Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1910-05-26
Prince Tsai Tao Tells Of Her
Thirst For knowledge.
WHOLE COUNTRY IS AFFECTED
Steady Stream of Students to Be Sent
to America For Their Education, He
Declares at Dinner Given In His
Honor at New York-Seeks Closer
Relations With United States.

cred a speech at the twelfth annual
dinner of the American Asiatic asso-
citation given in his honor at Delmon-
ico's in New York the other night. In
the course Of his speech Prince Tsai
said that the thirst for foreign knowl-
edge is general throughout the Chinese
empire and at the present moment
the "old order of things is fast giving
place to the new" The speech was in
Chinese, for the prince does not speak
English, but later Lord Ii, son Of the
late Ii Hung Chang translated it into
English for the benefit of the occi-
dental guests, and it was cheered en-
Enthusiastically. This is what Prince
Tsai said, as translated by Lord Ii:
IL thank you for the honor you have
done me this evening. am glad to
have this opportunity to meet the mem
bers of this association, for | know
well that you are friends of China.
men who possess an intimate knowl-
edge of Chinese affairs. taking a lively
interest in China's welfare and prog.
ress and sympathizing with our hopes
and aspirations
China Passing Through Great Crisis.
THE work of this AMERICAN Asiatic
association has rendered China better
understood by Americans and America
better understood by Chinese. One of
10 anfnf Of
sion is to promote this good under
standing Through the American ASH
attic association many a public man
from the east has been brought into
contact with prominent men of the
west. There is no surer means of
drawing east and west together into
friendly and close relations.
at is an encouraging sign of the
times that Americans are taking
much greater interest in what is going
on in China than they did little while
ago. The free interchange OF views
on questions of public interest cannot
but be advantageous TO both countries.
On the other hand. we also wish to
know more about other countries.
Our officials and merchants are begin
ming TO travel more and more to for
eign lands in search Of information
and opportunities. This thirst for for
eign ideas is having its effect upon the
whole country. China is now passing
through a great crisis in her history.
The old order Of things is fast giving
place to the new What we need most
now is men-men able TO do the work
that has to be done.
Beginning In Education.
Though we have established schools
and colleges in all parts Of the empire
as fast as we can. ii will be some dec
AIDES yet before we can hope TO have
such schools and colleges as you have
in this country. Still. we have made a
beginning. In the meantime we intend
to send a steady stream of students to
your country. Thanks to the generos-
ity Of the American government in re-
hitting a portion of the Boxer indem-
nifty China is able now to send 100
students TO this country each year for
the first four years and fifty thereaft-
er. There will soon be 400 government
students in this country. These stu
dents on their return to their own
country cannot but give a good ac-
count Of themselves.
at is my sincere hope that they will
do their part in guiding the affairs Of
their country in the path of progress
and reform and in binding China and
hA Init
strong tie of friendship and good feel
ing"
Brigadier General Ha Han Han
Chang. one of Prince Tsai's suit. also
made speech. in which he recited
briefly the military history of China.
history that dates from the Chiro dy-
nasty of 5000 years ago. He then took
up the reorganization of the army that
is now in progress.
"China again feels the need of put
ting her army on an efficient basis"
said General Ha. land with this end
In view the late Emperor Kwang Hsu
ordered the reorganization of the war
Office, TO which are especially attached
the general staff of the army and the
bureau of military training At the
same time il was decided 10 organize
an army of thirty-six divisions, and
this work was to be completed in 1912.
Now the Chinese army consists of
eighteen divisions. each composed Of
two brigades of infantry, regiment Of
cavalry and corps of artillery. each
corps with more than fifty guns; a
corps Of engineers and a commissary
department. In order to increase the
efficiency of the service the prince re-
gent thought best last year to detach
the general staff from the war office
and appoint Prince Tsai as controller
general, with me as chief officer. |
need hardly add that 1t is the settled
purpose Of his imperial highness to
use the utmost endeavor to bring the
Chinese army to the highest state Of
efficiency"