The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-05
THE NEW CHINESE ARMY.
A Professional Consideration of the
Possibilities.
From the, Army and Navy Journal

| From the. Army and Navy Journal.)
| Even with complete harmony existing
among the representatives of the powers
| the task before them is one of gigantic
1 dimensions. Under the li-advised tuition
| OF European tacticlans and drill masters
/ the CO nese Army is no longer the horde
of blind zealots that went to lettle against
I the japanese with parasols~ and yellow
fans. Perhaps the Yellow Empire has left
! the fan epoch forever behind it, Who
knows that the defeat by Japan and the
/ insults OF outside nations have not done
/ for Chinese spirit what rough contact with
the iron har3 OF Western civilization did
for Japan, arousing her from the sleep of
centuries and eleyating her, while the other
nations wondered The differences be-
tween the japanese and the Chinese char
acter are not sufficiently marked for one
to be able to say nogmatically that such a
sudden and passionate national awakening
may not be going on in China today The
yellow giant may be stirring in his sleep
and the prick of the European bayonets
may be the stimulus that he needs to
test his might and po-ser. II the accounts
that have so Ear reached us are to be be-
lieyed no nation has made more rapid
progress in the art OF war than has China
Japan did not take greater leap toward
the spirit of the age than has China in
the change that has been produced in her
army since the war with Japan a few years
ago Then her childishness on the field of
battle made her the laughingstock of the
world; today her display on the battle
field of courage and skill and all those
qualities that make a nation great have
challenged the admiration of the allies
as much as 1t has surprised them. Any
nation that can make such a stride as that
in those few short years has a power of
reform within itself that is capable of tre-
mendous achievements.
The war with Japan was war between
rulers in which the masses of China took
no particular interest. This contest is one
that goes down ~ the roots of their ma
lures. 1t has in it all the characteristics
of religious war. To the average China
man it will not be difficult to demonstrate
that the continued arrogance of the white
men in his territory is really an attack
upon his religion. and be the man white,
yellow, or black. the appeal to religious
feeling is the most potent call that can be
made to any nation. The unfortunate as
ISOLATION of the peaceful missionaries with
the present troubles has given a religious
aspect to the trouble and viii be used with
effect by the Chinese leaders in their eff
forts to arouse tho national hatred of for
eigners. We have but to remember some
OF the religious outbursts of our country
to know how deeply such appeals take
hold of population.
Fear that China might be swallowed by
Russia has impelled other nations to equip
her army with the latest weapons and
with ammunition sufficient to fit out an
army Of half a million men with artil-
lery. The Chinese have their own arse
nails. and, being naturally inventive and
initiative as well. they have not delayed
to turn out a large number of rifles and
guns, the exact number of which may
never be known. The large number OF
men. mostly young and quick-witted, who
have been trained and drilled by foreign
instructors are now forming the corps OF
officers and non-commissioned officers and
bringing TO the handling Of the forces