COMMUNIST ARMIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 102, 3 May 1939, Page 10

COMMUNIST ARMIES.

Mr. M. T. Green affirms that the increased military power of General Chiang Kai-ehek is consequent upon his employing "Communist armies." And he adds: "the Communist annies, as a matter of fact, are the best fighters." Without granting meticulous accuracy to that quoted statement, I beg your hospitality in this column to ask the learned commentator to explain the "fact." Up to the conflict in China, Communist armies have engaged with Christian armies—in Poland and in Spain; and all the world knows with what result—complete defeat of the Communists, accompanied by last-hour desertion on the part of their leaders. The Communist record in Spain certainly shows some achievement in its sinister business of liquidating about r>oo.ooo unarmed men. women and children; but against firmed men they seemed rather deficient in the qualities of "the best fighters"'! Similarly in Poland. The explanation usually accepted is that soldiers aflame, with mere hate too readily <rive way to despair when put to the te*t of battle. Hate, thousrh black in dpp<l. lacks one hectic feature of the blackbird. What, then, explains the peculiar "fact" that Chinese Communist armies fighting' against Japanese show powers of resistance and fortitude superior to those exhibited by Communist soldiers of the Western world? HUGH McHAIGH.