Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-11
new CHINESE ARMY
OF GREAT NUMBERS
10000 Well Drilled and Armed
Men in Chill.
NINETEEN SEPARATE BODIES
Enormous Force Can Eew Be Massed
by Celestial Rulers.
JAPANEsEPLA MANEUvERs
Rapid Advancement on the Lines of
Western Civilization and Learn
ing Make Them Formidable.
JAPANEsEPLANNED MANEUvERs

LONDON. November 1O-Details have
new Chinese army. which are calculated to
arouse interest, if not alarm, on the part of
several European powers. The Chinese
army in the province of Chilli now con-
ssts of 10000 well-drilled and well-armed
men. The uniform worn is khaki; the men
are clean and well shod, and wear peaked
caps, which shield the eyes from the sun.
The soldiers carry Mannlicher or Mauser
rifles, and they know how to use them.
They are well fed, well housed and are led
by officers of their own race, who have alb
sorbed something of the methods and dis
cipline of the German army. Quick firing
Krupp and Creusot guns are in their train
China is resolutely attacking the problem
of creating force that will make her ca
pable of holding her own against outside
aggression. There is not one united army
in China, but nineteen separate armies, one
for each Of the eighteen provinces and one
for Manchuria. Nominally the board of
war In Picking has supreme military con-
troll, and lays down regulations which the
viceroys and governors of provinces carry
out. But as a matter of fact. each local
ruler does what seems right in his own
eyes. Recruiting. purchasing of weapons,
payment of troops and general efficiency Of
service all depend on the viceroy. For all
periodical purchases there is an effective
force in one. province, Chilli, where the
viceroy, Yuan, controls seven divisions.
The Hand of the Jap.
There are limited number of Japanese as
sistants in Yuan's army. but they are kept
in positions where they can plan and ad-
wise, but have little actual control. One
Japanese colonel is on Yuan's personal
staff. Japanese planned the entire autumn
maneuvers of his united forces, but exc
cution of the plans was left to Chinese The
chinese military authorities are exceed
ingiy sensitive on this matter of Japanese
direction. Fifteen months ago Japanese
had the opportunity of securing predomi-
nance in the Chinese military organiza-
ton. but they played their cards badly;
they showed themselves somewhat grasp
ing and too eager for their own Chinese
army of tomorrow which will be chinese
led
The soldiers are and will be conscripts.
They are supposed to serve for three years
with the colors three years with the first
reserve and four years with the second re-
serve. or ten years in all In the case OF
the army of Chilli, this means that when 1t
is fully formed with ten divisions and re-
serves there will be about 100000 fighting
men in barracks, and $4,000 ready to be
called up. The soldiers are paid NOM
inal four or four and a half taels month,
very good pay for China.
Force Of 10000 Men.
Theorists have figured that If an efficient
fighting force of 10000 men can be made
in a short time in one corner of China. it
only needs a general application of the
same system all over the country to Gre
ate an army of ten or fifteen millions. Such
an army could by weight of numbers sweep
all before it. .
If raw human material were all that was
necessary for this it might be DONE But
there are other factors. The Chinaman diff
fers from the Japanese in that he is nat
urally lover of peace, and not fighter.
Yet every day shows his rapid advance
ment on the lines of western civilization
and learning Although the Chinese army
has made incredible advances, It Is not
and is not Nkely to be for many years,
capable of resisting serious external attack.
Even the army of Chilli will crumble be-
fore Japan, the most likely quarter from
which attack will come.
Certain great weaknesses in the Chinese
military organization have yet to be re-
moved, but that they will be removed no
competent authority doubts.