Directory_and_Chronicle_1916 — Page 766

CHINA

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China, has an area of 643,734 square miles and a population of over 6,000,000. Down to 1910 it was ruled by the Dalai Lama, but subject to the Government of Peking, which maintains a Resident at Lhassa. In consequence, however, of the Dalai Lama's refusal to comply with the demands of Peking, a Chinese military expedition was dispatched to Lhassa and he fled to India, where he remained for over a year. Meanwhile the great revolution broke out in China. The Tibetans seized the opportunity to proclaim their independence, and again a military expedition was sent to Tibet, but more conciliatory methods had to be adopted. The Chinese troops were withdrawn and the Dalai Lama returned to the Tibetan Capital. The tripartite conference at Simla in 1914 to determine the status of Tibet and delimit the boundaries ended in failure, no agree- ment being arrived at, but another Conference is being called to settle the outstanding questions between China and Great Britain, this time in London.

DEFENCE

Army

Until 1895 China had no regular modern troops, but the disasters of the Sino- Japanese War demonstrated the necessity for a National Army. Five divisions known as the Wu Wei-chun were then raised, but the majority of these were afterwards disbanded, and only one division remained to form the nucleus of the Lu-Chun or new National Army.

President Yuan Shih Kai undertook the reorganisation of China's Military forces, but accomplished little outside of Chihli, where he raised completed six divisions of modern troops between 1903 and 1906. However, a real start was made in 1907 as the result of an Imperial edict ordering the formation of thirty-six divisions in the various Provinces of the Empire by 1912. Recruiting for this new Army is on a principle of modified conscription, the terms of service being three years with the colours, three years in the first reserve, and four years in the second reserve, or ten years in all. First reservists are called out for thirty days' training every year, and men of the second reserve for a like period every other year.

These thirty-six divisions were to have an establishment of about 10,000 combatants each. In 1909 recruiting was also commenced for a division Military Guards. At the outbreak of the Revolution in 1911, thirteen divisions were practically complete and the formation of nineteen more had been begun. A division consisted of two brigades of infantry, one regiment of cavalry, one regiment of artillery and nine batteries, one sapper battalion, and one transport battalion, besides medical and other units, etc. In all, the number was nominally about 250,000; actually, it was about 180,000.

The Provincial Militia, which undertook the duties of civil police and was engaged mainly in the suppression of robbers and bad characters, is still in existence and may be utilised for military purposes, or as the nucleus of some gendarmerie organisation. The creation of the National Army, which is still proceeding, tended to the centralisa- tion of authority, and has thereby enabled the present administration to establish the greater measure of law and order which the country now enjoys. Theoretically all Military forces are under the control of the General Staff and the Ministry of War (the President being Commander-in-Chief), and are paid by the Central Government, the authority of the Ministry of War being delegated in each Province to specially appointed Military Commissioners. Provincial civil governors have no authority over the Military Lu Chun, but can call for their services when needed.

After the Revolution, the disbandment of the soldiery was a difficult problem, and was attended by a series of disturbances, which were, however, quelled in time, and order has now been evolved.

One great difficulty in the organisation of a modern Army has been the lack of properly trained officers. Several Military Colleges have recently been opened, including an Aviation School at Nanyuan, but perhaps the Model Army created by the President himself will do more than anything else to meet the need of trained officers. This model Army, consisting of 5,000 men carefully selected from the better classes, is being drilled by General Wang Shih Chin, the present Minister of War, and also by the President, who takes the liveliest interest in the progress of these cadets.

During 1915 the principle of conscription was approved by the Government, but the financial difficulties which are ever present in China made it impossible to carry it into effect. The system is different from any which obtains in other countries, each