CHINA
565
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 district being expected to furnish a given quota of men. For this purpose the country has been divided into six military districts.
As military expenditure absorbs such a large proportion of the available revenue of the country-no less than 70 per cent. according to ex-President Li Yuan Hung- disbandment of troops has been considered a first step to re-organisation. Partial disbandment has been accepted in principle by the Peking Government, but, owing to the unsettled state of the country and the control of the troops by the Tachuns, no progress has been made in this direction.
The number of troops under arms in China is estimated at 1,350,000. Very few of these own allegiance to the Governinent, being merely the retainers of the Tuchuns, who use them against their rivals in the continual fight for personal supremacy which has marked China's history in recent years.
Navy
Under the old régime each Province controlled its naval contingent independently of the Central Government, but the consolidation of authority in Peking which followed the Revolution has secured the placing of the Maritime Forces under the direct control of the Ministry of Navy, although that control at present is rather nebulous. For reasons which are obvious, the extensions which were contemplated have not been effected.
Under the programme drawn up by the Naval Commission headed by Prince Tsia Hsun, the following cruisers were added to the fleet-the Ying Swei and the Chao Ho, 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.
A recent report says there are 54 vessels now in active service, divided into three fleets. The 1st fleet numbers eleven cruisers stationed at the important seaports. The 2nd fleet consists of 40 vessels on duty along the Yangtsze. The 3rd fleet is made up of two transports and one cruiser, which is used as an officers' training ship.
The provision of Naval Bases is contemplated. Existing dockyards are inadequate for the requirements of the present fleet, and 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. At present, however, he is the sport of rival leaders for power. Part of the Navy is in the south, backing the cause
of Sun Yat-sen.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
The ports open to trade are:-Newchwang, Chinwantao, Tientsin, Chefoo, Woosung, Shanghai, Soochow, Chinkiang, Nanking, Wuhu, Kiukiang, Hankow, Yochow, Chang- sha, Shasi, Ichang, Chungking, Hangchow, Ningpo, Wênchow, Santu, Foochow, Amoy, Swatow, Canton, Samshui, Wuchow, Kongmoon, Nanning, Kiungchow, Pakhoi and Chengteh. Lungchow, Mêngtsz, Szemao and Tengyueh, on the frontiers of Tonkin and Burmah, are stations under the cognisance of the Foreign Customs. Mukden, Antung and Tatiengkow and other inland places in Manchuria, Kweihuichang, Kalgan, Dolonor, Chihfeng, Taonanfu, Hulutao, and Lungkow have also been declared open to foreign trade. The import trade, exclusive 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:-
1921. 1922....
Net Imports from Foreign Countries.
.Hk. Tls. 906,122,439 945,049,650
1922 equals at-
""
Ex. 1.49 Mex. $1,408,123,978
Ex. 3/9
£126,006,62)
Net Exports to Foreign Countries. Hk. Tls. 601,255,537 654,891,933
Mex. $975,788,980 £87,318,925
Total of Foreign trade.
Hk Tls. 1,507,377,976 1,599,941,583
""
Mex. $2,383,912,958
£213,325,545
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