Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1908-01-25
CHINA'S' FIGHTING CAPACITY.
Can the Chinese fight?

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swerrd and the popular idea OF the |
Occident is not Favorable to the Chi
Hcsr.
The "awakoning' Of China that
has been going on in the last few
Years has caused the experts to take
another look at the situation and
size up the new Chinese" There is
no doubt that the average Chinese
has as little fear of death rs any hu-
man being. 1t Is not courage that he
lacks 80 much as intelligent leader
ship.
This view of it is endorsed by Cap
tain Niukaid Smith. who has seen
much service in the British army,
and has recently devoted much study
20 the new China. lie passed this
way not long ago, but did not give
full vent to his opinions till reaching
New York.
lie says that he found no facts TO
support the many recent published
articles and several books picturing
the great army resulting from Chi
mas aforementioned recent military
awakening and organization. As Il
matter of fact, the entire fighting
force Of China's army today is only
$1,000 men for a population of $780,
100000 in the empire.
But this actual nucleus of the pro-
posed great army Is composed Of a
splendid body of men physically;
men comparatively well paid, clothed
in regulation European uniforms and
leather shoes, and housed in barracks
and fed better than the average vii
iage folk Of the towns from which
they are recruited. This army APP
pears well drilled, willing, trained to
extremely long marches in day, and
able to pack a surprising load, but
evidently not generously supplied by
the government with ammunition
enough to permit of their getting the
much-needed and very important
training in effective craftsmanship.
The men are armed with a very good
type of Mauser rife, which the Chi
nese make at their factories in Han
kow. The Chinese also manufacture
all the saddlery, harness, arms, and
clothing for their troops.
The present army of $1,000 fight
ing men Is divided into ten divisions,
supposed to have 1900 men each.
Other divisions being formed are as
yet only in the skeleton. The scheme
of the Chinese Government is to
have three army divisions for each
of the twelve provinces OF the en-
pire, or a great standing army OF
$4,000 men in peace times, with pos
sibilities of being extended to $780,
600 men on war basis. Each of the
ten divisions now in regular service
has its complement of cavalry and
artillery, but the men are mounted
only on the little, chunky, big-headed
native ponies, which, while they are
very good for campaigning in a
Tough country, are TOO snail for ar
tillery.
So far China's great standing army
Is only on paper, and, according to
Captain Smiths impressions Of the
situation, it will be only a paper ar
my for a good many years. Chlna's
trouble is great scarcity of we'll
trained men to officer its army, even
the present nucleus of the proposed
splendid force. While there are some
foreign military men ana a consider
able number of japanese instructors
at the military stations in China, no
foreigner is permitted to hold a COM
mand, no matter how small the force.
As 1t is, many of the battalions of
three companies are commanded by
young Chinese majors under thirty
years of age. The problem confront
ing China is not enlisted men but ma
tive officers competent for the tasl,
of leading the men. The present ar
my shows that China has excellent
material for a big force, and the
enlisted men exhibit fine athletic pro-
fciency in the gymnasium and quick
aptitude for the drill tactics.
The contamination Of China's plan
for wartime army of 10000 men
will have to wait for another genera
ton of young men to grow up and
become trained for military leader
ship, and 1t will have to wait also for
reforms and improvements in China's
financial policy. But even then the
force, considering China's population,
will not be so enormous, rs the Unit