Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-21

pointed to the way Gcnghis and Kublai
Kahn and other MongolianS overran Europe
seven or eight centuries ago.
Now, as a matter of fact. seven or eight
centuries ago China was at her best and
Europe was at her worst. The methods Of
modern warfare had not yet been evolved,
and the people who We're the best horsemen
could shoot best with the bow, throw the
spear with the greatest force and accu-
racy, and at the same time besiege cities
for the longest periods. were most likely to
win, and as all these things were right in
line with the accomplishments of the Mon
golian, they were able to do what they did
toward the subjugation of a large part of
Asia-especially the less civilized portion
| and at the same time frighten a large part
of Europe.
The Chinese Army.
From the first we who have lived in
China have had no confidence in the
Chinese army. There are practically no
good men, in it. 1t is little less than a
combination Of thieves, rascals, beggars
and hoodlums. They know nothing about
discipline; they know nothing about the
arts Of war; they know nothing about in
ternational courtesy. the taking care of the
sick and the wounded; they know nothing
about either paying or dressing their SOL
diers in a way which is calculated to de-
velop either patriotism or Self-reSpect. And
as they are practically without a national
| emblem they have no "old glory which
makes the chills run over you and fills
your throat you see it carried by the
sons daughters of old veterans who
died for the old flag" Nobody ever heard
of Chinese soldier who was ready to die
for the flag. He may fight because he
hates the enemy, or because there is the
hope of plumber, but he knows nothing
about the love your enemy principle in
time of war, if, indeed, he does in time Of
peace.
When I say this about the Chinese SOL
der let it be understood that 1t is with the
greatest possible respect and admiration
for the Chinese character and people. They
are a literary and not warlike people
They are not drivers of the sword, but of
the quill-or more properly, the brush
They are the originators of everything that
has thus far come from eastern Asia which
has contributed to oriental civilization
War brutalizes. but the Chinese produc-
lions have contributed to the development
of the arts of peace
A Peaceable People.
The Chinese are therefore a peaceable
people. Save in their great family squabbIes,
which can scarcely be termed civil wars,
they have never conquered anybody. They
have been repeatedly conquered-frst by
the Mongols, then by the Manchus-but
while they are thus conquered in battle
they at once settle themselves to swallow,
absorb. masticate, digest, anything you
please to call it. their conquerors, and In
hundred years there was not enought Mon
gols left to shake a stick at They have
been doing the same with the Manchus
until at present the Manchu is emascu-
lated, opium-besotted nobody, who Is ready
to be vomited back on his own mountains,
woods and plains, where he can live on
bears. fish and fowls. Among al the great
statesmen of China you will look in vain
for a great Manchu statesman. There have
been those who were influential, but 1t was
either because of their station or their re-
lationships and not because Of their states
'manship. When you study the history Of
81, pfrax Ind hof har CT af
men as well as her leaders in war are Chi
nese though no Chinese general can be
looked upon great save when compared
with others of his own nationality.
Story of n Fight.
The following incident will indicate the
character of these great generals
they appeared at the beginning of the Chi
ese-Japanese war: When a certain general
was about to go over to drive the Japanese
out of Corea he was asked if he knew the
geography of Corea. Geography of Corea!
said he. What do care about the geog-
raphy of Corea? l will just go over there
and have two or three engagements with
them and that will be the end of it. There
is no use of my bothering myself about the
geography of the country"
AS matter Of fact. he went over and
had the engagements. but the result was
not what he had predicted. One of his SOL
diers who was laid up in the hospital after
his reutrn explained what happened. He and
the others In most OF the hospitals were
shot In the back. and when the doctors
asked how that happened the reply was
about as follows:
1.-The Japanese" said this soldier, came
at us as though wild. We shot down those
| who were in 'front.' but Just as soon as a
man fell in the front ranks some one from
the next line would take his place. You
can't fight people that way. When we shot
down those who took the others place some
one else would come and fill up the ranks,
and on they would come. You can't do any
| thing with people of that kind. They did
not know when they were whipped. Some
body had to run. and as they would not we
did, and then they shot US in the back