Evening star., 1900-07-23
FORTS AND ARSENALS
China's Equipment for Providing Mu-
nitions of War.
SOME EXCELLENT MACHINERY
A Great Waste Observed by Lord
Charles Beresford.
l G. \ 0 r A Mt WORK MEN
l G. n O r A Mt WORK NJ E N

One OF the most interesting chapters of
Lord Charles Beresford's recent work.
The Break-Cp of China" relates to the
forts and arsenals Of the empire. He says
By permission of the viceroys 1 visited
over forty Of the forts and batteries which
form the coast and river defense of the
Chinese empire. At all these forts 1 asked
that the guns crews might man the guns
In order that their state of efficiency should
be tested. The guns were laid and trained.
and some Of them were fired. Some Of the
forts are immensely powerful. and few
guns crews knew how to handle the guns.
Physically, the garrisons throughout the
empire are splendid body of men.
The forts are armed with every conceiv-
able sort Of gun. most of the batteries with
Misunderstanding guns. the modern forts with
heavy modern breech-loading artillery of
the best description. Many of these guns
are made In the Chinese arsenals from
British and German patterns.
The viceroys asked me to write and say
what l thought OF the forts. This 1 did.
In one of these forts there was a heavy
battery of sixty-ton muzzle-oading guns,
which were loaded by depressing the muz-
out to the general the danger of this pro-
ceeding, and the likelihood. through care
less sponging. Of the magazine being
blown up.
Accidents.
The general congratulated me on nv acu-
men. and Immediately showed me where a
magazine had exploded a year before from
the same cause, and had been rebuilt for a
probable repetition of this accident which
cost no less than forty lives.
At another fort / asked to see the DOW
der used In the heavy guns. and was shown
some powder Of Chinese manufacture. 1
suggested that such was not suitable, and
might burst the gun. The general in com
mand replied: Yes. 1t does; we have lately
blown the breech off two twelve-inch fifty
ton krupp guns and killed and wounded
thirty men Before this conversation I had
observed In fort, some distance Off. two
twelve-inch Krupp guns fitted with Arm
strong mechanism. and on inquiring the
reason, had been informed that the breech
had been blown off. owing to the use Of
Chinese powder at exercise. These guns
had been beautifully converted at the
Shanghai arsenal.
1 spent much time in viewing these forts
in different parts Of the empire, and OBJ
tanning all details concerning them. 1 have
not entered into minute particulars, as I
have in regard to the armies since the
forts can have very little to do with the
security Of British trade and commerce in
the interior Of the empire. Nor would 1t
be courteous to those who asked me to
give an opinion upon them.
The Arsenals.
There are seven arsenals in the empire Of
China. They are at Tien Tsin. Shanghai,
Nankin. Hanyang Hankow). Foochow,
Canton and Chlng-tu.
visited all these arsenals except the
one at Ching-tu in Szechuan.
I made myself thoroughly acouainted
with the budget allowed for each arsenal
what they were manufacturing, the num-
Der of men employed. the European coun-
tries from which they had procured their
machinery and tools-in fact. everything
which concerned the management, equip
ment and work done in these arsenals.
The viceroys. when giving me permission
to visit them, asked me to write to them
and say what l thought as to their man
agement and efficiency. did this and re-
ceived very courteous letters in reply.
The Tien Tsin arsenal is under the mo-
vinctal government of the viceroy Of Chin
IL. Considerable expense must have been
incurred in fitting 1t up. The shops and
sheds are excellent. There is a hydraulic
cast up to 20 tons, and q good supply OF
furnaces. Siemens' process. There are also
l2-ton traveller and driving engine of
~ horsepower built at the arsenal While
! was there another driving engine of 13O
horsepower was in course Of CONSTRUCTION
Ihe tools are very good modern and az
a,rsn Sr,slsh or German manufacture. and in
ciuue everything necessary for the repair
and maintenance Of a squadron and also
for the construction Of small guns aaw
them making four 1eO-pound pressure cir
cular boilers. There Is enough snare roo,,,
in this arsenal to put up a plant to SUNNY
the whole Chinese army There ia daenn
water right up to the arsenal
scotch Manager.
Mr.. Stewart. a Scotchman, is in charpe
of this arsenal. 1t is wonderful what he
has achieved under the difficulties of Chit
nese management. The arsenal is under
the administration Of Chinese Official.
who receives $50 taels (about q pounds
sterling) month. A man at home In a
similar position would receive between
1000 and 5000 pounds a year.
With proper European management this