It is stated from Peking that certain high officials of the Great Boards of the Capital ave drawn up a memorial to the 'Throne in their joint names' recommending among other much-needed reforms (1) the publication of sri: Imperial Edict joing away for ever with all race' distinctions, making those of descent! eligible for the' highest- rank or' posts' hitherto' the: sole privilege for'thoso' of the Manchu race'; (2) that civil and military grades' be. looked upon 2s equal: with one another; (3) that if a-nian ho found thoroughly fitted for any post: he' should: be appointed to tive of the: oficial rank' he may be'holding at the moment.. Apropos of" No: 2—this reform if granted' will certainly' have the most important influsnecs: on' the future of the people of China. Hitherto for century scion of a good: family would: willingly enter upon' a'military' life: owing tothe fact that: the: military officer is without excoption.benoath the Civil official. A Civil mandarin, for instance, of the' 6th rank may easily"rorder a military'officer holding: the same' stop. (5th) in" rank or even' higher to be' bambooed or otherwise punished for a sli whilst no person possess however low in the official scale, maybe bambooed unless: hobo first: reported tho'Throne and cashiered-and reduced to the rank of a commoner. Even a "Titty," which: title belongs' to both a General andian Admiral, if found guilty of'some: fault. may: suffer the' bamboo! Boverdor of: s% province. A ma with jonalty: at the hands of the Viceroy or!
military rank is looked'down upon and liable to suffer the bamboo penalty at any moment, for which reason person of decent family willingly takes' ap the profession, and only illitor are found in' ite. ranks: servic Secret 10 hold the pen' An Admiral or a' General ongagis the
for him, and who is' substantially the General' or Admirél but without the risks' of being bambooed, which puni ment hangs like: the. sword of Damocles over. the head of every present-day Chinese military or naval officer. Hence a man must be civil mandarin first and than he may take-up military or naval appointment: without danger of being despised, and free "from the: risk of the bamboo. This has been' the curse of China, 1 weak and Proper status, ty and naval pised while the civil" official up' out: of all proportion. over Once. Chinis' re-custom, and puts the-military, civil professions.on a par, and military. and naval officer.
16 education of.gentloman civil official, we shall titid youthful 10, bes only too eager to enter the Army or Navy, for, like the young men of other countries, they. are attracted by the brilliant trappings of the military officer coupled with the sense of power in being at the head of a body of fighters not possessed by the civil official, Japanese, or Russians? reported in mandarin circles that the Mongol Prince of the Kupintu' eague} has informed the Waiwuyu to the effec t that during the middle of July last a body of foreign troops tried to enter his territory declaring themselves to be Japanese enlisted men bound for Harbin. The Prince rent word that as his territory was neutral Jand_no belligerent would be permitted to use it in any manner, thereupon the foreigners suddenly without warning opened fire on his people Killing not few Mongol militiamen, This being beyond endurance the Prince states that he gathered his tribesmen. together and led them in person against'the invaders who after a short ght fled precipitately.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.