New-York tribune., 1905-06-11

reei-oen. might pass for State militia
with the casual observer SO unnoticeable are its
othef distinctive features Their uniforms are
much the same the regulation United States
army and militia uniforms except that the trim
rnings are OF yellow. and the buttons bear the
dragon instead OF the eagle.
The entire command now numbers about $50
men, divided into two companies. Company No.
as commanded by Captain W. S. Lee. The
vther officers Of this company are Lieutenant
lung Kai Maine; first sergeant, Leong Vow;
second sergeant, Fong Sue Men: first corporal
Paul Lee Gym: second corporal, Long Mon Hing
The officers of the second company Lieu
tenant H D. Lee: first sergeant. C. L. 10y; sec
end sergeant, S. w. Lee; first corporal. George
Young; second corporal Lee Wah
Those who have been privileged to hear It, say
that q rollcaH Of the two companies puts a
phonograph to blush There were Lees without
number" said one who heard 1t, "and the Lungs
really. never dreamed any company of hu-
man beings could boast SO many"
The execution Of orders during drill hours,
though done with q promptness and dispatch
pleasing to the military mind, is accompanied
by many details perplexing to the laynan. The
instructors commands given in English-for,
although Major McVicker is a full-fedged officer
OF the Chinese imperial army. he still sticks to
the English language-are transmitted still in
English by the captain to his Heutenants and by
the latter TO the men Of the command in Chi
nese. The surprise Of the thing is that though
two languages are used orders are issued and
executed without the slightest hitch Though
such order as Present arms" may sound like
Mai hi lie wing lung tuns" to the unframed ear
before it finally reaches the soldiers. when it
does reach them there is no hesitation on their
part. So perfectly have they been drilled that
they resDOnd O every order with -1ira
precision. Yet this degree Of perfection was not
attained without much effort. The hardest thing
To- overcome In the training OF the Chinese for
soiciers. say their officers. is the mincing step
natural TO the race. To break up this short
chopDy step and get them TO adopt the regula-
ton military step is easy task And 1t also
required many weeks OF hard training TO i'm
press upon the minds of new recruits the fact
that when brought onto the firing limo they must
not close their eyes But the officers say that
for the most part the are quick to learn, and
once they have mastered order In every detail
they never forget IL.
The training of the New-York command will
be put TO the test on Monday, June 49, when at
an outing at Valley Grove Long Island, the
two companies win participate in a sham battle
Their officers are anxious to see how they be-
have tn the field and under fire
II IS now about four years since Major Mo
Wicker and Guy Main undertook the oryantza-
ton and perfecting Of command of Chinese
soldiers in this city, and the work has advanced
satisfactorily. There were only thirty-fve men
at the start. Next season It is expected that
fully eight hundred viii have been enrolled
Like work Of drilling the Chinese is going for
ward in Chicago. Philadelphia, Washington
Boston, San Francisco. Los Angeles and other
cities and it is estimated that there are now
about six thousand uniformed men of the Chi
nese imperial army drilling in the United States
One OF the chief objects Of the military work is
10 have in readiness a number of men from
among whom may be drawn drillrna sters to
be sent TO China TO drill the native troops.
Major McVicker holds a commission making
him really officer of the Chinese imperial
army. II is written in Chinese. Translated into
English IL reads:
To Chinese Cadets. New-York City, from the
Headquarters
General Homer Lee appoints Major Mcvicker
as instructor. Receive him kindly and strictly
obey the orders from beginning end, to re-
deem China. Be diIigent 70 practise instruc-
tfons. and orders will be forwarded accordingly
With best wishes TO the members of the Chi
nese Empire Reform Association.
From the fellow Chinese cadets of Los An
geles Cal.