The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-06-19

For the first time in the history OF the
empire China is to have an army For
thousands of years men have lived ana
died in the Celestian Kingdom. From
time to time they have entered upon wars
and have fought battles with other
nations. and until recent times they nave
been victorious. Race upon race has felt
the might of China, and has succumbed
to its superior force, SO that. until few
years ago the Chinese felt that they were
a people who could know no defeat
Suddenly however, they were brought
into touch with civilization, and 1t was
then that they discovered that the world
had moved on and hac lett them lat
behind Several times they were forced
To defend themselves and always win
serious consequences, and finally Tue mat
Ter was taken up for sober consideration.
The Chinese are a peculiar people ihHF
are slow in the adoption OF lnifoFalloilS'
but the man who sets them down as d
.,aa.ol OF tous has intsjudged tnis 1e01:e.
Long before the world a; large realized
that China was not in a fit condition TO
be pitted against the other great NATIONS
the military leaders OF the country knew
that there We're troubles upon this score
that might we'll be anticipated. IL Il
measure they attempted TO prevent these
occurrences. and did eTeryfhinS N 'ie1r
power TO offset the results thal ttieS hhe"
to be almost inevitable.
In spite of all this, however, there was
really nothing that could be done some
few changes might be made, but they
were of an unimportant character, anu
would have but little effect upon the
army. What was needed was a complete
reorganization OF the national forces. anu
to accomplish this the consent OF the
l.,mrresS must first be obtained II was
this that was the rub
LONG NEEDED
For several years, therefore, the prom
nent officials of China have been urging
the necessity of this move upon me
Empress They have presented evidences
TO show that there Is scarceiS hatioi ,
an the word that is SO poorly equipped
for warfare. and that there are no coun-
-r;es in which the soldiers are so poorly
4ittea for services that they are supposed
to be always ready TO perform. IN TACT
they have painted the most disnal picluie
of China's helplessness, ana thes nave
finally persuaded the woman in power 10
nav heed to their remarks. AS the result,
the first steps have actually been taken,
ond If nothing comes forward TO prevent
+be completion of the work, 1t VIII not
ha many years before China will have
military force that will be credlt 10
the country
To accomplish this 1t will be no simple
matter, for the Chinese have never yet
,toy have never fought a battle in accord
ance with modern methods. When they
fought the English their arms were not
6lss;,n;Isr to those that the English them
selves had used more than 200 years
before. for even their bows and arrows
were more effective than their primitive
firearms.
Whatever may be said in relation to the
ecuinr,ent of the Chinese army. however,
there is one charge that cannot be
brought against it. It certainly is most
picturesque. The banners that they are
s.il CARRYING bear representations of
green dragons and other creatures Of ter
rlh,e appearance.
In the latest war it was also customary
for the soldiers TO carry huge umbrellas.
and many Of the soldiers also had coiored
pendants attached to their persons. Their
shields were also painted in the brightest
calors. and with pictures OF the most
alarming things that man could imagine.
and with these before them and their
umbrellas over them. they Went INTO bat
re with a tremendous beating of gongs
and shoutings. In fact, they seemed to
think that the more noise they made the
mere chance there would be of striking
terror to the heart Of the enemy.
DUMMY ARMAMENT.
While the equipment OF the Chinese army
has been out of date SO long that the
~,
the methods of warfare followed are even
more ridiculous. For instance. it was
not long ago that they attempted to bar
one of their rivers With a malSe-believe
steamer. having funnel and smoke. but
no engine: and. on another occasion. a
huge fort was armed With wooden cannon
of tremendous calibre. which could not,
OF course, be fired. In other words, up
to within comparatively short time. the
f>,,frese army has been nothing more or
less that medieval organization. For
centuries matchlocks. gingals. bows and
arrows, spears and lances have been its
only weapons. II this fact Is remen-
bered. the Chinese army is almost unrec-
ognizable to-day. Many bodies OF tbs
troops have a'readS been drilled and
armed In European fashion, and they
have been fully Instructed as to the use
" tie foreign army with which they have
been supplied.
Day after day the work of drilling is
being carried on. and other technical
,aHs der ha In fvI,ct