Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-03
CHINA BUILDS
NAVY TO FIT NEW REGIME
Nucleus of Promising Fleet to Be Ex-
banded by Thorough Program.
British Train Seamen.

one of their own countrymen in su.
preme control Osborn objected. The
Chinese wanted the fleet to serve at the
seat of the war, where 1t was needed,
under the supervision Of the generals
fighting the rebels. Lay objected to
this. So the ebb and flow of argument
went merrily on between the Chinese
and the two Britishers, Lay and OS-
born. Finally the whole plan collapsed
and the two Englishmen went home.
The European Chinese navy" never
"ven reached the blueprint stage.
Naval Board in 1886.
In 1886 a naval board was organized.
British naval officers were employed, o
naval school was established at Tientsin
and the naval ports at the Gulf of Chilli
were fortified the last job being mainly
intrusted to German engineers. The
Chinese tneII purchased some ships
from Europe, the nucleus being made
up of gunboats, broad beamed and fiat
bottomed. each carrying one heavy gun.
The fiotilla was called the alphabeticals
because they were named after the
Greek alphabet. Two lines of battle
ships were added later, also several
cruisers. This was known as the Pen
yang squadron, and was instructed by
a competent British officer. Another
feet was later organized in the south,
Before the Chinese-Japanese war the
total Chinese seagoing fleet consisted of
about five armored vessels, ten light
small cruisers, nine sloopS or dispatch
vessels and thirty small torpedo boats.
In addition there were some non-sea-
going units. The two principal armored
ships were the Ting-yuen and Chen
yuen of 7,43O tons displacement. AS
was noted, the Chinese government
some years before had obtained the
services of a staff officer of the British
navy, who gathered together under him
officers of the various branches of his
own service and a few Europeans and
Americans. The discipline was good,
the training was conducted on scientific
lines and the administration was free
from corruption.
Ships Well Manned.
The ships were clean and smart look
ing, and by going to sea constantly Of
ficers and men were well acquainted
with their duties. At Port Arthur the
fleet had headquarters base Of great
natural strength in a commanding
strategic position.
Jealousy however, had made itself
felt some time before the war. Grad
ually, the position of the foreigners
had become so difficult that the head
of the mission threw up his appoint
ment. and the commissioned, officers
of the British service followed their
chief. few foreigners of subordinate
rank remained. Deterioration spread
through all branches of the service.
The administration became dishonest,
and stores we're rifled. Instead of
spending money to keep the ships in
good condition, high officers did not
hesitate to put the money into their
own pockets Externally, however, the
navy presented good appearance.
Even European naval observers were
mtsled as to their true condition,
though the japanese intelligence service
was aware of the facts. In the test of
war. the Chinese navy proved no match
for Japan. The Battle of the Yalu
was decisive victory for Japan, and
during the rest of the war the Chinese
naval commanders did not dare to face
! the Japanese in the open sea. The
Chinese fleet had suffered losses, but
most of the important vessels were able
| to seek shelter, where they remained o
potential menace to the japanese.
Comes to Grip with Japan.
The japanese commanders then set
IS their next objective the capture of
| two Chinese naval bases, Port Arthur
and Wei-Hai-Wei and the destruction
of the main Chinese feet. After some
efforts, Port Arthur fell, but Admiral
Ting, the Chinese ommander-in -chief,
still commanded two battleships, two
armored cruisers. twelve light cruisers
and sloops, fourteen torpedo boats and
six gunboatS. Most of the Chinese
warships were sunk by the invaders
guns in the harbor of Wei-Hai-Wei, and
when that fortress fell, the Japanese
received the surrender of the rest of
the Chinese fleet. China's sea power
was in almost total eclipse.
While the northern feet was facing
the japanese Squadrons in a life and
death struggle the southern fleet was
lying in the waters of the Yangtse,
the viceroy at Marking apparently
thinking that as the Japanese had not
attacked him. there was no reason why
he should risk ais shjns.
China later acquired a few ships, but
her feet did not compare in relative
fighting strength to that which Japan
had disposed Of in 1895. An imperial
edict of July IS, 1909, created a naval
and military advisory board, and
authorized an expenditure for fighting
ships of more than $200, 000,0 900.
Nimrod Sound, on the coast of Cheh-
klang. was chosen as a paval base, and
orders were issued for the establish
ment of four naval bases A naviga-
ton school was started at Chefoo, an
school for naval artificiers at Fuchow
and a gunnery and musketry school
at Nimrod Sound. The plans called for
a naval college at Picking. Coast de-
lenses were put under construction,
with the Navy Department in control,
and a program for recognizing the
dockyards was under way.
Ordered Cruisers In 1910.
In 1910 several cruisers were ordered
abroad. After the loss of Port Arthur
China possessed no dockyards that
could take care of ships of more than
5000 tons. Some time after the Chi
nese-Japanese, War the Peking govern
ment established at FuchoW a ship
yard. placing it in charge of French
engineers. Training schools both for
practical navigation and languages
were established at the same time. A
training ship was selected and put
under the command of British ofilcer.
This dockyard at Fuchow built more
than 200 small vessels over q period
OF many years. but gradually the whole
organization sunk into decay. In 1909
1t was without value. except for max
ing minor repairs.
The 1909 program sounded formid-
able. but here again, as so often in the
past. administrative ineffciency and
corruption made impossible any prac-
etCai IcSuiIS' MoSt OF Tie SHIPS never
reached blueprint stage Most of the
money, 1t is said. was spent by high
government officials for their own pur-
poses; some of it went into the Summer
Palace near Picking.
Visitors to the Summer Palace indeed
are shown beautiful lake. with mag
nificent stone boat in the middle THAT
Is the Chinese navy" visitors are told,
with the suggestion that the stone boat
was the nearest approach to a naval
vessel which the Chinese secured from
the more than 5000, 900 600 which thew