CHINA'S NAVY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14225, 23 November 1909, Page 5

CHINA'S NAVY.

LESSONS FROM ENGLAND. By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright.

(Received November 22. 10.30 p.m.) London, November 22. His Majesty the King on Saturday granted an audience at Windsor to the Chinese mission which has arrived to study the organisation of the British navy( TRAINING OF CHINESE CADETS. The Chinese Board of War has determined that the navy shall be restored within eight years. For j this purpose the "naval area" is to be divided into three parts—Peyang in the north, Kwangtung in the south, and Nanyang in. the central. The reorganisation is* to be commenced at once, and Tong Shao Ye, ex-Governor of Manchuria, who recently left Pekin for America on a mission to thank America for its action in returning the indemnity of £2,000,000 in connection with the Boxer troubles!,: has been authorised to engage the best naval experts available. It is stated that there is every likelihood of America securing the contract for the building of China's • first modern battleship. The Government has been petitioned to devote 15,000,000 dollars for the equipment of the navy. Chinese cadets are now being sent from the military colleges of Paoting Fu, Nanking, and Wuchang to undergo complete ' military training in France, the course being arranged to extend over a period of five and a-half years. Special facilities are to be granted by the French Government, and all j the expenses are to bo defrayed by the Chinese Ministry of War. The allowance for each student is fixed at 2000 francs yearly. Steps are being taken to see whether the British. Government might not assist in the movement by allowing a similar body of Chinese . students to study in Great Britain. , : -