2-979-556 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Canton Street-Guard, 1857. 'A considerable portion of the land forces are a mere municipal police; and, as we find it stated, among the allotted duties of a Chinese soldier, "the timid to guard the gate," the soldier here portrayed may not be very formidable, notwithstanding his show of arms...according to their articles of war, they say:..."When an officer is wounded or taken, the men shall make the utmost efforts to carry him off or rescue him; if they neglect to do so, and defeat ensues, the guilty men shall be decapitated"..."The utmost vigilance and silence are required of men on duty at any pass or post. On obtaining any information they must depute able men to communicate it speedily and secretly"...military regulations are as much disregarded as the above articles of war. In short, in a Chinese camp of the present day there is little or no discipline'. From "Illustrated London News", 1857.