GREET THE NEW HIGH TIDE OF THE CHINESE REVOLUTION* February !, !($&
1. All circumstances now show that the situation in China is about to enter a new stage of development. This new stage is one in which the country-wide struggle against imperialism and feudalism will develop into a great new people’s revolution. We are now on the eve of this revolution. The task of our Party is to struggle for the advent of this high tide and its triumph. 2. The military situation has now developed in a direction favourable to the people. In seven months of fighting, from last July to this January, we wiped out 56 brigades of Chiang Kai-shek’s regular forces which invaded the Liberated Areas, a monthly average of 8 brigades, not counting the numerous puppet troops and the peace preservation corps which were wiped out and those of Chiang’s regular forces which were routed. Although Chiang Kai-shek’s offensive continues in southern and western Shantung, in the Shensi-Kansu-Ningsia Border Region, along the northern section of the Peiping-Hankow Railway and in southern Manchuria, it has become much feebler than it was last autumn. Chiang Kai-shek’s army does not have enough troops to dispose and cannot fulfil its conscription quotas; this fact is in serious contradiction with its extended battle lines and the enormous drain on its manpower. The morale of Chiang’s army is sinking lower every day. During the recent fighting in northern Kiangsu, southern and western Shantung and western Shansi, the morale of many of Chiang’s forces sank to a very low level. On several fronts our armies are beginning to seize the initiative, while Chiang Kai-shek’s armies are beginning to lose it. We can foresee that in the next few months we may achieve the objective of wiping out a grand total of 100 of Chiang’s brigades, including those previously destroyed. Chiang Kai-shek has altogether 93 regular infantry and cavalry divisions 119
