Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-28

favor of the boycott, and it might have
been supposed that official China would
nave influence enough to prevent the cham
Der OF commerce from the taking of drastic
measures. One thing seems certain this
medieval country has learned, partially at
least, to recognize the modern truth that
all nations are one in matters of trade and
that what Injuries one cannot benefit an
other. This lesson was driven home by the
fact that the Chinese merchants had con-
tracted for many months ahead for the
products of the American mills and were
forced to meet their obligations If their
fDencial standing was to be maintained,
the result being that they and the banks
supporting them found themselves loaded
up with these stocks for which the consum-
ing markets had been seriously restricted.
Officials Were Deceived.
Not even the Chinese authorities them
selves know the bitterness of this anti-Amer-
lean or anti-foreign feeling. The central
government of China is not so bitterly op-
posed to foreigners might be imagined.
And Secretary Taft after talking with
some of the highest officials, was deceived
because the officials were themselves de-
cefved. For the more enlightened and edu-
Gated of the Chinese officials are not anti
foreign and are disposed to be friendly.
But it is the rank and file of the minor
officials who are keeping things stirred up.
And Secretary Taft and his party would
OF China-not the lower orders, who after
all are the closer to the people
1t is regarded as significant that China
has dismissed the German officers in her
army and replaced them with Japanese. 1t
is further regarded as significant that an
American telephone company starting a
telephone exchange in China was ousted by
the officials without a concession before
actual business had begun and that a Japa-
nese company is now operating the ex-
change. 1t is also regarded as significant
hot
been repurchased by the Chinese govern
mental profit to the holders, of course
but, nevertheless. bought back and placed
under native control. IL is also significant
held recently, plans being laid to prevent
American railway concessions in the prov
ince of Cheklaing, but other Chinese prov
inces as we'll
improvements In Army.
The maneuvers held In the north of China
have surprised the whole world Thirty
foreign officers were in attendance repre-
sorting the chief military powers of the
globe. 1t is surprising and not greatly to
the credit of their vigilance that these skill
ed observers do no appear to have had the
remotest idea of what the Chinese have
been doing for the past four years. They
went up into the north of China, they said,
to witness a spectacular comedy, they re-
turned sobered by the conviction that they
had assisted in what might prove a history
in the far east They saw an army which
is yet relatively small in numbers-for
the total number of men assembled did not
exceed 35,000-an army which filled them
with astonishment by its organization, its
discipline, It's intelligence and its endurance
The present army Is comparatively small.
but by the end of 1906 it Is expected that
1t will consist of ten divisions of some
1900 each. with over 1900 men in the
reserve. Acting under expert Japanese MILL
tary advice weii-considered scheme of
organization has been drawn up for the
future. Under this scheme it is proposed
to increase the number of divisions to
thirty-six. 1t is planned TO accomplish this
In ten years, or even in five. This would
give China truly formidable force of
432 900 men. with a reserve force OF
quarter of million, and If they are true
to the sample produced in the recent ma
neuvers the integrity of China will be