The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-08-19
Editorial Comment
Who Leads the Chinese Reds?,
washington Starr

In the dispatches from China telling of the uprising
OF the communists of the south against the Marking
government evidences appear that point to the mainten-
ance OF some degree of military order in the movements
in Human, Kiangsi and eastern Hupeh. The attack upon
Changsha and the looting. of that important industrial
city. with the large silk mills, was marked by an APP
parent purpose to secure funds and to destroy a source
of revenue for the Nationalist. Since then the COM
munlst sWarms have operated in two such distinct direc-
tions that a definite military plan is indicated. The pur-
pose apparently is to cut off Hankow from Marking, with
the neighbor cities to Hanyang and Wuchang-the three
are virtually one city, being separated by the Yangtse
and the Han-and also to capture Kiukiang, which lies
about 100 miles to the southeast. down the Yangtse.
These detectives are seemingly part of a general plan
to approach and possibly to capture Marking, the seat
OF the Nationalist government, which lies a little more
than 200 miles down the Yangtse from Kiukiang.
In these more or less orderly movements there is a
hint at something more than mere Chinese communist
direction. In the first place, the red bands that form
the body of the fighting forces in the field are all ir-
regulars, volunteers, bandits and deserters from the Ma
tionalist armies. If left to themselves they would
acknowledge no leadership beyond that which provided
the chow and the ammunition. Such leadership, how
ever. is not lacking. Hints have been given in the dis
patches OF the. presence OF Borodin. the erstwhile mill
tary adviser" of the Nationalist government who was
dismissed and all but executed by Chang Kaishek. This
Russian agent of the Soviet government at Moscow, in
the course of his several months OF connection with the
Kuomintang government of China, succeeded in estab-
fishing a number of communist centers in the southern
provinces. These centers have now sprouted their bale
full crop of radicals. who have taken the field. Borodin
was driven out of China-or at least out OF the range OF
the Nationalist government-some time ago. His wife
was under arrest in Peking for a while and barely eS-
capped execution as a spy. That Borodin has returned to
the field of his former activities and is now acting not
merely as military adviser, but as virtual commander,
of the communist forces is suspected. 1t is not an UNI
likely hypothesis. Moscow would be greatly pleased
to aid in The overthrow of the Nationalist government OF
China by communists.
1t is the possibility that is said to concern the north
ern coalition of insurgents against the Marking govern
ment, even while it is in the thick of its fight to win
Shantung from the Nationalist. For if the Moscow
inspired--if not actually sue
coed in overthrowing Nationalist authority in the south
they are quite likely to continue their campaign north
ward, in which case Yen Hsi-shan, Feng Yu-hsiang and
Wang Ching wei, the northern triumvirate now engaged
in organizing a new government at Peking, would have
| another war on their hands.