Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-04
Land Forces Divided Into Two Dis
tinct Branches.
STANDARD
Generals Use Textbooks of Gen.
turtles Ago.
G RAND REVIEW S

Statfsicians, says Mr.. Gorst of Edfn-
burgh, Scotland, whose work on China is
the latest book issued on that subject, are
quite as much at sea regarding the nunleri-
cal strength of the Chinese army as they
are In regard to the population Of the en-
plre. The land forces, he says, are divided
into two distinct branches. In the first
place, there are the Manchu troops or Eight
Banners, which are stationed for the most
part in Manchuria. A corps of specially
picked men about 1900 strong forms the
imperial guard in Pekin, and Manchu gar
r1sons are maintained throughout the eight
cen provinces for the purpose of repress-
ing any inclination on the part of the Chi
nese to conspiracy and rebellion. Nominal
ly the Eight Banners consist of from 100000
to ooo,&O men, but third of that esti-
mate more probably represents the actual
force under arms. Secondly, there are the
provinc1an troops, which are known as the
Army OF the Green Standard. Who can
presume to number them in the face of
the conhicting estimates. varying from
3oo,SOO to 100000. which have from time to
time been put forward by different author
itiesf These forces are little more than a
KIND or local gendarmerie, whose functions
are limited to keeping the peace among the
populations of the various provinces. When
there is real business to be done the
braves are called out, and they form the
miscellaneous rabble with which Europe
has become familiar during the latter part
of this century
1t is we'll known, says Mr.. Gorst, that the
Chinese genarals military text books,
some of which were compiled centuries be
fore the Christian era. In the opinion of a
distinguished British officer who has had
great experience of the fighting capacity
of the Chinese the latter would have done
far better in the Japanese war had they
been armed with weapons which were IA
millar to them instead of these defective
ornaments of foreign manufacture. for the
use Of which the majority of them had re-
ceived no sort of training. were thrust into
their hands at the last moment
Familiar With Fundamentals.
The Chinese are by no means unacquaint-
ed with those fundamental principles of
practical warfare, without the aid of which,
whether it he question of maneuvering
the modern machinery of war or OF hand
ling antiquated battalions Of archers. no
campaign be successfully undertaken.
But all the strategy In the world will not
help bows and arrows to prevail against
Maxim guns and repeating rifles. This Is
lesson which the Chinese have learned over
and over again, hut pride, official dishon-
eSty, and obstinate conservatism have
proved obstacles SO vast that practically
no Roadway has been made against them.
Yet. as early as 1871. when the first col
Ision with Il European. power occurred, the
parable superiority of western military and
naval organizations, Numbcrless instances
are on record of the magnificent bravery
displayed by some, Of the Chinese and
Manchu troops during the opium war, and
the English were lost in admiral ton at the
indomitabe pluck with which men, most
of whom were absolutely new to modern
engines of destruction, and who were re-
ceiving their first real baptism of fire. stood
up with their Anticipated and useless weal-
pons against the leadcn storm poured upon
them by their antagonists. But in spite of
these examples OF heroiS'n, no serious stand
could be made against the Europeans For
the most part the soldiers We're mere rab-
BILE, who broke away and ran for their
lives soon the first shot had been
fired. The arms and ammunition possessed
by the Chinese were practically useless and
the coast Notifications totally inef-
ficient to resist the artillery which was
brought to bear upon them.
COnceit and Infntuation.
Even the capture of Pekin by the allied
forces in 1860 failed to pierce the thick
hide of official conceit and infatuation al
though II was a repetition, with more pro-
ncunced results of the many European les
sons which had been incucated on former
occasions The land forces of the Anglo
French expedition consisted of IL 900 men,
and out of this total only eighteen were
lest the way to the capital. Some years
later. when General Gordon crushed the
TAPPING rebellion with his small but ever
victorious army. Ii Hung Chang at least
began to grasp the necessity of military re-
form. But subsequent events have shown
how little could be accomplished. even by
China's greatest statesman. against the
prejudices and conservatism Of the official
class.
The chaos and dsorganization Of the Chi
nese army are accounted for by an array
of more or less obvious defects in the entire
military system, and 1t Is plain that unless
the most modern methods are adopted by
the Chinese they cannot hope to hold their
own against Japan or the militant nations
of the west. The Chinese army Is really
composed of laborers and peasants who
give their spare moments. If they have any
to military exercises. One of the conse-
quences of this Is that when body of
troops has to be moved from one place to
another there is immense delay caused
by the necessity of each soldier first going
home to prepare his outfit and to arrange
about the support of his family or, 1t may
be, to hire substitute. In addition to lack
of adequate pay, must be taken into ac-
count the absence of any sort of reward or
pension for long service, and the fact that
provision or compensation Is made for
wounded soldiers for the families of
those who have lost their lives in the ser
vice of their country. better class of SOL
dier is attracted in times of war by the
offer of higher pay and the added prospect
Of plumber and prize money.
Thorough Drill Impossfble.
stances out of the question, and the exer-
cises which are INDUCED in are better cal
culated to develop a body of muscular ath-
letes than an army of trained soldiers
Playing catch with heavy stones shooting
arrows at straw dummies when at full gal
lop, marching on parade, blowing calls or
signals. bawling words of command. are
the chief items of drill in the Chinese army.
There is little target practice because 1t is
considered waste of money to expend DOW
der and shot in times of peace: and vet. in
the opinion Of a late German instructor, the
Chinese are very promising shots. being
phlegmatic and possessed of excellent sight
Proper military maneuvers do not take
place, but there are occasional grand re-
views in the provinces when an imperial
inspector of forces from Pekin paws a visit
of inspection. Huca gives an amusing ac-
count of a review (which he Witnessed in
the province of HupehH The soldiers were
armed with guns. bows. pixies sabers. pitch
forks and saws fastened to the end of a
long handle, we'll as rattans shields and
iron culverins: and every man carried in
addition fan and a pipe. At one extrem-
ty of the field there was raised on a slight
elevation of the ground. a platform shaded
by immense parasui and ornamented
with banners. streamers and some large
lightened lanterns that did not seem to he