reen Standard,
being the Chinese provincial forces. The nominal strength was from
20,000 to 30,000 for each province, or about 500,000 in all; the
actual strength was about one-third of this. They were enrolled to
keep the peace within their own province, and resembled a militia or
local constabulary rather than a national army. They were generally
poorly paid and equally badly drilled and armed.

The only real fighting force which China possessed at the beginning of
the 20th century was made up of certain special corps which were not
provided for in the constitution, and consequently used to be termed
_yung_, "braves," or irregulars, but had acquired various distinctive
names. They were enlisted by provincial governors, and all had some
smattering of foreign drill. They were also fairly well paid and
armed. After the Chino-Japanese War of 1894-95 some of these corps
were quartered near Peking and Tientsin, and came generally to be
spoken of as the Army of the North.

An imperial decree issued in 1901 after the Boxer rising ordered the
reorganization of the military forces of the empire, and on provincial
lines something was accomplished--especially in Chih-li under Yuan
Shih-k'ai, who practically created "the Army of the North." It was
not, however, until after the Russo-Japanese War that determined
efforts were made to organize a national army on western lines; an
army which should be responsible to the central government and not
dependent upon the provincial administrations. A decree of 1905
provided (on paper) for training schools for officers in each of the
provinces, middle grade military schools in selected provinces, and a
training college and military high school in Peking. The Army Board
was reorganized and steps taken to form a general staff. Considerable
progress had been made by 1910 in the evolution of a body of efficient
officers. In practice the administration remained largely
provincial--for instance the armament of the troops was provided by
the provincial governors and was far from uniform. The scheme[39]
contemplated the creation of a force about 400,000 strong in 36
divisions and in two armies, the northern and the southern.
Recruitment is on the voluntary principle, except in the case of the
Manchus, who apparently enter the new army instead of the "eight
banners." The terms of service are three years with the colours, three