Before the Boxer disturbances of 1900 the exceedingly miscall rifles in the bands of baffle description, this country, owing to the avarice and dishonesty of the mandarins concerned, being made the dumping ground of every kind of obsolete firearm that had been discarded by the various Powers. Of recent years, hower, bitter experience has taught the responsible officials of this Empire to seek the best arms available, but although matters appear better than before there is still a la of uniform mity, each high provincial general showing partiality for the arms prodaced by certain countries, regardless of what his brother satrap may be purchasing at the same time. An exami it the matter by the officials of Reorganisation Department at Peking now shows that while the Mauser rifle" seems to be the general favourite throughout the country, in the proporlov of seven-tenths of that make to three-tenths of other makes, the bores still lack uniformity. We uow understand that orders have be the Army Reorganisati to the Viceroys and Governors of provinces henceforth to arm the troop: der them entirely with 6.5 milli bore Mausers and to reject all n different bores. In this manner it is expected to arm the troops of the Em-with rifles of a uniform bore within 'a year, for which the cartridge factories throughout the country are already commencing manufacturing the necessary ammunition. This important principle of homogeneity is also to be oextended to the artillery arm, that is to say, field, mountain, and garrison artillery will each maintain a certain calibre, guns and howitzers of different bores being exceptions to the general rule.
The Troops of Kiangsu Province reorganised in accordance structions of the Pekin, Reorganisation Department, an ions are also being renamed, while the officers commanding them have received orders from Viceroy Chou Fu to be diligent und energetic in attending to the drilling and shooting practice of their men, as at the end of each year Special Imperial Commissioners will be sent down from Peking carefully to inspect not only the troops of Ki: but also the forces of other provinces of the Empire, Promotions and rewards can be expected only after thoroughness has been shown to the Imperial Commissioners each year, whilst the officers of those battalions who have proved themselves incapable and lacking in intelligence in taking cure of their men will be cashiered or degraded in rank.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.