Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-03


uation in Manchuria. These events bring
us to the Boxer rebellion and in 1900 an
international expedition.
tA
With this brief resume of military
events through which China has passed
helplessly and without
AdaptabilitV serious military force to
maintain her vast empire,
'Pi"yeu' it Is pertinent to ask II
China is really refractory to military
progress and innovation? The question
may be answered by reference to her
past history. which shows. on the con-
trary, that China has always been apt
to appropriate any and sill progress
which she may have found in her ad
versaries
In the eighth century military conscrip-
ton was decreed, and bastions, crenaux,
tranchees, subterranean galleries. revolv
ing towers and other forms OF fortifica-
lions were employed. After the advent
OF the Portuguese In China the Chinese
cast cannon and organized and employed
regular corps of artillery.
The first treaty of Tien-tsin. in 1858,
had scarcely been signed and the French
and English ships departed when modern
forts were constructed at the mouth of
the Pei-ho, which proved SO efficient that
successfully resisted and 1t was found
necessary to take them by an attack from
the rear.
In 1871 young men were sent to Eu-
rope to study military science, which had
been neglected and despised. 1t was not
until 1886 that a telegraph line from
Picking to Shanghai was constructed, and
not until 1889 that railroad was built
to connect Tien-tsin, Taku and Chan
Hai-koun.
Tho loSeopc ;p6;otad hx, Jonop have boen
many and more useful than those of the
European powers. against which China
felt herself unable to resist. japan had
changed her mentality, why should not
China? 1t was Kang-Yu-Wei, modest
employee of the ministry of the interior,
who saw the necessity Of the transforms
ton in the Chinese thought. which he
would make coexistent with the proposed
military transformation. kang-Yu had
seen how Russia had been transformed
under Peter the Great, Japan under the
present mikado; why not China? The
young emperor encouraged Kang-Yu in
many reforms but one day when kang
had caused the Emperor Kouang-Hsu to
sign decree ordering all Cinnamon to
cut off their cues and wear European
costumes the Empress Dowager came to
the rescue of old China, resumed the
power, caused the emperor to be confined
time to get away hurriedly and escape
the death that awaited him.
~.
The troubled period which has ensued
since 1900 has not been propitious for the
success Of the transforma-
ORGANIZATION ton of the army under
o.. taken by such enlightened
0oAoAo' spirits as the Viceroy
Yuan-Sie- and Tchang-Tsi-Tong, who
with the aid Of German officers had COM
menced the work Of reformation.
The total force of the army in process
Of Transformation consists OF eighteen
divisions organized on the Japanese plan.
the unit being the division. Each of the
eighteen divisions of China, plus Man
divisions Of troops, which make forty di-
visions. the peace footing being 1900.
the war $4,000. The proposed organiza-
ton, including reserves, Will reach 100
600 susceptible Of being moved to field
service.
At the present time the army consists
Of 100000 men and 10000 officers The
army in 1919 will contain 10000 men
and $4,000 officers.
The divisions are to be formed with all
modern means of attack and defense. that
is. engineers, hospital equipment, sections
of infantry and artillery ammunition. a
depot of new horses. detachment OF
telegraphers, etc. In brief a Japanese
DIVISION except WIFI augmented dTtlieTy
The Transformation Of China from a
military point Of view includes a trans
formation also Of its universities and its
schools to keep pace with its military
progress. In 1902 there was a reorganiza-
ton of the University OF Picking and its
lied. In 1904 1900 students were sent to
Japan. In 1906 10000. And now, without
doubt. the United States will receive an
equivalent number, when are to be aug
mented progressively.
Since the Boxer rebellion there has
ragged in China veritable fever for
railroad construction. The year 1909 may
be termed the year of railroads" and
quite Unexpectedly the question Of partici-
patton in their construction by the flnan
cial groups Of certain occidental nations
has created sensation.
The connection Of the government at
Washington may be stated briefly thus:
IN May, 1909, an agree
American mt had been reached
r.a whereby group of Ger
AAA"0n0e' man financiers, represent
ed by the Observation-Disclosures Bank, had
signed a preliminary agreement with
Grand Secretary Chang Chih-tung to sup
ply China with loan of $4,000, 900 for the
construction of the northern section Of
the Canton Hankow railway on Tien-tsin
Pukou terms
June IL an American syndicate, includ-
ing j. Pierpont Morgan and Kuhn, Loeb
& Co., was formed to participate. The
American government protested against
the compromise Of May Is on the ground
that China was bound by the convention
Of 1903 to give the United States first
option on the Chinese railways. There is
reason to believe that this action grew
out of the rejection Of American over
lures for participation at an earlier date
The situation was such that July aOl
President Taft communicated directly
with his imperial highness Prince Chun,
informing him that he was much dis
turbed because Of opposition to America 8
participation. The President pointed out
that the wishes of the United States were
based upon broad national and impersonal
principles of equity and good policy, in
which due regard for the best interests
of China had a prominent part
In the beginning OF September 1909, on
the basis OF an agreement whereby the
Americans would take one-fourth Of the
total loan. a settlement was said to be
imminent. the loans having been increas-
ed to 97.20O,O00. the Americans being
given a slice Of the central China rail-
ways. At this writing there has been
no settlement.
There is a tangle also over the railways
in Manchuria, to untangle which Mr. |
Knox proposed naturalization. To this
Russia objected because 1t would inter-
fere with her commercial as well as
strategic interests. japan also objected
without giving reasons, blu. simply pre-
tnrH