Directory_and_Chronicle_1922 — Page 662

600

CHINA

The total number of foreigners in China was ascertained in 1920 to be 326,069 Of these 153,918 were Japanese, 144,413 Russian, 11,082 British, 1,013 Germans, 2,282 Portuguese, 7,269 Americans, and 2,753 (including protéges) French, other nationali- ties being represented by 3,339. In spite of the war, the number of Europeans has increased since 1915, and the total of Japanese residents has risen by nearly fifty per cent. in the same period, and the Russians by 240 per cent. within two years. The High Industrial Commissioner compiled a table in 1921 which showed the number of commercial firms to be 8,134. Japan headed the list with 4,878, followed by Russia with 1,780, the United Kingdom with 644, America with 413, Germany with 2, France with 171, Portugal with 93, Italy with 19, Holland with 25, Belgium with 26, Denmark with 27, Spain with 8, Norway with 12, Austria-Hungary with 5, Sweden with 4; 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 363,000 square miles, and an estimated population of 13,700,000. 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 has been formed into three special administrative districts, viz., Jehol, Chahar and Seinguan. 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.

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 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 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 nuder the control of the General Staff and the Ministry of War (the President being Commander-in-Chief), and are paid by the Central Government

·