The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-07-21
Facts About Chinese Army.

ihlo liz iSiu W IeSlSt Tile dlllcQ forces
OF America and Europe? That is the
question most frequently asked, now
that the Chinese empire has apparently
decided to resist the further encroacll-
ment oil Western civilization by force OF
arms.
With a population OF 100000, 600
China. judged by European standards,
should be able to arm at least $4,000, 600
soldiers. AS a matter OF fact, however,
China's army, on Il peace footing, num-
bcrs 100000 men and on war footing
100000. These figures, OF course, are
estimates.
"Acco ''.g to the books" the ma
tional a-:.:iy OF China is divided into Is
corps, one for each province, and each
corps is under the immediate command
of the viceroy. The nominal strength
Of this national army is 100000 men,
but OF this number only 100000 are
available for war
The Tien Tsin army corps is the
most important, numbering $4,000 men.
These have been drilled by foreign off
GERS, and have modern arms and equip
ment
But the Chinese army as whole has
no unity or cohesion; there is no proper
discipline; the drill is merely physical
exercise; the weapons are obsolete, and
there is no transport, commissariat, or
medical service.
And yet, China spends immense sums
on this army. The same amount OF
money placed in ,the hands of cap
tain in the United States regular army,
with authority as commander-in-cl1i
would in five years give China an army
that might easily defy any force the
combined powers OF Europe could land
on her shores.
Lord Charles Beresford has in his
book given many details of the organi-
zation, personnel, equipment, and quail
tiles of the various Chinese armies. He
exposes the weakness OF the Chinese
military system in a single paragraph
There are different systems in every
province and in every army" he says,
"as to pay, food, and clothing. In some
armies the men are paid to feed and
clotllc themselves; in other armies they
are fed and clothed. The matter is left
entirely in the hands OF the general
commanding. AS the generals, like all
authorities in China, only have a NOM
inal salary, they make large profits or
squeezes.
In order to report an instance, l
questioned one OF those in command
He informed me that he commanded
10000 men. I ascertained that all he
actually commanded was Soo He re-
ceives the money to pay, feed, and
clotllc 10000 men,"
Here follows summary of Lord
Charles Bcrcsford's observations on the
different armies he inspected in China.
General Yuan Shi Kai has 7,4oo men,
the best soldiers in China, armed with
Mauscr rifles, with ten batteries OF six
guns each. Discipline excellent The
only honest general in China.
General Sungs army, 5000 at Kinc-
ton, 5000 at Chung-ho-so, and 1000 at
Shan Hal Kwan; we'll armed with Maui
scrs and Krupp artillery; drilled by Ger
man officers.
General Soon Ching's army OF 5000;
no drill; little discipline; poorly armed.
General Tung- Fu-Slang's army, 49,
900 Mohammedans; dsorderly, undis-
ciplincd, but good fighters; bitterly anti
foreign.
Gcneral Mich. $1,000 men, drilled by
German officers: we'll armed with Maui
scrs; discipline lax.
Pekn field force, 10000 men; we'll
armed indifferently drilled.
Cavalry camp at Kaiping, 1900 men;
drilled by Russians; short OF horses.
General Yi-Kc-Tong's army, $1,000
men: fairly armed; undrilled, undisci-
plined
General Chung Chi Tung, 5000 men,
with artillery and cavalry; armed with
Mauscrs and Krupp cannon; guns
drawn by men, not horses; cavalry in
efficient.
Viceroy, Lin Kwcn-Yi, 10000 troops.
armed with three kinds OF rifles; we'll
clothed, poorly drilled; no discipline.
Viceroy Tan-Chung-Lin, 10000 men,
mostly coolies: undrillcd; no discipline,
and many unarmcd.
During his visit to the different
armies Lord Charles Bcresford counted
in the ranks fourteen different varieties
of rifles, including three patterns Of
Mauscrs, Martini-Henry, Winchester.
Mannlicl,cr. Remington, Peabody
Henry, Sneider, Enfield, Tower MUS
kcts (smooth-bore), and Bcrdan There
were also muzzle and brcech loading
gingals. A gingal is rifle about nine
feet long, and when in action it is laid
across the shoulders OF two men, while
third fires it.
But ii China is deficient in troops, it
is not to be denied that the facilities for
arming them and supplying ammuni-
ton are ample Lord Charles Bcres-
ford visited the Chinese arsenals at