Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-01-03
ANFAN7PE ON FIGHTING LINZ

missariat and the consequent looting
of villages by starving soldiers.
Between European and a Chinese
regiment on the march there is moth
ing to choose. Physique, equipment
and department impress one as being
much the same. A western soldier
perhaps, is inclined to look bored,
whereas the Chlnaman seems more
keen and appears to take a greater in
terest in his work.
"At attention the Chinese infantry
stand like heroes, rigid and impassive,
yet in attitudes instinct with life, the
expression on their faces firm, often
suggestive of strong character. Skirm-
fishing is conducted in orthodox fash
ion, the men showing great attention
to the work in hand, carefully follow
ing every order with regard to sight
ing rifles, etc.
"They avail themselves of every
scrap of cover while advancing, while
the control of each subaltern over his
section of the line and of the company
commanders seems absolute. To say
that the Chinese infantry is perfect
would hardly be correct, but it was
unanimously agreed that very high
state of discipline existed, that the
men showed intelligent appreciation
of the task to be performed and that
the officers were extremely keen and
had their men perfectly in hand.
"A significant feature of the ma
neuvers was that throughout several
trying days hardly a man fell out, a
high testimony to the condition of the
troops and proof that they were being
we'll fed and carefully handled"
Lord Charles Beresford and others
whose opinions carry much weight
say that to-day China has a military
organization which will prove the
nucleus of a wonderful army The
man who has accomplished this is
Gen. Tuan Sha Kai, who has been apt
ly called the Bismarck of China. Tuan
is civilian rather than military
officer, and has served as a minister
plenipotentiary, having been the Chi
nese envoy to Korea for nine years.
contrast to his countrymen; he pos
sesses rare executive ability, unim-
peachable integrity and is absolutely
above bribery. After the Chinese
Japanese war he established his head
quarters and the camp for his recruits
at Hsaio Chau, about 20 miles from
Tientsin, and there he built an army
of well equipped soldiers, with modern
guns. 1t is divided into infantry
troops, using the best of modern
rifles; cavalry, carrying light rifles, re,
volvers and swords, and artillerymen,
with Krupp, Schneider and Japanese
mountain and rapid fire guns, as well
as heavy pieces of ordinance.
The infantry and artillery drill I'M
der Chinese officers, who were edu'
Gated abroad or who have graduated
from the military school at Tientsin
but Gen. Tuan has established a class
at Hsiaao Chau on the plan of war
college, which he personally Instructs
and from which he expects to draw
the officers for his new army.
The camp of Hsiao Chau is an eX
cellent one and introduces some fea
lures which are strilingly novel tc
one at all familiar with the Chinese
military methods of the past. One o.
them is the Red Cross flag of the &c
neva convention floating over hos
pital perfect in it's sanitation, with al
| necessary appliances, conducted by
= Chinese physicians, and where nearly
, 100 patients are treated daily. An
other is a military band Of native
, musicians; its playing is exceptionally
: good and only behind that of bands
} composed entirely of professional
: musicians.