The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-07-18
CHINA'SWEAKNESS.
Sending for Modern Arms on Very
Limited Resources q
HAsIWO sETs.O . .ARsENALs.
celestials Not Likely to be Fornida-
BILE Foes-only Been Equipped In
the Past Two z ears-Views Of tn.
Informed. #,

WASHINGTON, D. c.tJuiy l7.-Ths.
absorbing topic in military circles to-
day was the power Of China TO carry on
n protracted war. Quite a number have
an idea that the celestial empire has
great resources and that shetwill prove
TO be a most formidable enemy when
fighting begins on a large scale.
This view Of the situation has been
brought about because nfIa lack of
knowledge of conditions in China, rath-
er than because OF any positive infor-;.
nation. The Ereat empire is still an,
unknown quantity even 70, those who
are bes, informed on Its conditions and
resources. Misunderstood that the bu-
reau OF military Information Of the war
department Is greatly lacking IN. any:
definite idea of what therG Chinese army
really consists Of. -
Indeed It's very form OF organization
Is but poorly understood Generalities
are known and but little else. There is
not that thorough understanding OF the
question that would allow one to Judge
something Of the military capability of
the Chinese people. Theemllitary bu-.
reau is now engaged in the, preparation
OF a map Of China for military pur-
poses. but it is not likely that this map
can be completed within ajrnonth.
Weakness Of China.
Men who know China well and who
have lived In that country are not in
clined TO give credence t9:ttSs wild spec
ulations over the military possibilities
of China In war 10 be carried on In
the near future. They declare that.
while China would be enormously pow
erful with an unlimited stare OF arms
and ammunition and wtth2isurh disci-
plfAe as her troops, might secure by
vigorous action during dstesm of FIVE or
ten years. yet that country is now
helpless because Of lack of discipline
and, the possession Of a very limited
amount Of arms. They believe that the
Chinese being something Tuf mystery
themselves. are able 10 impress the SEN
sational mind with an indescribable
power, yet they have no. confidence in
the naturalization of any: such power
in the near future. st!,
There has been good deal Of exag-
geration in regard 10 Chinais ability 10
manufacture her own arms The fact
is that SO far as is known TO well-in-
formed men here there were but two
sets of arsenals in China FOR the manu-
facture Of arms before the present war
Ike movement broke out:oEzTheir ar
senals were located near Tier Tsin and
near Canton. The Tien Tsin arsenals
have been destroyed and now only those
shops al Canton are in operation.
machinery Was Imported.
The fact is pointed out that China
has manufactured arms OF modern type
only by the use of machinery imported
into that country, and thatawhen her
plants are destroyed she Wl be help.
less to continue the making-of modern
arms. If she is able TO copy the ma
chinery that has been set mp in these
factories and to duplicate Hselsewhere
she will surprise those who are best in
formed in regard to her resources.
The people who take this view OF
China and her power TO carry on a war
backed alone by her own-resources do
not at MI underestimate the1possbility
OF that people when properly Instructed
and with sufficient time 10 learn mod
ern ways. But they assert that only
during the last couple OF years has
there been any effort 10 Introduce these
modern methods, and they declare that
in that time no people a5id become
proficient in an art which has taken
other nations a generation&tn perfect.
ctina's Best Army.
The fact that the Chinese troops out
side Of ten Tsin have POSSESSED mod
ern arms and under military discipline.
has little effect on the view taken by
those who do not BELIEVE thut China
possesses any great military strength.
They believe that Throughout the vast
empire there is probably up-pther army
equal to that now being used outside of
Tien TsIn. Men who take this view of
the situation believe thata serious mis-
take may be made by the powers in re-
ga-ding China as really well prepared
FOR defenss and allowing themselves TO
proceed too cautiously They believe
that vigorous action on the part of a
comparatively small force win show
better results than are generally cx-
pected.