The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-07-23
CHINESE ARMY
PROGRAMMED
TT is SAID TO BE BECOMING FOR
MIDABLE.
About 100000 Men Who May Be
Called Upon to Fight Since 1900
Great Deal Has Been Done in
Equipping and Training the Troops.
BrooklYn Ea Gle


Chinese neutra1ityais something that
lies beyond the dfctum Of the En-
peror of China, and the recent attack
upon the Russian administrative force
near Port AdamsAthe Chinese being
led by no. lesser authority than the
proof Of the temper of the Celestials
near the borderland Of the present
struggle. Just how long imperial in
fuence may be able to hold the Chi
nese authorities and their retinues in
check is a matter for grave specula-
off their feet by JOY over Japanese
victories, Russia's problem will be a
sorely vexing one. indeed. te4
The Chinese army, per Sc, is prop
erly that force, nominally, Of 800, 600
men, descendants of the Manchu con-
termed the Eight ~ Banners. The
force is commonly maintained on a
footing of about 100000, and 40 per
cent. Of them are kept In northern
China and near the court Of Pektng.
The national army, called also the
Green Flags or the. Five Camps. IS an IN
independent organization or series OF
organizations. It is divided into
eighteen corps, one, for each province,
under the governor or governor gen
eral. The nominal strength Of this
force is nearly 100000, and Of these
the most important contingent Is the
Tientsin army corps which, under
General Ma, has been made a thoroly
efficient fighting force. s
It is not worth while. considering
the Chinese army from the, viewpoint
of a national organizations; but
measured by the work accomplished
in some of the provinces, notably
under the viceroys Yuan-Shl-kha1
and Toheng-T chi-Tong, not to men
ton the European-drilled forces at
! Picking, Tientsin Nankin, F'oo-ChoW
Shantung and the two Kiangs, the
vicoroys and governors Of these dis
tricts possess the nucleus of very
promising military organization, ano
since 1900 a great deal Of work has
ping and training these troops.
The emperor has taken a very en-
Heightened interest In this question
and by royal proclamation has said: +
sMany among us have an absolute
confidence in International laws, bu
they are stupid as those who trust II
disarmament and universal peace
Between countries, equally well armed
international laws may serve a pur
pose but what can these laws do t.
settle serious disputes between {
strong and a weak nation? TIL
: to country what breathing is to tn
) body. No one can live withou
+ breathing; no country can exist with
out an army"
viceroy Tcheng Tchi-Tong lla
said: when we have acquired tn
Z treasures Of European science W
!. shall have to guard them, and I
guard them we must have an army
: It is proposed today by some writers
who see the state Of China becomin
: more and more critical, that W
3 should Join the European Disarma
ment society. This project is Of
nature to bring upon US yet more tel
rible humiliation. All the worl
. speaks Of peace, but nobody cares 7
keep it. OF a truth, these projec1
!, Of disarmament would have no othe
i results than to precipitate our ruiz
/ The other powers, seeing US reduce
IS to such a point of residences an
). irresolution, would, without J, doup
), With these beliefs in min
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. in Ou-tchang, gay
: to them practical application, by nal
q ing the mandarins each place one
4 their sons in the new military school
which he organized to enhance II
prestige Of the military calling; an
in addition to this. he required tn
i every volunteer should know how
I read and to write, and insisted tn
each recruit should come of an no
/ orable family. By these steps, tF
wise viceroy, at one stroke. piac.
= the soldier upon a social plane hit
erto denied him and put the mand
= rim at the same time in person
& touch with men, their direction, al
q that attention Ito details heretofo
q considered beneath the dignity Of t
9, ruling class of China. Measures ha
+ also been taken to exclude or EXP
s. !. from the military forces Of the ty
Is leading military provinces all gar
., blers and opium smokers, and ever
e. thing is being done to strengthen t
n. moral fiber Of the soldier personn
- In the province Of Pechili. Vicer
=, Yuan Shi-Khai, with the assistance
IL, Nv that admirable soldier, General N
te, has embarked upon a revolutiona
n, movement for the betterment Of t
On On fighting force Of his district. He b
a,esni enlisted able bodied men Of fine ST
lad ure, between the ages only OF ~
sht rs. He requires that they shall
ny able to read and to write, and tn
moral conduct must be youched