Evening star., 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 ARM S


Much valuable information about the Chi
- - - -, -
SS - ''''dIi''u III t-'tu 'l'ai-SS
Beresf"rds book. The Break-Cp of Chi
na." published last year by the Harpers. 1t
WAS in The form of tb. ranor+ r,,ada h1- the
9. - -
i'S .t>i >'''- hit'" Gu t'ie
SHd1hPeiS OF commerce OF I-ondon, Tor
which he toured China in the interests of
the maintenance Of the open-door policy
TIL ffr,,-=,, ,,--- ,,,. =. .h 1,,d
'' ~ ~
io'ceS Oh ihe empire
No one knows the real strength of the
Chinese armies-not even the Chinese gov
ernment Itself.
me Hil'drE FORCES are dlF!ded' some are
MaHchu and some are Chinese The Manehu
forces are quite exclusive. no Chinese serV-
lhS IN ther ranks, but the ChiheSe forces
nave some ManchuS among then-
me armies II the hor'h anu ABOUT fekh
dIe A5arE a.. Commanded pE Mahciu
P.-i'Fs- ne hlhcLu arr are SuHpO-t'd
20 De l'lH" stcDiis. but mere Is no MiiAchu
"FIhS tHltieh' tilh'T IN dri!4' u4sc!pi4he OF
o:SdiZa- ION throuehDut the empire ne
Mahchu lofce Is dINlded ana quaftertd IN
HloS' oA S4e Dc TOWNS thiouShou. Nni'id'
sutH d. NaHh!le- ftitScnOW FolciioN
canton anu other places All the Mahcau
ainnIeS are unutr the command OF Manchu
"r idr,ar generals lheE nave consider
ape privileges over ana above those al
p"tI 20 me ChlaeSe- Every Mahchu'
NfttieF IN the army or not Is supposed 20
, bg SLHen n.S IIcT dliu tn.e5 tdelS d !llo.isn M
pS nlt NJ II ilot e 10 tie
ny i' - lihplS TO ne en- "i-tu IL reqI'tied-
-\yp'NE hii!"> tiie amount oi ilhieLIdi tdA-
4si.h ,iiii i ueFo''u 10 pay the 4Ma~hcnuS, menus
/ Is NS..ou@IN computed as from tl'''"'W"
-. S-'''N,''" StefltilS- Like other sums IN
l3e hahiS OF the government most OF the
iA'feE nEdS rs way INTO the pockets OF
lile nH'c!a!S ana : nui expended as intend
ed- Inc N!CerENS OF the provinces nave no
cIIinlaiftd hE Mahchu generals Inc Man
emu generals nave considerable rights IN
The rT9yinGes H1aS ,,sIt Where they are quartered
over iaASAu SooJects-
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 Chihli. General Yuan Shi kai's
army and the imperial armies at and
around Pekin axe maintained by the board
q revenue out of imperial taxes. These
siate-4@ld imperial armies are MOI supposed
- "e sent away from the vicinity OF fekil-
Every suLdlef thToushrdt the empire l.
supposed 70 receive ) tatls @ shiiIng~)
month There are different systems in every
pi@Nlnce ana IN every army as 10 pay loou
and clothing In some armies the men are
pAld 70 ITtu ana cIotAe themselves. In other
armies they are fed and clothed This mat
Ter Is lett eHtlrely in the hands of the
general commanding As the generals, like
ha! salary they make large profits or
SqutezeS during their command. In order
:" report an instance, | questioned one OF
those in command when in Pekin. He in
formed me that he commanded 1onpJ men
1 aScertained all that he actually
manded was so His method is common to
China He receives the money TO pay and
Iced and ctothe lu.'sh men If his army was
20 ne inspected he hires coolies at 2'n cash
t"i= pence day 10 appear on parade. This
ts well known to the inspecting officer. but
receives a h4r he h.ss
Inspected the army and has found il in
perfect order
Inv army l. entirely voluntary service.
but when once man has Joined it, ii is
difficult, if not impossible. to leave il.
J. Rcxiev
~, r,...r - CO.
'H 'St'"rF "a 1888 went 70 Hslao
Chan - visit General Yuan Shi ka!, and
10 attend a review of his troops. | STAYED
-u-a ,1a,s and ono ,,i,,b. ,,-i,b ~. -
- WIN NV Seiei a.
anu curing tha' uhe not only saw al!
MS troops paraded and maneuvered. but
had ample opportunity to examine the
euu!pu1ent of all their arms aisG vis,,.,
ne stores. clothing and provisions. made
Of Zach rs%irier+ nd
through the monthly nav sbcats nf ,bs
whole army. I have every detail connected
with the establishment and maintenance Of
ms ms Tore
r,,nIrrv s,4,'s ''p a. 1T '.4on men
Euuancse are repor.ed 10 make ths hnl+
soldiers in China. General Yuan Shi Kai
l. thinaman and his army is composed
81 'h!htSt. The infantry were armed with
MauSer rIheS-'ierman make. He had ten
siN-gUn batteries Of artillery Of different
csi!btrS- throwing from nne-pdUnd to SIX
round pr"Iecu.5S- The cavalry wers- armed
T!th IancTS a1d MauSer infantry rife. ON
Faratr the whole force appeared AN ex-
c"p;"naily smart body Of men Of extreme
y fine pAysique. They were evidently well
f's'l. and their uniforms were srrviceabl, and
w%il kept Al0=- Of tn. armies are clothed
IL an ordinary Chinese dress. with Il large
badge Sewn on in front aai rear At nv
request the general UUt them through vari-
.1t.- p@r@fc mD:rncuis. and then carried
'Ur m&ueavers in the surrounding co,I.l-
t.y which proved = ne that I,,;h onic.rs
and mrH We're thoroughly CuuvcrSant with
'H-!r duties Their discipline was excci-
I"ri- Win IN" exc utipl If the artillery
"H1 the MaSiTns. all equipment was service
3S-r AMI oihc.tn;- ] suggested 10 the gen
eTaI - practically test tn equipment Of
h .lj--y and AIlxiin- BY aaIIopiu..