A New Zealander In The North China War

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 88, 15 April 1939, Page 10 (Supplement)

A New Zealander In The North China War

MR. JAMES M. BERTRAM, a New Zealand Rhodes Scholar, now knows as much of the martial qualities of the Chinese; as any other man alive. If you have thought that the martial qualities of the Chinese were not conspicuous you may be pardoned, for is there not a 'Chinese proverb, ''One does not make good iron into nails, or good men into soldiers"? But, according to Mr. Bertram, the Japanese have changed all that, at least in the regions of China which he visited last year. His was something more than a visit; he lived and marched for nearly fix months with the peasant soldiers of the Eighth Route Army, "the most mobile army in the world," gained the confidence of their leaders, and was deeply impressed, by their spirit and still more by the effect which their propaganda, and the influence of their good behaviour, is having on •■, the civilian population. For the Eighth Route Army, though now part of the national forces commanded by Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, is Communist and so of distinctive character. "Political education," both of its members and of civilians in its area, is an essential and

prominent part of its activity. But— as Mr. Bertram was convinced—it also knows how to fight. It has learned that to make frontal assaults on the Japanese, always better equipped, is ruinous. It confines itself almost entirely to guerilla fighting, in which its remarkable mobility, its capacity to withstand hardship, and its high morale make it especially formidable—and feared by the Japanese. As to the merits of the Japanese soldier, here is the judgment of a Chinese leader: They are well-trained, and very much better armed than our troops. They use their mechanical arms— tanks, armoured cars and 'plapes—■ , to great advantage when they get the opportunity. They are good a,z taking • cover, shoot well, and keep their arms in good condition. But they have very definite weaknesses. The Japanese infantry, we have found, are not very good at independent action. They depend entirely on mechanical means of transport for communications and supply. If these are cut off they are at a real disadvantage. They cannot use animal transport, or human labour, as our armies can. They cannot take advantage of the hill country but must follow the easiest and most level route—so we always fight in the hills, not in open country. . . . You see, outside of their main lines of advance, the Japanese hold nothing. Our troops are deep in, their

rear, and occupy practically the whole of the territory through which they have advanced. We have no rear to worry about, for we are fighting in our own country, and everywhere the people support us, give us food and assistance. . . So you see there are very good prospects for continuing the war in North China. The same leader, Chu Teh, asserted that the Japanese excuse for invading China—that they are fighting "Communism," is false. The Communists, he said, were loyally fighting with other Chinese armies for "a free and democratic Chinese Kepublic." Mr. Bertram says his observations fully supported this assertion. Nevertheless the reader may reflect that in the event of a Chinese victory the able and well-dis-

ciplined Communists would do more than their share in determining the character of the Republic. Mr. Bertram has written an admirably clear account, always interesting and often vivid, of what he saw in North China. He may have made the mistake of thinking that what he saw in the North is true of all China, or the further mistake of thinking that the fine spirit of the Chinese he knew best can in the end prevail against the Japanese. On these points the reader may feel doubts—which only time can confirm or banish. Meanwhile Mr. Bertram has made much plainer than hitherto the character of some of the Chinese people and the nature of the fight they are waging. Several good photographs, a map and a useful glossary help the narrative. Once, in Sian, Mr. Bertram attended what we would call a concert. The foreign guests were called upon to give items. One, an American woman, sang American cowboy ballads. He contributed a Maori liaka, "which was militant enough to be received with great enthusiasm." He explained it as "an anti-Imperialist war dance."