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each, the uses to which they could be put, &c. It was evident that he possessed a very considerable knowledge of the subject.
The bridge over the Lo Ho is another pet scheme of his. In ancient times Loyang was famous not only as the capital of China. but for its bridge. This has, however, long since disappeared with the exception of one derelict arch. General Wu evidently took considerable pride in the fact that his name would in future be connected with the new bridge now being completed it will be finished in the course of two or three months. This bridge is a reinforced concrete structure some 350 yards in length, but on concrete piles buttressed with stonework. I was informed that the greater part of the money for the work was provided by the American Red Cross Famine Relief Fund.
It is also General Wu's intention to erect a concrete bridge over the I Ho near the famous Lung Men or Dragon's Mouth some 25 li from Loyang.
7. The General is also deeply interested in agriculture and has imported several modern machines and implements from America. He told me that it was his intention to train as many of his men as possible in the science of modern agriculture, and after the reunification of the country and the consequent disbandment of a considerable portion of the existing troops, to send these men to Manchuria and other provinces where land was available, to colonise and develop the country.
8. It had been arranged that I should attend a parade of the troops on the following day, but owing to heavy rain this part of the programme had to be cancelled. I was, however, taken round some of the schools, where I heard lectures on various military subjects, e.g., musketry, tactics and the like being given to classes of soldiers. It was somewhat remarkable that the lecturers were sergeants and corporals and not officers.
A great feature is made of teaching all ranks patriotic songs and tunes, and we heard one of these remarkably well sung by a class of some 100-150 n.c.os. The singing is in the natural voice, and not in the discordant falsetto usually indulged in by Chinese vocalists.
I was also shown several classes of boys. General Wu is a great believer in training his future officers and soldiers from as early an age as possible. At the present time he has some 600 boys and youths being educated on modern lines, most of them are the sons of soldiers. The general pays for their education, keep, &c., out of his own pocket, the cost working out at some 7 dollars a head per month. It is his intention to gradually increase the number to a total of 3,000.
9. The only troops now stationed at Loyang are the IIIrd (National) Division, with which General Wu has been closely connected for many years. They are well and comfortably housed in well-built brick buildings with tiled roofs. The few barrack rooms I was shown were extremely clean and had all reasonable comforts provided for the inmates, e.g., tables, forms, bedding, mugs, plates, &c.
In this respect they compared very favourably with those occupied by General Feng Yu Hsiang's troops at Nan Yuan Barracks near Peking.
10. It is General Wu's custom daily to attend the morning parade, and on the third morning of my visit I accompanied him on his tour of inspection. Owing to the wet and muddy state of the ground the number of troops on parade was small. I was first shown a lien (company) of cavalry at exercise and was not at all impressed by what I saw. The exercise they were indulging in consisted of riding in fours and pairs over two infinitesimally small jumps. This was performed in a very slovenly manner and the riding was extremely indifferent.
Following this we were shown a battalion of infantry at gymnastics. The Chinese pay a great deal of attention to this form of exercise, and use all the ordinary apparatus found in a gymnasium at home and in addition some of their own invention. No one who has seen trained Chinese soldiers at gymnastics can fail to be impressed by the extraordinary high level of the excellence displayed; in fact the Chinese appear to be born gymnasts. Every man of the battalion I saw at work was capable of performing the most difficult exercises, many of which require not only skill but a considerable amount of nerve and daring. We were next shown infantry companies at close order drill. As I expected this also was extremely good. and I think it may be fairly said that at purely parade-ground movements and the handling of arms, good Chinese troops are the equal of any.
When it comes to musketry, field training, &c., a very different story has to be fold. I was not given the opportunity of seeing any of Wu's troops at training of this kind, but those who have described it as being of an archiac description. There is no doubt that this most important part of a soldiers' training appeals very little
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to the average Chinese officer, the more spectacular parade ground movements and gymnastics being held to be of far greater importance.
I was not shown any artillery on parade, but saw one battery drawn up in the distance. The ponies were the ordinary small Mongolian ponies and I noticed that the majority of them were greys or whites.
11. Cadets.-General Wu has some 700-800 cadets in training at his camp. These are young men of 17 to 20 years of age and come from many of the northern provinces, thus there are no less than 300 from Kansu and contingents from Szechuan, Shensi, Honan, Shantung, Hupei, &c.
The general was evidently very proud of the part he was taking in training these future officers. He pointed out to me that whereas General Feng Yu Hsiang was working only for his own hand, he (Wu) was working for the good of China, for when their training was completed these cadets would be sent to their own provinces to train and reorganise their own troops,
12. That General Wu's influence and power have recently suffered anything in the nature of an eclipse or have in any way declined, I do not believe. During the few days I spent at Loyang there was a constant coming and going of personages of more or less importance.
Dr. C. T. Wang was there during most of my visit and on the day I left Li Hou-chi, the recently expelled Military Governor of Fukien, was expected. Other visitors included a representative of Tang Chi Yao, Military Governor of Yunnan and Mr. Carroll, an American, chief engineer of the Hankow-Szechuan Railway.
Neither did the general appear to be short of cash, though I was told the usual story of his troops being in arrears with their pay. There is a considerable amount of building going on in the camp, a very fine three-storied building is being erected as a reception hall and quarters for the general's guests, and also a new private residence. Perhaps the most interesting building is a temple restored at the general's own expense, in which are recorded on wooden tablets the names of all officers and men of the IIIrd Division who have fallen during General Wu's recent campaigns. 13. I had hoped to visit Kung Hsien Arsenal during my visit, but the general did not respond to my suggestion that I should be allowed to do so. He told me that there was little to see there, the American machinery (see my reports Nos. 6 of the 6th February, 1922, and 9 of the 22nd February, 1922) had not yet been erected, and the only munitions being manufactured were shells for field guns.
The arsenal itself is situated some 20 li west of Kunghsien station, within a few hundred yards of the railway line, with which it is connected by rail. The buildings are modern brick buildings enclosed by a brick wall, which (from the glimpse I got of it from the train) appeared to extend for some 250 x 200 yards, though this area is by no means covered with buildings.
14. A few words regarding General Wu himself may be of interest. I have met him on two previous occasions, but only at short interviews. In appearance General Wu is short, slight and of active build. He celebrates his 50th birthday this month. The impression I formed of him previously was confirmed during my recent visit, namely, that he is very quick in coming to a decision, nimble minded, but at the same time tenacious and determined once he has made up his mind. He is intensely patriotic, indeed his patriotism leads him on occasions to absurd lengths, as when he remarked to me that "there was no modern invention which had not in times past had its inception in China."
The general is extremely simple in manner and easily approached. He shows no signs of suffering from "swollen head." He gives his opinion very openly and frankly, and appears anxious to be informed on any subject on which his audience may be better informed than he is. He told me that it had been for a long time past one of his ambitions to visit foreign countries, and that when the reunification of the Country was completed he hoped to make a world's tour as the representative of China.
General Wu is much admired by his followers for his knowledge of the Chinese classics, which he is very fond of quoting and expounding at length. I was on several ccasions told of his high literary attainments and of the fact that he has qualified as a B.A. at the early age of 21.
I had been informed 'on good authority" that General Wu had lately taken to drinking to excess. I can only say that during the time I spent at Loyang I had all meals at the same table as he did and saw no signs of anything of the sort. The only liquid produced was Chinese wine, which proved to be completely innocuous.
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