In the course of an extremely interesting lecture upon war,
in which he strongly defended military training, Lord Wolseley on Thursday took occasion to repeat an old opinion of his,— that a great army might be formed in China. He believes the Chinese to possess all the attributes which enable men to become good soldiers, and would undertake himself, with a supply of European officers, to make a Chinese army "which it would indeed be hard to beat." General Gordon thought the same ; and we have little doubt that the Chinese capability of fighting is for the moment gravely underrated. But to convince the public Lord Wolseley should deliver a lecture showing bow he proposes to overcome the two difficulties in his way. The Chinaman is a strong man always, and a brave man when he chooses ; but unless he is fighting for a secret society he seldom chobses. He does not think victory worth while, and he is immensely tempted to sell his comrades. The General who could eradicate those two weak- nesses could no' doubt make a Chinese army, but mere discipline will never do it. There is, we believe, evidence in existence that the Chinaman who turns Mahommedan is a very dangerous soldier indeed„ a fact we may find out in Burmah before all is done.
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