. Tung Chow.
Tientsin, and ether places. and though they
number as many as 10000, they are sad 20
be backward in training and in discipline.
The above three independent armies may
be roughly estimated at 45 600 which. with
the FIVE guards divisions already described,
make up about $1,000.
There are also Lu-ying troops of 28,5O0
though they barely deserve the name of
troops-and the bannermen not formally
organized in the bodyguards may also be
mentioned in this onr,etion. Needless TO
say. of all the different forces thus far
enumerated, those under Generals Mich
and Yuen enjoy the greatest credit for
training and discipline