Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/845

 DEFENCE — PRODUCTION AND INDUSTRY 723

Defence.

The task of erecting an army on modern lines was inaugurated by Imperial decree in January, 1905, and in October, 1907, an edict was issued ordering the formation of 36 divisions in the various provinces of the Empire by 1912. Recruitment for this new army, which is called the Lu Chun, is on a principle of modified conscription (which in many provinces amounts to the voluntary principle owing to the dense population and the readiness to serve). The terms of service are 3 years with the colours, 3 in the first reserve^ and 4 in the second reserve, or 10 years in all. First reservists are called out for 30 days' training every year, and men in the second reserve for a like period every other year.

These 36 divisions, of about 10,000 combatants apiece, will eventually be comprised in two armies, a Northern and a Southern. In 1909 recruitment was furthermore commenced for a division of Imperial Guards. Fourteen divisions are understood to be complete and the formation of 16 more has been begun, a "mixed brigade" existing to represent each of them. A division consists of two brigades of infantry, each of 3 battalions, one regiment of cavalry, one regiment of artillery of 9 batteries, and one sap2)er battalion. Although the Guards Division, the 14 other divisions and the 16 mixed brigades ouglit to number about 250,000 men, it is estimated that the present strength does not exceed 180,000. The northern troops appear to be superior to the others both in training and armament. No organisation is as yet contemplated for the second reserve, which is su])posed to form an army in second line. Besides the Lu Chun there are provincial troops still in existence which are the remains of a force which the Lu Chun is super- seding ; these provincial troops are being reorganised to form a police ; they are under the control of the Viceroys of provinces and consist only of mouiited troops and infantry.

At the piesent time the army administration consists of the General Stafl' and the Ministry of War in Peking, and Military Councillors in various provinces. The total force, including })rovincial troops, patrol troops, &c., is A^ariously estimated as 300,000 to 500,000, and it probably is nearer the latter figure. Pay is considerably in arrears, efforts at disl)andment are met Avith great opi>osition, and in many districts the army in occupation has turned to its own profit the local sources of revenue.

The Chinese navy consists of the 4,300 ton cruiser Ilai Chi, (2 8-in., 10 ^ i. 47-in. guns) of 24-knot original speed, three 3,000-ton cruisers, Eai Yung, "^ - Hai Schcio and Hai Shen (3 6-in., 8 4-in. guns) and 19 5 knot original speed, ^^ a few miscellaneous vessels, some old torpedo boats, and some modern gun- boats built in Japan. Tw^o new cruisers of 2,750 tons each ( i^ing Swci and Chao-Ho) were built in Kngland in 1911, and one {Fei Hung) in America. Principal armament of all 2 6in. and 4 4in. Also 2 gunboats (displacement. 780 tons) built in Japan as complement to 12 others constructed there 1905-08, Various more extensive naval piogrannnes have from time to time been mooted, but none of them have as yet materialised. The number of the posonvel cannot be exactly stated, but it is worthy of mention that both the French and the Japanese who have fought against them, are unanimous in considering the Chinese bluejacket to be a very high asset.

Production and Industry.

China is essentially an agricultural country, and the land is all freehold held by families on the payment of an* annual tax. The holdings are in general small ; the implements used are primitive ; irrigation is common. Horticulture is a favourite pursuit, and fruit trees are grown in great variety. "Wheat, barley, maize, and millet and other cereals, with pease and

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