ON THE GREAT VICTORY IN THE NORTHWEST AND ON THE NEW TYPE OF IDEOLOGICAL EDUCATION MOVEMENT IN THE LIBERATION ARMY* March &, !($*
Commenting on the recent great victory of the Northwest People’s Liberation Army, a spokesman for the General Headquarters of the People’s Liberation Army said: This victory has changed the situation in the Northwest and will affect the situation in the Central Plains. It has proved that through the new type of ideological education movement in the army by the methods of “pouring out grievances” and of the “three check-ups” the People’s Liberation Army will make itself invincible. The spokesman said: On this occasion, the Northwest People’s Liberation Army suddenly encircled an enemy brigade at Yichuan, and Hu Tsung-nan ordered Liu Kan, Commander of his 29 th Corps, to rush 4 brigades of 2 reorganized divisions from the Lochuan-Yichun line to the relief of Yichuan. They were the 31 st and 47 th Brigades of the Reorganized 27 th Division and the 53 rd and 61 st Brigades of the Reorganized 90 th Division, totalling more than 24 , 000 men; they reached the area southwest of Yichuan on February 28 . The Northwest People’s Liberation Army started a battle of annihilation and in thirty hours of fighting on February 29 and March 1 completely wiped out these reinforcements, letting none escape from the net. More than 18,000 men were captured, and more than 5,000 were killed and wounded; Liu Kan himself, Yen Ming, Commander of the 90 th Division, and other officers were killed. Then on March 3 we captured Yichuan and here again wiped out over 5 , 000 men of the 24 th Brigade of the enemy’s Reorganized 76th Division which was defending the city. In this campaign we wiped out, all told, 1 corps headquarters, 211
