BfeUMl 369 



Their forces were badly fed, absurdly armed, clothed 

 ill a queer sort of nondescript dress, ragged, and of 

 any colour; always in arrears of pay, and if knocked 

 over, had nothing to look to as far as being cared for, 

 neither surgical treatment, hospitals, nor pensions being 

 known. Such circumstances or conditions are not con- 

 ducive to the manufacture of soldiers. The northern 

 men are fine big fellows ; and that they have the animal 

 courage and contempt of danger, has over and over 

 again been proved ; but they are badly led, or more 

 properly speaking not led at all, for the General and his 

 subordinates prefer squatting behind a wall and saying, 

 " Go ahead " to his soldiers. The idea of leading them 

 never seems to strike the of&cers. Armed with good 

 weapons, which they now are, if officered properly, and 

 with proper discipline instituted, I firmly believe they 

 would be most formidable troops against any enemy. 

 As for foreign officers entering their service, they might 

 do so for a time, but I don't think the Chinese will 

 ever retain the assistance of outside help in any way. 

 One of their traits is a settled jealousy of aU foreign . 

 help. To supply themselves whatever may be good 

 for the country, is far too inherent in their nature to 

 allow foreign aid ever to become a permanency. 



The day must come, sooner or later, when Russia 

 2 A 



