Directory_and_Chronicle_1926 — Page 600

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CHINA

One great difficulty in the organisation of a modern Army was the lack properly trained officers. The Model Army created by Yuan Shil-kai did much meet the need. This model army, consisting of 5,000 men carefully selected from thi better classes, was drilled by General Wang Shih-cheng, late Minister of War, bu it has been absorbed in the regular army. Several military colleges have been opene including an aviation school at Nanyuan.

During 1915 the principle of conscription was approved by the Government, bu the financial difficulties which are ever present in China made it impossible to carry into effect. The system is different from any which obtains in other countries, eac district being expected to furnish a given quota of men.

For this purpose th country was divided into six military districts.

As military expenditure absorbs such a large proportion of the available revenu 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. Partia disbandment has been accepted in principle by the Peking Government, but, owing t the unsettled state of the country and the control of the troops by the Tuchuns, n progress has been made in this direction.

The number of troops under arins in China has been estiinated at 2,000,000. Ver few of these own allegiance to the Government, being merely the retainers of that Tuchuns, who use them against their rivals in the continual fight for personal supremac which has marked China's history in recent years.

Navy

Under the old régime each Province controlled its naval contingent independentl 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 contro of the Ministry of Navy, although that control at present is rather nebulous. Fo reasons which are obvious, the extensions which were contemplated have not beer 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.

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, Chilfeng, Taon niu, Hulutao, and Lungkow have also been declared open to foreign trade. The import trade, exclusive of the Colony of Hongkong, centres chicfly at Shanghai, Tientsin, Hankow and Canton, while the bulk of the exports pass through the ports

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