THE NEW CHINESE ARMY.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12905, 17 February 1906, Page 7

THE NEW CHINESE ARMY.

I phma^^ea^ly\^^tiiig- ; a':ne'sv army; under, iris believed] Japanese supervision" Some interesting particulars of what* -is being done, iaye ;been supplied to -the London " Times " by a correspondent; Tie" present army is comparatively small, by the end of the year it is expected tl'at it -vvill; consist of 10" divisions? of 1 some 12,000 men eacb, with over IQSOO men; in the .reserve,- ;. An. extensive and apparently a -well-considered scheme bf organisation has been drawn up for the future, probably under competent.. Japanese advice. Under this scheme/-fre are told, it is proposed to increase the number of divisions to 36, and the correspondent seems to think that this may be accomplished in 10 years, or even" in five: This would give China the truly force of 432,000 men, with a reserve of a quarter of a million, and, if. they are true to the sample at- the recent manoeuvres, they will relieve the Powers veiy effectually of all further anxiety for the integrity and independence of the Chinese Empire. Not the least remarkable feature about the new organisation is that it is national and not provincial. The army, it is also worth noting, is recruited-

Jby voluntary enlistment, but, as the pay is high, and regular and the-soldiers .enjoy certain exemptions from tne land "lax, there is no difficulty in filling the ranks, notwithstanding the high standards of character and physique which are required for admission. Great efforts are being made to dispel the traditional contempt, for soldiering which is conspicuous in Chinese civilisation. The highest in the land are taking an active interest in the creation of the national army; two Royal princes attended the manoeuvres, mounted and_ in uniform, and an Imperial decree has lately ordered all princes, nobles, Chinese, and Manchu officials to nominate one or two of their sons for education in a military school for nobles, which is to be opened in the capital." Officers are already being taught" their profession on v Western lines "in military colleges, while others are sent abroad to; learn on the Continent or in Japan; in fact, as the correspondentAsays, a serious attempt is being made to officer the national army with well-educated young men of good family.