Show GOOD BUT COMES TOO LATE At last there comes from China a suggestion which if It had been made and squarely acted on three yenrs ago would now be the salvation of the empire em-pire for it Is only because China has no military force worth reckoning that she is now the contempt of all the nations na-tions which seek to prey upon her The suggestion comes from Yuan Shi Kai commandcrlnchJef of the army and is to theeffect that China should organize I organ-ize as a military power establishing schools for the training of noncommissioned noncommis-sioned officers and a compulsory military mili-tary service Think what that would mean Germany with a population of a little under 05000000 i has an army which numbers a little over 000000 on a peace footing and about 3000000 on a war fooling But think of what China might do with a population six times that of Germany However there are two things that destroy all chance of the suggestion amounting to much practically It comes too late and even should it nominally be adopted it I would be subject sub-ject in execution to the usual deadening delays and obstructions It is too late to save the China goose and the quicker quick-er It Is served up for the delectation of those waiting to devour it the better It Will be for all concerned including the mass of the Chinese themselves |