The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-04-16
LETTER FROM sHANGHAp

The fourth offensive OF the Kuomintang
armies is commencing against Soviet
China. The Chinese counter-revolution. which
makes attempt to defend China against
Japanese and international imperialism, is al.
ready sending large forces against the Chinese
Soviet districts. There is no doubt that the red
troops of the Chinese SovietS will repeI this
fourth offensive with just the same energy and
bravery and with just the same success as they
repealed the first three offensives. The follow
ing letter, which has arrived from Shanghai
after considerable delay contains interesting
details regarding life and the fighting in the
Chinese Soviet districts-Ed.
'You ask why this work Is so difficult? Why
/, 1t was 50 hard to locate the main forces OF the
Reds? will explain this to you. In the course
OF three to four years, in district some hun
dreds OF Ii in extent, hundreds Of thousands of
people were poisoned by Communist teaching
AL adult men are either in the Red Army or in
the Red Guard Even the OLD folk, juveniles and
women are rnilitarily organized, for example in
the laundries, IN the pioneer and other auxiliary
formations and in the Young Guard. They are
the eyes and the ears of the Reds. They supply
the Reds with food and provide them with hiding
places. Thus the Reds no matter where they may
go, do not need to make any special prepare
AS soon we venture to advance too far into
the Soviet districts transport becomes extraor-
dinarily difficult. The whole Of the population
take to the mountains, taking all the stores with
them. The old folk, women and children who are
left behind are the spies of the Reds. We there
fore have TO be on our guard at every step. If
food supplies do not arrive from the base. we
are compelled ourselves to gather in the harvest
Of the peasants and prepare our own food :. 1t
is impossible TO transport sick soldiers. =. Thus
the Reds here are the masters while we are mere
strangers. They can easily obtain what they need
whilst we are continually laboring under diff
culties. They enjoy rest while we are continually
exerting ourselves. They know everything, while
we grope about in the dark. -"
These are the words of General Tchen Min
Sjui, who commanded the right wing of the Ku-
ornintang troops in the third campaign Of Chang
Kai-shek against the Chinese Soviets in XII
angst That the Kuomintang army found; it very
hard TO locate the main forces Of the Reds is
of course fact. The third anti-Soviet campaign
was shattered A white army 100000 strong out
numbering the Red Army two to one and far ex-
ceeding it in regard to technical equipment and
the qualification of its commanders, and in add.
ton supported in every way by the innperahsts
was forced to beat hasty retreat leaving be-
hind more than 10 600 rifles and huge quantities
If other equipment which fell into the hands Of
the Red Army. About II regiments OF the Kuo-
mintang army vent over to the side of the revo-
luton. Even now the Chinese Red Army are
winning fresh victories over the Kuonintang.
In the course Of the months OF December and
January the important town of kanchow as
we'll as a number of smaller towns in the South
Of Kiangs were cleared of whites, whilst in the
North of Kiangsi the Red troops are approach