The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-07-06
The Chinese Army.

The powers that are now engaged in
the endeavor to suppress the boxers re-
bellion In China Gun place little reliance
upon the native troops OF the country.
,"They are worse than useless" Is the
unanimous verdict of everyone who has
had any experience with them. c. E.
Fripp. an English newspaper artist who
visited China after the war with Japan,
has given some striking sketches of the
undisciplined rabbia which forms the
bulk Of the Chinese army Perpetual
complaints about the unruly behavior
Of the soldiers are left unattended by
the, officials, who, in their apathy are
stupidity reckless Of consequences, or.
what is not improbable, are afraid OF
their own mec.
NEARLY every morning." wrote Mr.
Fripp at the time. ''varied reports of
firearms, in sufficient regularity to indi-
cnte some intention in the discharges.
used to emphasize the necessity Of ris-
ing. This ring was part Of the exer-
else which a battalion went through
regularly. The exercise of the hattal-
ion--part armed with muzzle, part
with observation-disclosures in the genu-
Inc Chinese style. With great parade
OF flags, Of which they had thirty-one
in line, standing two deep. one flag
bearer to six musketeers. Eleven flags
stood some thirty PAGES in the rear of
the line, two large ones III the center
and one planted fifty yards in front of
the center. Two officers stood facing
the front of the line reur 4 drummer
and a gongsman. the former with his
instrument on stand.
The battalion having gone through
some volley firing by SECTIONS of six
men each, regulated by the lowering of
the furled' flag" the drummer gave
signal, the flags were unfotdcd and the
variously cQstumed soldiery wandered
OF in q single file In kind OF panto-
mime circular countermarch. at the
conclusion OF which line formation In
single rank was assumed. Battalion"
rolleys were then fired. the furled flags
lowered and the bearers pranced out.
going through u queer bit Of lance ex-
etcise. characterized by q skip and ca
compunied by a shout when delivered.
This seems TO have been intended as q
comic interlude while the musketeers
went through the serious business of
loading. nrd was repeated between each
voiiey until the drum again gave the
signal for the pantomime counter
march,. On Reforming the line COM
menced Tile firing to the tap Of the
drum, single shots running up the rear
and down the front rank, the latter
kneeling TO fire. The walk round was
formed, circular groups of six muske-
teers formed round each flag in the
line, and. moving round tho flag bear
er. each man discharged his rife as he
came TO the front, re-loading as he cir
cf2d. This concluded the show, and the
performers marched off in single file,
executing maze" and the drummer,
who had regulated everything with his
taps, disappeared with his companion.
the gonSsmun, who seemed to have
chimed In whenever he thought It
would sound WELL
One would have thought that the ig-
nominous defeat OF the Chinese would
have led to an Improvement In the mil
itnry methods .of the celestlais. But
such does not appear to have been the
case, for this correspondent adds:
ut may be that 30 detailed an &C
count as the above will prove wearisome
to wade through but give It so that
anybody capable of judging may learn
what kind Of nonsenical performances
nre still being taught the Chinese SOL
dIery us a preparation for the next
combat with modern weapons. I also
had reason to witch some artillery eS-
erCIse. The guns were small modern
Krupps. not horscd, but manned with
drag ropes. Each gun was accompan-
led by n huge flag to enable the enemy
to find his position. Sometimes the
guns were aimed, blank cartridges be-
ing fired, and followed by great wav
ing OF flags. The whole detachment
was too crowded and offered n splendid
target"
T. F. T.
Mrs. Whitemnn's Business.