COWARDICE. 133 



cases plundering, are punishable • by death. But 

 Avhere crime is so widespread, it seems rather to be 

 aggravated than diminished by severity, and year by 

 year the Chinese soldiers become more demoralised. 

 But the picture we have drawn of the defenders of 

 the Celestial Empire is still incomplete. The most 

 striking trait in their character is cowardice, innate 

 in all Chinese, and not considered a disgrace ; far 

 from this, the discretion of the soldier who runs 

 away is sometimes highly praised.•^ The tactics of 

 warfare consist in frightening the enemy, never in 

 hazarding a resolute attack. The order of battle is 

 a semicircle threatening the front and flanks simul- 

 taneously ; the troops open fire at a distance ten 

 times further than the range of their guns, utter 

 fearful cries after every round, and altogether behave 

 in a childish way, which of course would produce no 

 effect on superior troops. A bold well-armed enemy 

 might march into any part of the Middle Kingdom 

 with perfect confidence of the result. He need not 

 trouble himself about the number of his opponents ; 

 one wolf will put to flight a thousand sheep, and 

 every European soldier Is a wolf In com.parIson with 

 Chinese soldiers. 



This was the state of affairs in Kan-su for ten 

 years. The Chinese garrisoned those towns which re- 

 mained faithful to them, while the insurgents ravaged 

 the country, neither of the belligerents taking more 



* It is hardly necessary to comment on this wild kind of talk. The 

 army of Colonel Gordon showed of what Chinese soldiers are capable 

 when rationally disciplined and boldly led. — Y. 



