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April 21, 1900.]
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noticed things military. The first time I went was four and a half years ago, when the armies of the different provinces were in a transition state. I saw soldiers who had no other weapons than spears and blunderbusses, and no better olothes than beggars, but on the other hand I saw others with Mauser rifles, and even with water- proof coats which, when a sprinkle of rain fell, | they put on over rather smart uniforms. I saw the guard of the Viceroy at Canton with bugle. band and all complete and certainly the band did not appear to be organised in order to follow the injunction of an old military writer: 'Spread in the camp of the enemy voluptuous musical airs so as to soften his heart." But of course it was the war between Japan and Russia that not only awakened China but made her sit up. She recognised that in this war Japan was doing her work, and was much ashamed that she had not an army strong enough to do it herself. Soon after the out- break of the war, I saw thousands of soldiers being instructed by officers and non-commis. sioned officers, who had themselves been taught by foreigners, obiefly Japanese. These soldiers were a great contrast to the 'dirty antaught "braves' who used to be seen, only the instructors need not have kicked the awk- ward ones upon
the shins. When the guards of honour that met the Viceroy, who returned to Hankow during my visit to that place, presented arms to His Excellency, they did not do so kneeling, as used to be the case, but in the most approved European fashion. Having very good introductions to the authorities at Ichang I was given a permit in which my Chinese interpreter told me I was described as a "Universal instructor in the British army.
A servant was sent to carry these credentials before me, which he did raised to the level of his head. I was very kindly received by the officers and shown over tho barracks, beginning with the school, for all these up-to-date soldiers must read and write On the walls of the school there were many maps, and also portraits of some of the world's greatest men. The only Britisher thus honoured was Raskin. There were also cards upon which were shown every decoration and uniform of the Japanese army-paius seem to have been taken to impress the Chinese recruit that Japan was the only enlightened country in the world. The barrack rooms were small, but not crowded. The soldiers showed to me with pride their arms and accoutrements, which were in good oondition. Afterwards they did physical drill and gymnastics, and seemed to like the exercise. In summer the men
wear khaki and in winter a cheap black material trimmed with red-even the officers have given up the flowing silk garments, horse-shoo cuffs, embroidered breastplates, and amber necklaces in which they used to rejoice, and are dressed in mora Western style. China has started an Army Council for organising a Lu-chün or Imperial army, as distinguished from provincial forces, just as we have in Great Britain. The celebrated Yuan Shil-kai, Vio-roy of Chili, is president, and most of the members have ben educated in Japan or in Europe.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT,
£90).
293
dread more than death was being left to die of his ladies, and the few young girls in the colony (who wounds and that no one would make ritual usually married fat old merchants) had their offerings to a corpse abandoned on the battle-pretty heads turned with flattery and undue field. Considering the cheapness of living in attention. Hongkong society-apart from the Chins the new scale of army pay is not bad. A naval and military element which is the same private gets about 12s 6s per month of our money, and non-commisioned officers in propor- the society of Brixton or Clapham, with the the world over-appeared to me to resemble tion. A subaltern has £90 a year, a bat difference that the merchants had more money. talion commander with allowances about Young clerks in the business houses earned £325, and a regimental commander nearly from £300 to £500 a year, but socially they
As regards the material of war we may observe that at Hanyang, Foochow, Tientsin, England, except that they made a point of were very much like our bank clerks of and other places there are arsenals where guns wearing full dress in the evenings. Some of the of the newest pattern are being made. We have merchants and brokers were good fellows, and a spoken of the quantity of the new Chinese few were hospitable to naval men. Largely, no army, a word now about the quality of the men doubt, it was the fault of the Service men that who compose it. A Chiosman is as a rule active,
we were practically excluded from the local sober and docile, and what he learns he never society. forgets. He can live upon nothing and has the Commodore, brought their wives to Hong. Scarcely any naval officers, except little or no objection to dying. These are the kong. Rents were very high, and the climate qualities of a good soldier. If Chinese soldiers abominable. have on many occasions fonght so badly that from the civilian ladies with some exceptions. The military ladies held aloof the army came to be considered a negligible I remember how the General's wife lost quantity this is simply because they were beloved son in the Soudan campaign, and how, badly treated and bidly led. But it is
after the lapse of some weeks, local lady not true that they have always fought onlled to express her sympathy. The General's badly. At Tientsia they were not more in wifo coldly robuffed her, and to this I number than its defenders, and yet they very
can testify, as I happened to be present. : nearly took the city-and the admirable way That kind of behaviour is not calculated to Chinese gunners worked their gans surprised advanco Imperial Federation, nor to knit to everyone. So well concealed was one gua'gether the Colonies and the old country. that did much mischief that it could not be located for three days. Eventually it discovered in the inner room of a house, firing through the outer room, a compound, and the gate leading to the street.
was
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A popular game at Hongkong, as indeed, at bowls. It is odd that the game has perer all the Treaty ports, was the game of American caught on in England, and that it should be confused by the average Englishman with com. mon skittles, from which it vastly differs. It was the custom at all the clubs on the station to inscribe in gilt letters the names of all players who nobiaved the maximum score, a vory difficult Some navel names will still be found upon the beams of the bowling alleys of the Treaty ports, but whether the Hongkong civilians will troable to regild the names of these naval and military experts seems doubtful.”
That a handful of foreigners wore able to defend the Legations at Peking is often adduced to show the uselessness of Chinese soldiers. Their attack, however, was a half-hearted ouo. The Empress Dowager, though willing enough-feat. to have the Europeans put an end to, was afraid at the last moment to carry out her wishes, so order and counter-orders were given to the troops.
I have seen the regiment we organised at Weihaiwei, and no soldiers could drill better. They fought too in a way that did them credit at Tientsin.
The article concludes with a flattering notion of the recent Chinese army manœuvres.
**
HONGKONG IN THE 'EIGHTIES.
The Army and Navy Chronicle for March prints the second installment of a descriptive article entitled "Under the Ponnant, or Foreign Service in the 'Eighties". by Charles Gleig, who, we understand, is a retired lieutenant of the Royal Navy. We make the following extracts, which we expect will be read with mixed feelings.
"It is curious to note how naval officers are appreciated in some colonies and not in others. Between 1884 83 I happened to spend many mouths at Hougkong, and having some distant relatives among the residents saw more of the civilian society of the little colony than many of my naval contemporaries. The civilians were for the most part_merchants, brokers, or Government officials. There was a long standing coolness between the civilians and the Services, the origin of which remains uncertain, but is attributed to the management of the club. This club, the only one in the colony, was founded by the Navy, and civilians were allowed to become members, By degrees it became a civilian club, and naval officers were admitted to membership more or less on sufferauce. I distinctly remember how it my time a notice was constantly displayed in the billiard room to the effect that naval officers were prohibited from monopolising the tables after 6 p.m. This was the sort of thing that bred ill-feeling between the Service men and the colonists. Another cause of estrangement the comparative wealth and luxury of the colonists and the poverty of the nava! men.
return We could not
their the residents seemed
A General Staff is responsible for the administration and command of the army, and funds for its upkeep are drawn from all the provinces. It is said that there are at present ten divisions or 120,000 men in the army properly equipped and trained by foreigners. To this additional troops and some transformed provincial ones will be added until there ar thirty-six divisions. In war the infantry will be doubled from the reserve, but other branches are kept on a war footing always. Ealistment is voluntary and for three years with the colours, after which the soldier passes into the first and second reserve. The recruits are carefully chosen after a period of probation. They must be between 20 and 25 years of age, 5 feet five inches tall, and able to lift a weight of 150 lbs. No opium smoker is accepted, or anyone who cannot produce a good character from the headman o his village. Two or three colleges for educat-hospitality ing officers have been established in Chins, and think we ought to have done, and 60 provision has been made for sending a hundred comparatively few naval officers were invited students each year to the military schools in to the civilian dances and junketings. We met, Japan. A college has been established for training medical officers. This adoption of | medical ministration will probably make the Chinese soldier fight better, for what he used to
Was
85
SHANGHAI CABLE COMPLETED,
The Cablenews of April 12th says:-Last night as the hands of the clock in Manila approached the hour of midnight there was ticked off from the Malate instrument of the Commercial Pacifio Cable Company the sigual
S.H." the telegraphic call for Shanghai. This call coursed along the newly laid 1,200 knots of cable from Manila to Woosung near Shanghai, a cable which has been laid in 11 days in spite of the heavy tides encountered at the Shanghai end of the line. One thousand one hundred and thirty knots of this oable were laid in the first five days, On arrival at a point about twenty-five miles from Woosung the cable ship dropped the Manila end of the cable and made for the port taking up the other ond of the line and taking it along to the buoy to which was secured the Manila end. Last evening the final splice of the two ends was made and the cable put into commission.
ENTERTAINING MEN OF THE FRENCH AND JAPANESE FLEETS.
Mr. J. E. M. Smith, the Hon. Treasurer of the Provisional Committee, acknowledges with thanks receipt of the following subscriptions:
N. J. Stabb
E. Pabaney
A. Ebrahim & Co.... A. M. Essabhoy
M. H. Essack Elias
N. Mody & Co.
Cawasjee Pallanjee & Co. Pherozsba B. Petit & Co.
`Talali & Co.
825
50
25
25
Tata & Co.
25
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P. F. Talati
...
...
15
to
R. S. Woonwalls & Co. F. Rahim & Co.
10
it is true, at Government House and on the cricket ground, but hardly anywhere else. The leaders of the civilian society were rich merchants of the Jewish race. There was a paucity of
$305
Amount previously acknowledged 1,905
$2,210