py Major Bower, to whom, as will be recollected, has been intrusted the important work of organising the new Chinese regi. ment of the British army at Weihs leaves here on Tuesday to commence duty. Both by reason of his personality and record asa soldier and explorer, the selection of Major Bower appears to have been singularly successful one on the part of the home authorities. He is essentially of the modern school, with a knowledge of different races, and accustomed to surmounting sudden' obstacles. His journey from Cashmere across Tibet and Szechuan, down to Shanghai, some seven years ago first brought him into prominence as an explores, and was doubtless one of the causes of his being. sent to Northern China, during the China-Japan war, as a sort of unofficial military attache. However, it was impossible for him to be associated closely with the disorganised hordes which then made up the Chinese defensive force, so after gaining what information he could at a distance he returned to India. In 1896 ho accompanied the Indian contingent to Egypt, and went back with it to India, where he was appointed to the Intelligence, Branch of the Quartermastor-General's Department. Homo last summer on leave, the military aus thorities singled him out to organise the new Chinese regiment. It is understood that it will consist of about 1,045 men, enlisted at Weihaiwei for three years' general service—that is, liable to be sent to any part of the world—under the provisions of the Army Acts. There will be 28 British officers and 12 non-commissioned officers. Major Bower's immediate subordinate will be Captain Bruce, of the West Riding regiment, who is expected almost immediately from Hongkong. Another officer, who isar present here, will be Lieut. Wood, son of ete 8 Wood, who volunteered for service from Egypt, and came on here, without going home, directly after the battle of Omdurman.
The new regiment is to be an infantry one, armed with the Martini-Metford rifle, a weapon which has been highly spoken of as the result of experience in various parts of Africa, The men will be paid $8 a month, and when the other advantages of the service are taken into account there should be little difficulty in obtaining a select body of men. Major Bower's first difficulty will, apparently, be that of securing accommodation for the new troops at Weihaiwei, for, at present, so far as can be learned, there is nothing ready in that respect. The uniform has not yet been settled, but in all probability it will be a picturesque but serviceable adaptation of the dress of the Chinese soldier. As to the fighting qualities of the men it is, of course, too early to speak with certainty, but, knowing the class from which they will probably come, Major Bower is san-guide that in due time he will command a really effective force. It is undeniable that Chinese troops at times have shown conspicuous bravery, and if illustrations were needed of the power of British officers to make a good army out of the most unpromising material, no better one could be given than that of Egypt. In 1882, when the organisation was commenced; the Ezyptians were looked upon as likely to make, at the best, but indifferent soldiers. How they have, under British guidance, won a most honourable record is too fresh in the public mind to need comment. If the new Chinese regiment—which starts with far more promise—only equals the Egyptians, the Labour and expense will be well rewarded.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.