The Washington herald., 1917-08-15
Army
HALF MILLION
War Declaration Against
Teutons May Put 25,-
100000 Men in FRAY.

China. with potentially the greatest
army in the world, Joined the allied
cause yesterday. She declared war
upon Germany and Austria Hungary.
the news of this step being received
by the Chinese Embassy yesterday.
China has the greatest man-power
in the world.
She can put into the field immedi-
ately a hardened, we.l-trained. we'll
equipped army various.y estimated at
from 10000 to 5000.
Can Raise $4,000. 900.
She can muster ,nto service within
five years 25,OOO,OoO men-if the allies
can furnish her so vast an amount
of equipment.
She has been training for ten years
under French, German, Norwegian,
and japanese military instruction.
She has everything necessary but
the money; that she will ask Of the
United States.
VIII Confer With Allies.
She will seek conference with the
allied representatives soon. She is
anxious to know at once what size
of an army she will be called upon
to furnish. Human lives are Of such
small consideration III China that num-
oers OF men for an army are incon-
sequentiaL II the allies provide the
equipment China will furnish the
men.
Military men here do not hesitate
10 say that the great Leviathan of
the East never has known her power;
That under the proper guidance along
| modern lines, she should turn out
the most formidable war machine in
the world
Used to Hardship.
An allied military attache who has
Just returned from several ye..rs in
China, summed up the Mongoliaa
| army value thus:
Men who can steep on the road
side. live on rice, drink dirty ditch
water, wheel a Chinese wheelJarrow
for thirty miles a day, and whose
| physical condition is such that mis-
wounds heal more quickly than those
or any other nationality, is the pros
pectiVe world conqueror.
Can Lose Millions.
Cnina has something like $50. 900. go
TO draw upon. She can provide o, CO.,
coo men of military servicea bilitv.
She can put forth as many and as
fast as the allies can equip her She
| can lose millions of men without any
| apparent effect on her man-power
In the Boxer rebellion 4,OOO.OoO men
were lost. In the Tai Ping rebel
lion 100000 men were killed. In
the floods and famines. millions sre
taken away, and still China can fur
nlsh an endless number of mon for
war. She has an army that would
do credit to any nation, except that
/ her equipment is not as fine as those
OF her allies today. But, given the
money, that will be an easy thing TO
take care Of"
While not impressive in tonnage
or gun powder, the Chinese nav
viii play a highly useful part in
the war.
1t may be assigned to Mediter-
ranean waters, where it will aid in
running down hostile submarines
and maintaining blockades.
Another possibility is that the
! navy viii do duty in the Pacific,
now patrolled by English cruisers.
There IT would do good service
against German raiders, some of
which are popularly supposed to be
at large.
The Chinese navy consists Of
three divisions, including two
cruiser squadrons, and one train
ing ship. with auxiliary vessels.
Admiral Leu Kwang Hsun is min
lister for naval affairs. while the ac-
| tive command of the fleet is held
by Admiral Sir Sab Chan Pin. This
| officer was decorated by ueen Vic
toria, of England. hence his En- olish
title-