June 30.
Tue reorganization of the Chinese navy is one of the many questions that are exercising the minds of or from time to time form the subject of discussion between high officials in Peking. During the last few months both our letters from the Japital and the Notes on Native Affairs have made frequent reference to the subject, although, it is to be feared, they have been able to record little in the way of definite progress. As in the case of so any, if not all, reforms the determining factor rapidly resolves itself into a consideration of ways und means, and at this stage the most ardent reformers to-day appreciate the necessity of—proceeding cautiously. In the present indeterminate condition of Chinese finance the plan of fixing on this or that Ministry or Provincial Department. financial responsibility for some new reform appears a simple and conclusive method to many of those whose business it is to pose as practical advisers to the Throne. But as it is left to others to evolve the details of the scheme and to put it into actual working order, the reform in question is for the most part in danger of finding its beginning and end on the memorial paper. Thus in the case of the reorganization of the Navy it was stated more than three months ago that the Ministries of War and Finance were to be called upon to provide jointly a sam of Tls. 10,000,000 for the purchase of ships, of which the upkeep was to be an annual charge in proportionate amounts upon the Provincial Governments. Nothing further was heard of naval reorganization, until it was announced that the proposal to employ for this purpose the amount of the Boxer Indemnity to be remitted by the United States had met with official approval.
From the embarrassing question of ways and means the Peking Councillors would seem to have turned with some relief to the actual details of organization and at once to have found themselves on smooth ground. Though unable to discover how ships were to be procured in the present condition of China's exchequer, they had no
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.