HOW CHINA CAN HELP THE ALLIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 June 1917, Page 6

HOW CHINA CAN HELP THE ALLIES.

Mr. Shi Gung Cheng, who was private secretary to the Chinese Ministry of tire Navy, tlms explains the part China, can take in this world war:— China liaa a standing army 800 000 strong;, ereated and trained during the last decade under the direction of her late (President, Yuan Shil Kai, when Viceroy under the old Manehu dynasty. Strong and courageous, China's army will fight well if adequately equipped and under good command. Her reserve force is small, as her army has only recently been reorganised on modern line?. But, with good training and equipment, a large reserve can he created at no distant date. Meanwhile the Chinese navy, though small and not up to date, might be useful in co-operating with the Japanese. fleet to patrol the Eastern seas. There is another direction in which .help could lie given to the Entente Powers. The Chinese Government own several munition factories, erected on modern lines. If properly organised and provided by the Allies with skilled labor, they could produce largo amounts ef munitions China can render more vital assistance to the Allies with her man power, '-vhich can be utilised for auxiliary work. The French Government have already indentured "2.1,000 Chinese laborers for industrial and agricultural work. Vwien I was in the interior of France a. few months ago, after my viist to the British and French fronts, 1 saw several factories in which many Chinese were engaged in the production of munitions. A similar experiment could be made in England, if the working population raise no objection.