The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-09-06
EQUIPMENT
OF CHINESE
IS ANCIENT
Some Soldiers Use Pixies
and Curved Broad
swords in War.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP sIMMS,

/
III amazing. most nondescript
A and the most paradoxical bod
les of troops in the world.
They detest war but fight all the
time. Combined, they are numeri.
cally the earth's mightiest aggre-
gation-some estimates place them
as high as ,000,000-yet they can't
| lick anybody.
Their system calls for more mill
tary training schools than can be
found in the rest Of the world all
put together, yet both officers and
men are woefully deficient in the
science of war.
Some are equipped with modern
guns and airplanes. Others have
only pixies. antiquated, curved broad
swords, muzzle-loading shotguns or
even match and flint locks.
A few leaders have studied tactics
and strategy under Japanese, French
and other capable instructors and
can calculate to a nicely trajectory
and effect OF bullet and shell. Some
dose their soldiers with magic pills
before battle to make them proof
against anything from bayonet
thrusts to 42-centimeter projectiles.
All Wear Stars
All soldiers, from marshal to low
lest recruit. wear stars on their
shoulder straps. Uniforms are part
ly Of foreign design and partly ma
tive. these being Of cheap cotton,
stuffed and quilted.
Rifles are mostly out Of date Jap
anese. Russian and German makes
or Chinese copies. principally Mann
lchers. Mausers. early Meijt and
Murata weapons.
Chinese machine guns are largely
obsolete models purchased from
western powers Some are more
dangerous to their crews than to the
enemy Hotchkiss. German Pack"
Rex and japanese air.cooled models
are chiefly seen. Some Of the pro-
vincial war lords turn out these
weapons for themselves. but as
often as not after antiquated types.
Two years ago there were only
1894 machine guns in all China. but
the various tuchuns have no doubt
greatly Increased the number since
At that time the country boosted
only 3.016 guns Of all kinds and
CALLERS, many Of these out OF date
when Napoleon lost Waterloo. Field
and mountain guns, however. are
now being turned out by the Shanc-
hal, Hanyang. Houan and Canton
arsenals. The most popular models
are the Krupp IT. Gruson ~ and rs.
Arisaka JAPANESE 70 and Schneider
Cruesot Hfrenchl Is milimeters. Some
"poms poms," or Hotchkiss 81 mill
meter guns. are also In use
Plenty OF Powder
Coast artillery is practically all
Krupp. but is from thirty to thirty
five years old. Some is in fairly
good condition and there is plenty Of
powder. They can shoot. even If the
shells go neither far nor straight.
Army officers are divided into
three classes. First class are
generals. lieutenant generals and
major generals. There is no brigadier
general, a major generals command
being a brigade.
Secord class officers are colonies.
lieutenant colonies and majors, while
company officers are of the third
class
First class officers wear gold
shoulder straps with three, two or
one star. second class, two gold and
one silver line with three, two or
one star; third class. two silver
lines and one gold, with stars.
Sergeants and corporals wear
cloth shoulder straps with a thin
gold line with three. two or one star.
privatos plain cloth with stars ac-
cordlng TO class.
China has few airplanes. While
the exact number is not known.
| here are probably not more than
two dozen in the whole country.
These are chiefly Handley-Page and
Eicllers-Vinlys commercial types con
verted.
Cavalry likewise is not numerous
and very poor. The horses" are
usually the vicious little Manchurian
or Monaghan ponies. and the riders
| feet all but drag on the ground.