The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1938-09-15
The Chinese Navy

Believe it or MOTT is less diff
ficult to enlist in the u. S. navy
than it is to enlist In the Chinese
navy.
The Chinese navy is manned
mainly by natives of Kukien pro-
vince. This province is ON the rug
ged southern coast and is peopled
largely by seafaring persons who
skillfu1ly navigate their clumsy ap-
pearing junks through all kinds
of weather.
The ships of the9navy are small,
and range from slow, ancient YES
sells to swift new ones. China has
her own little building program
and is continually launching some
type of naval vessel Her navy is
maintained for the purpose of sup
pressing pirates and smugglers; and
quelling disorders among her own
people. All the ships are coal burn
ers, and it is quite a common sight
to see several deck hands busily en-
gagged in placing leggings on the
main mast on getting underway.
These "leggings' are a canvas cover,
laced onto the mainmast to protect
the patchwork from flying burning
clnders and SCOT.
The uniform of the enlisted men
is of lightweight denim, and of
various shades of blue; all accord
ing to the number of times it has
been washed 1t is built along the
accepted sailor" style of clothes.
The trousers are invariably too
short, and usually reach to about
three inches above the ankle. The
flat hats are always at least four
sizes too small for the Wearer. The
sailors are very clean of person
and exceedingly polite, have never
seen Chinese sailor creating a dis
turbance unless arguing over the
price of ain enamaled wash basin.
incidentally each sailor has his own
Individual wash basin. The sailors
are very curious, and will stop and
gaze at something for an hour at a
time. | believe there is only one
other race OF people more curious
you're right am thinking of
Americans. These Chinese sailors
are given liberty only during day.
light hours, and have to be aboard
by shutdown. Then the gangways
are hoisted in. This is to prevent
the. ship from being stolen.
Very little paint is used on the
ships, mainly because they cannot
get very much of it to use. Sand
and canvas is not spared, however.
From daylight to dark the ships
get continual scrubbing. Despite
the pungent odors of native wood
oils used in lieu of varnishes, these
Chinese men-of-war are the clean
est in the world.
The principal items of food on
board ship are greens, similar to
our spinach; many dishes of water
cress, beet tops and other greens
which rather explodes the popular
belief that rice is the one big item.
OF course, rice is there, too, as well
as fish. To see Chinese sailor
bound for his ship after liberty
you would be led to believe that
each had to buy his own food. They
spend all their money on foodstuffs
and American tennis shoes No
seagulls hover over the stern, how
ever, as they do the American men
o'-war. There is nothing left for
them at mealtimes, and the gulls
know it.
The average monthly pay OF a
Chinese sailor is about $500 Amer
lean money; not paid in American
money, of course, but its equivalent
in Chinese. This is about twice the
amount Japanese sailor gets. Of
course this salary depends on the
prosperity Of the province in which
the ship is stationed. The local
generals pay for protection by sea.
and the more they pay the more
protection the ship can give them.
Although the navy is under the
Marking government, the "Ad-
mirals" are more or less on their
own, and move their ships at will.
Several naval academies exist in
China, all manned by English Of
Ulcers; yet the majority OF the Chi
nese officers in the navy are trained
IN Japan. Several high ranking
Chinese officers are graduates OF
the leading universities.
These Chinese ships look clean
and appear to be very efficient. II
believe, however, that--in the event
OF trouble-they sigh with relief
at the approach of vessel flying
the stars and stripes.