Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-20
CHINA'S FIGHTERS
Lord Charles Beresford's Observations
on the Celestial Armies.
GOOD RAW MATERIAL FOUND
Corrupt Administration One of the
Crying Evils.
MANY KINDS OF ARMS
NJ ANY KINDS OF A RM S

Much valuable information about the Chi
nese armies is contained in Lord Charles
Beresford's book The Breakup of Chi
na." published last year by the Harpers- 1t
was in the form of the report made by the
famous English sailor-statesman to the
chambers of commerce of London, for
which he toured China in the interests of
the maintenance of the Open-door policy
The following extract relates to the land
forces of the empire:
No one knows the real strength of the
Chinese armies-not even the Chinese gov
ernment itself.
The military forces divided: some are
Manchu and some are Chinese. The Manchu
forces are quite exclusive, no Chinese serv-
ing in their ranks. but the Chinese forces
have some Manchus among them
The armies in the north and about Pekin
are nearly all commanded by Manchu
princes The Manchu armies are supposed
to be 1fo.UD strong, but there is no Manchu
army efficient either in drill. discipline or
organization throughout the empire. The
ManChu force is divided and quartered in
most of the big towns throughout China.
such Marking. Hangchow. Foochow.
Canton and other places. All the Msnchu
armies under the command of Manchu
or Tartar generals They have consider
able privileges over and above those al
lowed to the Chinese. Every Manchu,
whether in the army not. is supposed to
be given his rice and three taels month
by the government. If not belonging to the
army. he is liable to be enrolled if required.
Nobody knows the amount of imperial tax
alton that is devoted to pay the Manchus.
Il Is variouSly computed from fl 900
10 :3,toO.WO sterling. Like other sums in
the hands of the government. most of the
money finds its way into the pockets of
the officials and is not expended intend
ed The viceroys of the provinces have no
command authority over Manchu armies
commanded by Manchu generals. The Man
chu generals have considerable rights in
the provinces where they are quartered
over Manchu subjects.
4 Complex system.
All the armies in the provinces are MAIN
tanned at the expense of the viceroys. with
the exception OF Manchu garrisons In the
province of Chilli. General Yuan Shi ka!'s
army and the imperial armies at and
around Pekin are maintained by the board
of revenue out of imperial taxes. These
state-pald imperial armies are no. supposed
to be sent away from the vicinity of Pekin.
Every soldier throughout the empire is
supposed 10 receive :; taeIs - shiliings)
month There are different sys TENS in every
province and i'll every army to pay. food
and clothing. In some armies The men are
paid 20 feed and clothe themselves. In other
armies they fed and clothed. This mat
ter IS left entirely in the hands of the
general commanding As the generals. like
all authorities in China, only have nOIni-
nal salary, they make large profits or
squeezes during their command. In order
20 report an instance. | questioned one of
those in command when in Pekin.- He in
formed me that he commanded 10000 men.
/ ascertained all that he actually COM
manG-d was sea. His method is common to
China. He receives the money to pay and
feed and clOthe 10000 men If his army was
TO be inspected he hires coolies a. 200 cash
t5i2 pence a day to appear on parade. This
i well known to the inspecting officer but
he receives a dOuceur to report that he has
inspected the army and has found it in
perfect order.
but when once a man has Joined it, it is
difficult, if not impossible. to leave it.
A Review.
On October %, 1898. / went to Hsiao
Chan 70 visit General Yuan Shi Kai, and
10 attend a review Of his troops l stayed
two days and one night with the general
and during that time l not only saw all
his troops paraded and maneuvered. but
had ample opportunity TO examine the
equipment Of all their arms. also visited
The stores, clothing and provisions made
myself acquainted with the confinement
OF each regiment. AMI went carefully
through the monthly pay sheets of the
NOE srFny- | have every delSil connected
with the establishment and maintenance of
this force.
The strength Of the army was 400 men
mostly Shantuns men. These and the
soldiers In China General Yuan Shi kai
Is Chiuaman. and his army is composed
Of Chinese. The infantry were armed with
NauSer ritie=-tierman make He had ten
slN-gun batteries Of artillery of different
calIbers, throwing from One-pound to six
! round projectiles. The cavalry were armed
with lanceS and Nauser infantry rifle On
paFSde the whole force appeared an ex-
cepti"nally smart body Of men Of extreme
" hne physique. They were evidently well
fed.and their uniforms were serviceable and
pf he
In an ordinary Chinese dress with a large
badge sewn on in front and rear AT NV
request the general put them through vari-
Gus pdrdde movements. and then carried
OUT rnaneuvers in the surrounding conn
Try winch proved TO me that both officers
and men were thoroughly conversant with
their duties Their discipline was excel
lent With the exception of the artillery
and the Maxims. all equipment was service
able and efficient l suggested to the gen.
tral 10 practically test the equipment of
The artillery and Maxims by calloDinp
them over some rough ground. The result
was I" prove conclusively that the eauip-
rlent was useless.
An Intelligent Officer
1 found the general most energetic and
Intelligent. and a we,I-informed and we'll
educated man. He is also a thoroupbIv
patriotic Chinaman, and most loyal to the
dynasty He expressed genuine anxiety
as to the future of his country and was
quite OF opinion that unless she undertook
some measure for her own preservation
nothing could save her falling to pieces.
He said. now that China was weak. all
Europe, while processing the most sincere
s1"d VIII toward her. was Selling portions
of the empire under cover of naval ana
military demonstrations. / asked the gem
"ral II ne could make any suggestion that
would be for the benefit Of China and AT
the same time one which European conn
Tries would assent to. The general an
swcred chat no proposal that the Chinese
would eli he .
the European powers: that the Chinese
would naturally make proposition for the
maintenance Of the empire. while E,uroDean
countries showed by their actions that they.
wished 70 split up the empire and divide il
among themselves.
The general was very sympathetic with
regard 20 the question of recognizing the
Chinese army as one imperial army bur
thought that the command and the finance
should be entirely N thc hands of the Chi
iese. even il foreign officers were en-
pioyed.
II all the Chinese generals were like Gen
Yuan Shi Kai the armies ard the financial