was by no means unexpected. He had seen Russian troops before and thought them bad. Nobody was afraid any longer of the tiger that had devoured so many nations (Russia). He considered that there was no serious clash of interests that could provoke war between Russia and China, nor did he believe in the possibility of a fresh war between Japan and Russia. The former country was sufficiently exhausted by the last war and the latter had neither the strength nor the courage to start a new one. Military reforms in China were indissolubly connected with reforms in all departments of social life. Although there were many opponents of all that was new, fresh partisans were being gained each year for reforms after the Japanese pattern. Japan's amazingly rapid development was proof of the possibility of China's awakening in the near future from her centuries of sleep. The Japanese were closely related to the Chinese, and what the former had succeeded in achieving, the latter would also accomplish. Peiping was constantly urging energetic work for carrying out reforms. The most necessary things, however, were new laws and education. With education the conviction of the necessity of reforms would become general. In Eastern China the army had been reorganised and conscription was to be introduced. In the province of Sinkiang new exercises, new uniforms, military schools and various other reforms were to be introduced, but the deciding factor, said the old fellow, would be the railway line to Urumchi. Once that was completed, they need not fear anyone. Before it was built fresh troops would scarcely be sent here, as the cost of each man's journey now amounted to about 200 lan and the peaceful condition of the country rendered an increase in the garrisons unnecessary. The Sarts and Kirghiz were too cowardly to do as soldiers. The idea of recruiting troops among them had been given up. He attached the chief importance in a soldier's training to target shooting. He had done away altogether with old-fashioned Chinese fencing and exercises. Unfortunately, he was still forced
) 170 (
IIIF Color HighRes
