The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-25
CHINA's MILITARY STRENGTH.
Army i'm had Condition md Forts In
capable of Defense or Offense.

capable of Defense or Offense.
NEW YORK, June 24.-Edwin wildman,
former United States vice consul at Hong
Kong, says in a copyrighted article in
the Journal: "China has shown her teeth.
The great inert mass of Orientals is not
lifeless after all. AS the foreign devil
approaches her capital. she arouses herself
from her drugged sleep and prepares to
strike back. Her activity has startled the
powers Fifty warships are plowing
through Asatic waters to check her muir
derous designs. Ninety thousand troops
are being rushed with feverish haste to-
ward the turbulent province of Pe-Chi-Li,
where Peking. the capitals is situated, and
where the mouth of the empire, the Gulf
of Pe-Chi-Li, opens.
"China can expect nothing from her
navy What, then, does her army offer?
To begin WITH China is dominated by q
foreign army 100000 strong. The Manchus
garrison the empire. They ride highland
ed over the Chinese and are commanded
by Tartar generals. Very little loyalty
could be expected from the Chinaman If
enforced to enlist.
1.-The entire army system is corrupt.
Revenues collected to support the garri-
sons have been diverted and divided be-
tween the generals in command and the
viceroys of the provinces. 1t is probable,
therefore, that in the entire Chinese en-
pire there is not equipment for body of
troops exceeding 100000, and even for that
number it is questionable.
General Yuan Shi Kai has 10000 men.
They are the best body of troops in the
empire and are now intrenched between
Peking and Tien-Tsin- In the hunting
park, outside of the walled city of Peking,
is encamped Prince Ching's field force of
10000 picked men. Outside the walls of
Peking are General Tung Flu Chan's No
hammedans, a badly-drilled and murder
GUS rabble, 1900 strong. These are the
troops that have menaced the European
element in Peking for some time, and are
the ones who have endangered the lives of
the foreign element.
North from Peking, swinging around
the shore back from the Gulf of Pe-Chi-
Ii, is General Sung's force of 10000 men.
General Mich is close to Tien-Tsin with
Is 900 men. These troops are the ones who
caused Admiral Seymour's return. They
are drilled by German officers and are
armed with Mauser rifles. In Manchuria
are 1900 men, drilled and fairly well
armed, commanded by General vi Ke
Tong.
lone of the most formidable forces in
China is composed of the feudal armies
of Mongolia. who are allied to the Empress
dowager and the Manchu dynasty. The
force consists of separate commands of
cavalry. numbering some 100000. command
ed by native princes. They are loyal to
their feudal lords, but fight without pay
and would unite against a common enemy
Scattered down the coast and along the
Hoang-Ho and Yang-Tse rivers are numer-
Gus arsenals and military camps. list
and location would give inadequate
idea, as the figures obtained are largely
based upon hearsay.
ut is known. however, that Ii Hung
Chang. at Canton, has at his command
over 10000 men, mostly Manchus. 1 have
visited the forts and garrisons there and
they are of the most antique and old
fashioned kind, totally untitled to make
resistance of any Importance The
Chinese forts are mounted largely with old
breechloading cannon. and every kind of
rife manufactured in the last half CEN
tury is used by her army. There are. in
some of the forts-at Taku, for instance
few Krupp guns. and in the Peking field
forces and scattered around among the
Manchu arsenals are some modern field
pieces and siege guns. but the equipment
in the face of a modern army is absolutely
ridiculous.
1.-The tottering old empire must rely. to
accomplish its avowed purpose of driving
a l.
hardly upon its army. but largely upon its
population. Once relieved of what little
restraint now holds them in check. this
long-suffering race will wreak a revenge
upon civilization and their own rulers that
will 'stagger humanity
1.-THE race for an empire that is now go
ing on in Asia is race for humanity. The
nation that storms Peking and strikes
blow at the barbarism and ignorance of an
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