The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-10-04
Chinese Red Army
Devoted Defender
of Soviet China

IOt Soviet China
ABOUT the Chinese Soviets, thu
- Lytton Commission, organized BY
the League Of Nations to investigate
the japanese invasion of China ir
1892, was compelled to report:
Communism in China not only
means, as in most countries other
than the U.S.S.R., either a politi-
cal doctrine held by certain mem
bers Of existing parties, or the or
ganization Of a special party to
compete fer power with other po-
litical parties. 1t has become an
actual rival of the National gov
eminent. 1t possesses its own law,
army and government, and its own
territorial sphere Of action. For
this state Of affairs there is no
parallel in any other country"
Of course, the Lytton report,
yoicing the interests Of a body fun
damentally opposed to the soviets
and all they stand for, could not
explore the social bases Of this for
midable Flaw, army and govern
ment."
One sixth of China, a vast area
larger than Germany and a third
more populous, is in the hands of
Soviets and defended by devoted
Red Army, which is fighting to ex-
tend its power throughout the
country. Whence it's strength
Revolutionary progress made in
the Chinese Soviet regions is the
explanation for the new successes
OF the Chinese Red Army" answers
agnes Smedley in her latest book,
The Chinese Red Army Marches. -
international Publishers, $3.50
The anti-feudal, agrarian land
revolution had been carried to com
pletion. A sound economic and
financial policy had consolidated
Soviet power and won the most pas
sionate support Of the masses with
IN the Soviet regions and even in
The Kuomintang areas beyond
whose populations are bent under
the fearful burdens of feudal and
capitalist exploitation. The laws
passed at the first Congress of the
Soviets have been put into effect
and drastically improved the con-
ditions of all workers and peas
ants"
THE devotion of the Red Soldiers
is DRAMATICALLY expressed BY
Smedley in the sketch, Days in the
Red Army" The Reds had beaten
back an assault of the Human Pro-
vincial Army, commanded by a Left
Kuomintang militartsts. "You can
go nome If you wish" the Red Com
mander had told deserters from the
Whites and peasants and coolies
who had lined up with the Red
fighters. 1--WE can give you each
one dollar only and a little rice for
the trip, for we have not even
enough to feed ourselves. Or
if you wish, you can fight with us
for the Revolution"
Most of the soldiers said thew
would stay and fight.
Tire and fanished, the Red SOL
diers trudged towards the village
of Mientow.
Now and then man with low
cred head muttered under his
breath:
Rape my ancestors, but I'm hun
cry"
When we get to Mientow we'll
eat. In Mientow live the landlords
who own all this land and these
miserable villages. They're feeding
the Whites there-rape their soulsl"
There was not need to fight. The
Whites had fled. The Confscation
Committee of the Red Army seizes
the homes, riches and property of
the landlords. The Committees
notices rally the villagers:
"The Chinese Red Army Of
workers and peasants, fighting for
the agrarian and anti-imperialist
revolution, has on this day con-
fiscated rice, salt, medicine, shoes,
silver money and war clothing
from the rich who Cypress and
loot he oilers. has taken the.
loot of the oppreSSOrs as a dona-
ton to the revolution! Signed:
The Chinese Red Army, Mientow,
on the last day of March, 1925"
Other proclamations were written
and pasted on the homes of the
people by the Political Department.
None of the poor homes were mo-
Tested, no bar across their doors
touched. On the walls Of the towns,
high up so they could not be easily
reached and washed off, big slogans
were written in white paint:
Down with the landlords and
rich merchants, hooters and de-
ceiyers of the poor!" Land to the
peasants!" Eight hour day for
the workers." Down with the
Kuomingtang, Running Dogs of
the Imperialists!" Long Live the
Peasant Unions!" PAY No Rent,
No Debts, No Taxes!" "Long Live
the Red Army of Workers and
Peasants"
The Red fighters ate, washed, and
slept the night in town. Arising in
the late afternoon they ate again,
and shod the wounded swollen feet
in new cloth shoes or sandals. Then,
gathering up their new supplies