MILITARY EQUALITY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26199, 9 July 1946, Page 6

MILITARY EQUALITY

COMMUNIST DEMAND

FORCES IN MANCHURIA NEW YORK, July 5. Confirmation that the Chinese Communist Party is demanding absolute military but not political equality with the Nationalist forces to be stationed in Manchuria in future was given in an interview by the 39-year-old Communist commander in Manchuria. General Lin Piao, who has 200,000 troops at his disposal. Lin is also virtually director of all Communist affairs in North-east China. He agreed that if the current .peace talks at Nanking break down the Communists are likely to use their military strength in North China in an endeavour to split China in half and dominate by armed force and political organisation all China and Manchuria to the north of the Yellow River. The Communists are likely to wage guerrilla warfare in an effort to prevent Chiang’s forces from ■gathering in South China to drive against the Communist-held territories. The Communists would also spread their doctrine throughout “politically conscious ” areas in South China. Lin declared that the Nationalist forces, which he estimated at seven armies of three divisions each, were insufficient to succeed in a drive north to Harbin should an attempt be made to take the city. Lin admitted that 15 of the Nationalist divisions in Manchuria are Ameri-can-equipped. but he said the long supply fines to Hulutao and Ching-sung-tao, as well as the necessity of garrisoning cities like Mukden, Sep-ping-kai and Changchun would prevent the Nationalists from driving north while simultaneously protecting their communications. Lin emphasised that no Russian personnel or weapons were being used by the Communists except a few Russian tommy-guns stolen from Soviet officers by bandits and subsequently captured by the Communists.