Soldiering is an honoured pro fession in every civilized country but China, The Chinese have very little respect and less love for their defenders, nor did the Imperial Army show itself worthy of that name. A. soldier used to represent alone, She has to travel a long time before reaching the final goal, The Paradox of the People On the other hand, it must be remembered that the country, in far as the people are concerned, has never been divided. All the commotions that have taken place within the past two decades, have failed to disturb the solidarity of the Chinese as one race. Throughout the long series of internecine strifes between different factions, who for the time being happened to control various parts of the country, a Manchurian could alway trade and reside in peace in Kuangtung, one hailing from any of the provinces for the time being under Wu Pei-fu, would find no difficulty in securing admission into territory" governed by his political rival. What a paradox! China has livided, at the same time she is The solidarity of the Chinese held together by a tie of common tra tions, a common written language hundred and one other things is nevertheless, a redeeming feature, and an important factor, which will tend to simplify, to no small extent, the great task of bringing about her ultimate re-unification, It is. this ays more than anything else, that his saved her from a worse fate. All the dissensions and civil wars one after another, have been caused by her army. It is the army that forms a formidable impediment, nullifying all efforts of the civilians and the nation to unite. Nor it be just and fair to place all the blame and responsibility. on the military men. In short, it is only one of the unfortunate legacies, hereditary disease, as it were, Anherited by the present generation from their forebears, "No Inspiring Traditions western armies, the army is devoid of the inspiring traditions that are common other countries, namely a soldier's duty to his country and national defence, ete, ete. The Chinese army under the Empire was eve ated for police duties and for the purpose of dealing with internat and local dis turbance, and the matter of national defence was an incidental, of "secondary importance. This statement may appear unreasonable, but 4s supported by historical facts, 'AK is trae that there had been times when China was overrun by aliens of tome stock more or less affiliated with the Chinese themselves, At no time had she been threatened by a sedrué foreign invasion of such dimensions as to. nzecssitate the mobilization of her entire national resources. All the so-called foreign wars which she has had, have been, always had many armies, but she still without a national army'and never had one before. It is largely to this faulty institution, custom, Usage or tradition in the army that tone may trace all her present troubles and which her present rulers are exerting themselves to
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.