674
CHINA
district being expected to furnish a given quota of men. For this purpose the country has been divided into six Military districts. The exact details of the method of selection have not been decided upon, and societies have been organised with a view to furnishing information on the subject which will be useful to the Ministry of War.
It is believed that the troops under arms in China number about half-a-million.
Navy
Under the old régime each Province controlled its naval contingent independently of the Central Government, but the consolidation of authority in Peking which has resulted since the Revolution has secured the placing of the Maritime Forces under the direct control of the Ministry of Navy. For reasons which are obvious, the extensions which were contemplated have not been effected, but there is every reason to believe that increases in the number of the smaller craft suitable for patrolling the water- ways will be sanctioned as soon as funds permit.
The largest vessel in the Chinese Navy is the protected cruiser Iiai Chi of 4,300. tons displacement and 24 knots original speed, carrying a main armament of 2 8in. guns, 10 4.7in. guns and 5 above-water torpedo-tubes. There are also three 3,000-ton cruisers -Hai Yung, Hai Chu, and Hai Chen--each of 19.5 knots speed, carrying main arma- ments of 3 6in. and 8 4.1in. guns, together with one submerged and two above-water torpedo tubes. All the above vessels were acquired during the years 1897 and 1898. There are, in addition, a number of antiquated cruisers, torpedo boats, and some modern gunboats built in Japan.
Under the programme drawn up by the Naval Commission headed by Prince Tsia. Hsun, the following cruisers have been added to the fleet-the Ying Swei and the Chuo Io, both built in England, having each a displacement of about 2,600 tons and a contract speed of 20 knots. The main armaments consist of 2 6in. and 4 4in. guns. There are, in addition, a number of torpedo-boat-destroyers built in Germany, Austria and Italy, and two light draught river gunboats built in Japan. There is no attempt at uniformity-very much the reverse.
The provision of Naval Bases is contemplated. Existing dockyards are inadequate for the requirements of the present fleet, anil their plant is obsolete. The number of the personnel cannot be exactly stated.
Practical experience demonstrates that the Chinese bluejacket with training and discipline can rank with any bluejacket in the world.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
The ports open to trade are: Newchwang, Chinwantao, Tientsin, Chefoo, Woosung, Shanghai, Soochow, Chinkiang, Nanking, Wuhu, Kiukiang, Hankow, Yochow, Chang- sha, Stasi, Ichang, Chungking, Hangchow, Ningpo, Wênchow, Santu, Foochow, Amoy, Swalow, Canton, Samshui, Wuchow, Kongmoon, Nanning, Kiungchow, and Pakhoi. Lungchow, Mêngtsz, Szemao and Tengyueh, on the frontiers of Tonkin and Burmah, and Yatung in Tibet, are stations under the cognisance of the Foreign Customs. Mukden, Antung and Tatiengkow and many other inland places in Manchuria have recently been opened to foreign trade. By Fresidential Order of January 8th, 1914, the intention was declared of opening the following places to foreign trade:-Kweihuichang, Kalgan, Dolonor, Chilifeng, Taonanfu, Hulutao, and Lungkow. The import trade, ex- clusive of the Colony of Hongkong, centres chiefly at Shanghai, Tientsin, Hankow and Canton, while the bulk of the exports pass through the ports of Shanghai and Canton. The annual value of the trade of China coming under the supervision of the Imperial Maritime Customs was as follows:-
Net Imports from
Net Exports to
Foreign Countries. Foreign Countries.
Total of Net Imports of Foreign trade. Native Goods
1913... Hk. Tls. 570,162,557 Hk. Tls. 403,305,546 Hk. Tls. 973,468,103 Hk. Tis. 203,897,287 1914...
557,109,048
1914 equals at--
**
345,280,874
902,389,922
Ex. 1.47, Mex. $818,950,300 Mex. $507,562,884 Mex. $1,326,513,185
2s. 8 d., £76,022,172
£123,138,625
Ex.
£47,116,453
99
192,061,801
Mex. $282,330,847
£26,208,433
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