Ports of the world - Canton/The Chinese Fleet

by the United States Bureau of Naval Personnel

THE CHINESE FLEET

HILE the Chinese fleet, in the minds of many people not acquainted with the astonishing progress made in China during the past few years, is as nonexistent as the navy of Switzerland, the traveler in China finds that the Government maintains a small, but quite efficient, force of ships, manned by highly intelligent and fairly well-trained native sailors.

During the rule of the Manchu dynasty each province controlled its own navy and worked independently of the central Government; but, with the formation of the Republic, a reorganization was effected, and in August, 1912, the Chinese fleet was placed under the control of the Ministry of the Navy.

The Government hoped, by bringing about an amalgamation of the naval units, to evolve a navy capable of dealing with domestic as well as foreign quarrels. It also planned to increase the efficiency of the navy by sending cadets abroad—especially to the United States and England—for the purpose of training them in the methods of modern naval warfare.

"The number of the personnel of the Navy," says the Statesman's Yearbook, "can not he stated exactly. Experience proves that the Chinese bluejackets, with training and discipline, can rank with any bluejackets in the world." In 1916, according to the China Yearbook, there were 20 gunboats, ranging from 300 to 1,500 tons, in the Chinese fleet; and also 11 torpedo boats, ranging from 26 to 50 tons, and 2 transports of 700 and 1,700 tons, respectively.

The Chinese Navy is now mainly under the control of the Peking Government—although some of the ships give their loyalty to the Government at Canton—and very frequently travelers on the Chukiang River are given the novel privilege of viewing a Chinese war vessel, manned by Chinese sailors, and commanded by Chinese officers, sailing up a Chinese river.

 

Victoria Hotel, Canton

 

Frequently the warships cruise up and down the stream in search of pirates, and after a taste or two of Chinese shell—

 

Grim Executioner Taking Head to Exhibit as a Warning, Canton

 

which of course hurts as much when it hits as American or English or any other shell—the pirates are only too glad to seek refuge among the hills and swamps. The pirates captured on such expeditions are usually taken to Canton and beheaded by the official executioners.

During the reign of the Empress Hsi-Tai-Hou, the Government appropriated $50,000,000 for the building of ships for the Chinese fleet. Tradition relates that instead of using the money for the purpose intended, the Empress built a magnificent summer palace, easing her conscience, in her own way, by building a marble boat near the palace.