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CHINESE UNITE

NEW METHOD TO FIGHT JAPANESE

AMERICAN OBSERVER IMPRESSED GROWING PEASANT RESISTANCE. From inside Chinese provinces, supposedly conquered by Japan. Major Evans F. Carlson, United States Marine Corps, retired, brings a story of growing peasant resistance (says the "Christian Science Monitor"). He believes this resistance can eventually expel the invaders —provided America stops supplying Japan with wai' materials.

Major Carlson left active duty in China and retired to the freedom of unofficial speech and writing, in order to tell America wnat he had seen behind the Japanese lines. In shadowy courtyards and on nocturnal forays with guerilla bands across Japanese areas, he witnessed the sinewing of a form of Chinese resistance that is as hard for the Japanese to detect as it is for them to combat.

“The most remarkable thing about the rebirth of Chinese nationalism is that it springs from within each individual,” Major Carlson declares. “The Japanese invasion is doing for China what China’s own leaders preached for years with only indifferent results. Unity now springs from a mutual dislike of Japanese rule and a clearer realisation that China can be freed only by co-operative effort.” EXPLORED JAPANESE AREAS Three times since 1927 Major Carlson has crossed the Pacific on China duty, for a total of seven years. He speaks the language and sympathises with the people. His last tour duty began one month after Japan invaded North China in the summer of 1937. Setting off into the interior, he explored the fringes of Japanese occupation in the Central China provinces of Hunan. Hupeh, and Shensi. “What I saw so impressed me with the pattern of resistance being developed among the peasants that I asked permission to attempt a crossing of North China with the guerillas,” the major declares. “Starting in Inner Mongolia, I was passing from one guerrilla band to another clear through North China to Shangtung. We ran the Japanese lines five times.

STARTLING TRANSFORMATION. “During January and February, 1938, most of the Chinese close to Japan’s northern conquests had resigned themselves to alien domination. They gave little co-operation to the guerrillas, who were still carrying on the fight for independence. “Returning through the same districts in July of 1938, I found a startling transformation. Centres of resistance had sprung up. The peasants were learning how to organise secretly and effectively. “The most impressive organisation exists in the Wu T’ai Mountain district, centring one Shansi province. It is my conviction that the future China is being pioneered in this district. Rugged mountains have enabled the Chinese to turn back repeated Japanese attacks, so Wu T’ai is an island of resistance spreading its influence into occupied areas.” ; As described by Major Carlson, the new defence network derives many of its features from Chinese who represent various stages of Communist thinking. Yet the name “Communist” seldom means in North China today the Soviet Russia variety, Major Carlson explains. He saw no Russian advisers among the Chinese. On the other hand, this is the region of refuge for Communists who fled north-westward before General Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalist armies in 1936. At Sianfu the general himself was held prisoner by forces friendly to the Communists in December. 1936.

The basic social outlook brought into China from Russia during the early days of the Chinese Republic by Dr Sun Yatsen and his Russian adviser, Borodin, appears to have survived in in forms adapted to necessities of the defence against Japan. CHIANG HOLDS COMMENT. Major Carlson significantly reports that in his talks with General Chiang after returning from the Japanese-oc-cupied areas, he found the Chinese leader reserved in commenting on the peasant movement in T'ai and the north-west generally.

“The Generalissimo walks a narrow middle path,” Major Carlson says. “He knows there are powerful Chinese interests opposed to making the masses articulate. An education of the masses is the foundation of peasant resistance in the north. Leaders teach the people that China can be freed only if every man, woman and child does his duty. “The success of this indoctrination is amazing. Everywhere in North China the people are being organised for long-term survival in self-sufficient units. The hsien, or county, is taken as a basis, with several hsien usually organised for co-operation in defence, education, and industry. “The industrial co-operatives arc making up. to a large extent, for industries lost on the coast. Each economic element in the population is organised separately—workers, tillers of the soil, women, and so on.

“The people are taught how to select their own town officials, often after only three months of instruction. Within six months they choose county officials.

"Peasant co-operation with the guerillas has improved. The Eighth Route Army sets an example of discipline and morale I have seldom seen equalled in any army. The soldiers are taught that the people are their allies and are not to be abused. In China, this is' a social revolution in itself, just one of the tremendous things happening out there.

“When you enter a village with a detachment of ~io Eighth Route Army, the horses halt on a signal. Two peasants step out from doorways opposite your horse. In the dark you are whisked into a courtyard. A few minutes later the street sleeps as quietly as though nothing had disturbed its rest. A PATH THROUGH. “I crossed railways held by the Japanese. when the guerrillas took 300 pack animals across 10 miles of occupied territory, and forded a river. Guerrilla bands set up diversions by attacking Japanese garrisons on both sides, and we went through the middle.”

Major Carlson is a mine of stories.

Some new twist of Chinese ingenuity constantly crops up as he talks. There is Lu, the Chinese peasant who gradually organised an army, and received the name of his own town, La T'ain Lu, from his grateful townsmen. And that other Chinese who tired of small-scale guerilla operations. He joined the Japanese, went to one of their military schools, became head of a brigade, .and at the first opportunity turned his troops and Japanese-pur-chased equipment over to General Ma Chan-shan. Chinese loader in the extreme north-west. "General Chiang is counting on a long-range campaign,” Major Carlson states. "Already troops are being trained for the day when Japan’s armies begin to withdraw toward the sea. That is the moment chosen for vigorous counter-attack. All depends on whether China can hold out. I believe China can, but much suffering can be saved the Chinese people if America, for one. stops selling war materials to Japan.”

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WAITA19400529.2.73.8

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 May 1940, Page 9

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,084

CHINESE UNITE Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 May 1940, Page 9

CHINESE UNITE Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 May 1940, Page 9

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