Directory_and_Chronicle_1920 — Page 653

CHINA

585

ITA

问

Hungary with 16, Belgium with 20, Denmark with 23, Spain with 9, Norway with 11, Sweden with 3, and the non-Treaty Powers with 36; but, as the British Commercial Attaché has remarked, much depends on the definition and status of a commercial firm. The principal dependencies of China have been Mongolia, with an area of 1,288,035 square miles, and some 2,000,000 people; and Manchuria, with an area of 362,000 square miles, and an estimated population of 19,290,000. Outer Mongolia in 1912 asserted her independence of Chinese sovereignty, and obtained the formal recognition of Russia, but under the Russo-Chinese Treaty concluded in 1915 the suzerainty of China was recognised and the autonomy of Outer Mongolia agreed to. Towards the end of 1919 Outer Mongolia petitioned to return to the authority of Peking. The petition was granted, and the several treaties with Russia were abrogated. Inner Mongolia is a dependency of China. Manchuria has in recent years been steadily and rapidly colonised by Chinese, who greatly outnumber the Manchus in their own land. Tibet, which is also practically a dependency of 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 The Chinese troops were withdrawn and the Dalai Lama returned to the Tibetan Capital.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. Taking advantage of the weakened authority of Peking the Tibetans are again showing an inclination to throw off the suzerainty of China.

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 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 was 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 were called out for thirty days' training every year, and inen 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 of 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 creation of the National Army tended to the centralisation of authority, and enabled the Peiyang party to dominate the counsels of the nation. 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.

One great difficulty in the organisation of a modern Army was the lack of properly trained officers. The Model Army created by Yuan Shih-kai did much to meet the need. This model army, consisting of 5,000 men carefully selected from the better classes, was drilled by General Wang Shih Chin, late Minister of War, but