Wired Article Vanish
Wired Article Vanish
Basic tactics. [Reprint]
Reprint From: http://chairmanmaozedong.org/article/273.html
(1937)
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
1st HOW popular masses carry out military action.
How is it that the bare-handed masses joined together in poorly armed military units without guns or bullets, are able to charge the enemy, kill the enemy, and resolutely implement an effective action in the war? This is a very widespread and very reasonable request. But if we know the function of the weapons used of an army, and the purpose of an army's efforts, can we understand how our popular masses, though only on their own, still have weapons and may participate in action to suppress the enemy.
The main function of an Army weapons is simply to kill the enemy, and an army ultimate aim is simply to reduce or destroy the enemy's fighting strength. Well, in our daily lives, there is no subject that can not be used to kill the enemy or any act can not reduce or destroy his fighting strength? For example, a kitchen knife, a wooden club, an ax, a hoe, a wooden chair or a stone all used to kill people. Such actions as cutting electrical lines, destroy bridges, starting rumors, spreading poison, or cut off supplies can everywhere inconvenience enemy or reduce his fighting strength. All these are methods that we may be unwilling to use or unable to hire. Where we really want to kill and destroy the enemy, there is a weapon for us anywhere and work for us to do at any time, to ensure an effective overall response from the army and the people.
2nd POINTS attention.
Following from this, we must pay special attention to the current war on the national level who have been cruel beyond our imagination and has also taken a long time. Let us not because we are exposed to the suffering of war more cruel than any seen before, immediately capitulate, and Nor must we, under the influence of a long war, suddenly lose our stamina and perpetuate fatigue. We must inspire us with the most resolute spirit, unyielding struggle with the most ardent patriotic feelings and the will to endurance, and implement a long struggle against the enemy. We need to know that even if the circumstances and duration of war is cruel and protracted, it is nothing compared to what would happen if the war was lost, and if our country was destroyed and all our people reduced to a position irrevocably ruin the suffering would be even more cruel and would never come to an end. Therefore, however cruel war can be, we must absolutely solid and endure until the last five minutes of the match. This is particularly the case with our current enemy, which finds its advantage in a quick decision in the war, while our advantage lies in the strategy for a protracted war.
Third, we must not FEAR enemy.
When we see the enemy just because he has a weapon in his hands, we should not be scared to death as a rat who sees a cat. We must not be afraid to approach or infiltrating in his midst to perform sabotage. We are men, and our enemies are also men, we are all humans, so what should we fear? The fact that he has weapons? We can find a way to seize its weapons. All we fear is being killed of the enemy. But when we examine the suppression of the enemy to such a point like this, how can anyone still fear death? And if we do not fear death, so what is there to fear about the enemy? So when we see the enemy, whether he is a few or many, we must act as if he is a bread that can satisfy our hunger, and instantly swallow him.
4th DEFINITION OF guerrilla war
When it is not advantageous for our main land army to meet the enemy in large exposures and we therefore 'Send' out commando units or guerrilla units that use a tactic to avoid strength and striking at the vulnerability of flitting about and with no fixed position and absorbing enemy appropriate, and when we are not against the enemy under the ordinary rules of tactics, this is called employs guerrilla tactics.
CHAPTER II
Tactic
At a time when our country's national defense preparation is not completed, and when our weapons are inferior than the excellent equipment which the enemy has given itself, we must observe the following principles when we want to lead a battle with the enemy:
1st PRECAUTIONS when you are on the march.
When we are on the march, we must send plainclothes units armed with guns in front of our vanguard, behind our rear guard, and the lateral side of our defense, to spy on the situation and to prevent unexpected attack from the enemy, or unnecessary confrontations.
2nd Precautions during stop.
When we camp, if there is a presumption that the enemy may be near, we should send every day a guerrilla company, or at least a division-defense against the enemy to carry out reconnaissance at a distance (20-30 l) or join up with local forces and carry out propaganda among the masses in order to inspire them to resist the enemy. If this unit detects the enemy, it should on the one hand, resist him and on the other hand, report to us so we can prepare to meet the enemy or to retire without being dragged into an unnecessary fight.
3rd We can not ATTACK strong positions.
If the enemy guards his position fixed or defend a strong strategic point, unless we have special guarantees of success. We must not attack him. If we attack him, then we are wasting much time, and our loss in killed and wounded will surely be many times the enemy. Moreover, in guerrilla warfare, our artillery is not strong: if we recklessly attack a strong position, it would be very difficult to take it fast, at one stroke, and meanwhile, it will be easy for the enemy to gather its forces from all sides and surround us. At this point must the army and the people completely solid object and can not act recklessly in an uncoordinated manner due of a moment of anger.
4th NOT fighting hard battles.
If we do not have a 100 percent guarantee of victory, we should not fight a battle for it is not worth killing 1,000 of the enemy and losing 800 killed among us. Especially in the guerrilla war as we are, it is difficult to replace men, horses and ammunition, and if we are fighting a battle and lose many men and horses, and much ammunition, it shall be considered a defeat for us.
5th We must not fight, SITUATION if the enemy is not clear.
When we posted in a specific place and suddenly discover the enemy, but are not informed about his numbers or where he comes from, We must absolutely not be beaten, but resolute retreat tens of li. It is only if we are right up against the enemy that we should send cover units, if the enemy comes to attack us, it is surely because his forces are superior or he has a plan, and we shall under no circumstances fall into his trap. If the enemy is in force, it is obviously advantageous to withdraw. If his numbers are small, and we retreat, nothing more than a little extra fatigue involved, and there will always be time to return and attack him again later.
6th We must organize masses and UNITE with them.
Modern warfare is not a case in which the armies alone can determine victory or defeat. Especially in the guerrilla struggle, we must rely on the power of the popular masses, for it is only thus that we can have a guarantee of success. Support from the masses gives us great advantages in transportation, aid to the wounded, intelligence, disruption of the enemy position, etc. At the same time the enemy put in an isolated position, which further increases our advantage. If by unfortunate circumstances, we lose, it will also be possible to escape or find shelter. Therefore we should not easily give battle in places where the masses are not organized and connected with us.
7th USE OF PULP MAKING a surprise attack and break a blockade.
When the enemy surrounds us and blockades us, we should arouse the popular masses and cut the enemy communications in all directions so that he does not know that our army is already close to him. So we should take advantage of a dark night or by the light of dawn to attack and spread.
8th Surprise attacks on isolated units.
Once we have reconnoitered enemy positions and have kept our men at a distance of several li and when he has undoubtedly relaxed his precautions as we advance quickly with light equipment before dawn when the enemy does not expect us and destroy him.
9th USE the popular masses to Harry enemy.
On the basis of a decision by the main force of the army in times of struggle, we send a portion of our forces, divided into several units, the smallest element is a division of to lead the local militia, police, volunteers, or other popular masses of the peasantry and workers. These groups use a variety of flags occupy mountain peaks and villages and market towns, use brass gongs, spears, rudimentary guns, swords and spikes, trumpets, etc. They scatter across the landscape and cries, thus distracting enemy's eyes and ears. Or, both night and day on all sides, they shoot out isolated shots to cause panic among the enemy soldiers and fatigue their spirit. Then afterwards, our army will appear at full strength when the enemy does not expect it, and spreading by a flank attack.
10th orbit of to get away from the enemy.
When we are faced with a large enemy force and has sufficient strength to meet its attacks, we use the method of circling around. We hasten to a place where there are no enemy troops, and we use mountain trails, so the enemy can not catch us. At the same time along the way we use the popular masses get them to continue reconnaissance work in the front and rear, so we will not be attacked by enemies from both directions.
11th GETTING out of difficult Situations.
Suppose that in the rear is a pursuing army and in front an obstacle, or that the pursuing army is too strong for us. As a plan to to get out of such a difficult situation, we can send a portion of our forces four or five li off to lure the enemy a big way, while our main force follow a side road and escapes enemy. Or we can make a detour around the enemy's rear and attack him there as a surprise. Or we can use the local militia and police to move along a second route that leaving some objects, making footprints in the road, protruding notices, etc. to get the enemy to follow them. So, our main force suddenly rush out from a side road, striking at the enemy from the front and rear surrounds him on all sides, and annihilates him.
12th "Cause rebellion in the east, strike in the West. "
When the army wants to attack a specific place, it does not advance directly, but makes a detour from another place and then move its course in the middle of his march to attack and disperse the enemy. "The thunderclap leaves no time to cover your ears."
13th Surreptitious attack from ambush.
When the enemy to overtake us in great haste we choose a place for an ambush and wait until he comes. Thus we can capture enemy all in one blow.
14th Ambush the enemy during his March.
When we learn from reconnaissance to the enemy plans to move from a certain point, we choose a place where his path is narrow and passes through the confusing mountain terrain and send a portion of our troops, or a group of sharpshooters, to lie hidden in the mountains bordering his road, or in the woods, to wait until his main strength is in transit. So we throw stones down on his men from mountains and raked them with bullets, or shoot from ambush at their officers mounted on horseback.
15th MAKE a strong defense by depriving the country.
When our spies have informed us that the enemy is about to arrive, and if our power is not sufficient to give battle, should we implement the list "do a strong defense by depriving the country. "We hide food, bunkers, cereals, pots and other kitchen utensils, etc., to cut off the enemy's food supply. Moreover, of the popular masses of that area, except for old men, women and children who are left to provide reconnaissance information that we hold all healthy men to hide places. Thus the enemy has no one to act as porters, guides and scouts. At the same time we send a few men to the enemy's rear communication lines to cut off his supplies catch his couriers and sliced or sabotage his age communications facilities.
16th MEETING A SUPERIOR enemy.
(A) When the enemy advances, we retreat. If enemy forces were weaker than ours, he would not dare to advance and attack us. So when he advances against us, we can conclude the enemy certainly comes with superior force and acts according to plan and prepare. It is therefore appropriate for us to evade its vanguard, drawing on advance. If we meet the enemy in the course of our march and either do not have clear information about him or that his army is stronger than ours, we must without the slightest hesitation, to undertake a preventive withdrawal.
As to the place that we should retreat, it is not advisable to walk long distances main roads, so that the enemy follows us to the last. We should go on sinuously around, twisted around in circles. If an enemy appears in front of us, we circle around to his backward if the enemy is on the mountains, we down in the valley where the enemy is in the middle, we should pull back on the two sides, and if the enemy on the left bank of the River, we should pull back on the right bank, where the enemy is on the right bank, we should pull back on the left bank.
Moreover, with respect to the withdrawal, when we come to a crossroads, we can deliberately leave some items in a branch of the road we do not take or send a small fraction of our men horses on the way to leave some trace or write symbols. Or we can write some distinguishing marks on the road we take to indicate that the is closed. Thus we get the enemy to direct his persecution and attacks in the wrong direction.
In such times it is best to evacuate the popular masses and such armed forces as the militia, police, volunteers, etc., by different routes in all directions to confuse the enemy's eyes and ears. We can leave an Part of our men who bury their uniforms and weapons and disguise themselves as merchants, street vendors, etc. They spread rumors or pretend to be obliged to spy information about the enemy's numbers, his plans, placement and routing of his camps, and the precautions he takes. If the enemy question them about the direction in which we have withdrawn and strength of our power, they should speak incoherent points east and west says, pointing south and saying the northern and replace large or small and small to large, speeches randomly and create rumors. They wait until our army is attacking, and then dig their uniforms and put them out of their weapons, and attacking the enemy from their midst, thus completely routing him and leave him with nowhere to turn.
(2) When the enemy retreats, we pursue. When the enemy's army retreats, it is appropriate to take advantage of the situation to promote. On one such occasion, the enemy's military situation has undergone a change, otherwise he would not have resigned and he is certainly not ready to join the fight against us with every decision. If we exploit the situation and make a comprehensive attack on the back cover enemy units will certainly not be resolved to fight, and when the enemy over-all plan will be difficult for his forward units to return and participate in the match. In rough mountainous terrain where the paths are narrow and rivers and streams together so that there are many bridges, although the enemy send forces were to return, would this step requires much time. So by when he returns, his back has already been wiped out, and he will already have been disarmed.
At this point, if the organizations by the popular masses, devising ways to destroy bridges on the route over which the enemy is in retreat, and cut the wires to his communications. Or best of all, they should wait until most of the enemy's army has retreated, and benefit from the protection offered by our guards and army road block enemy retreat, so that although his forces might want to return, they can not do it, and although they are longing for help, they can not get it.
But at such a time, the main task for the popular masses to spy out in what direction the enemy withdraws, in order to determine whether there could be an ambush, or a sham retreat designed to encircle us from two sides, and report to us immediately, so our army can pluck up courage and pursue the enemy or devise a method to circumvent him.
(3) When the enemy stops, we harass him. When the enemy is newly arrived in our territory are not familiar with the terrain, understand not the local dialect, and are able to gain any information from scouts he send out, it is as though he had reached a remote and inaccessible land. At such a time, we should increase our harassment, shooting off guns everywhere, to make him uneasy day and night, so exercise a great influence on both his mind and body in such circumstances, I fear that any army, however presumptuous, would begin to falter, and will be tired. We need only await the time when his spirits are faltering and his body weary, and then if our armies in every race together, we can certainly destroy him completely.
17th Dealing with a weak enemy.
Fighting, as we are for the existence of our nation and achieving the goals of the guerrilla war-which is to destroy the enemy and to stir up against the popular masses-when we are facing a weak enemy, of course, we must unite with the popular masses of the place to surround him and cut him with one blow.
18th Wake MASS.
It is always a good many among the popular masses forget the great cause of guilt petty advantage. Often has received great favors from the enemy, they act contrary to conscience and support the forces of evil. For this reason, before the arrival of the enemy in a given place, we must do our utmost to whip up the spirits of the popular masses, to awaken their will to resist and to equip them with an unwavering determination to fight to the end. without seeking out and without compromise or surrender. We must get them to follow our orders faithfully and with our army to resist the enemy. At the same time we also arrange "resist-the-enemy associations "," associations of national salvation ", and other types of professional bodies to facilitate the transfer of orders and evacuation of villages in time of necessity and to clean out traitors and prevent their use by the enemy.
CHAPTER III
The purpose of WAR
The ultimate aim with guerrilla warfare is quite safe to disarm the enemy, to destroy his enormous strength to get back the territories, he has occupied and to save our brothers who he is trampling under foot! But when, because of objective circumstances and other factors of various kinds, it is impossible to achieve this goal, it sometimes happens to the areas unaffected by the fighting is controlled by the enemy of all peace. This should not be. Because of this possibility, we think of ways to inflict economic and political damage in these areas, destroying communications facilities, so that even if the enemy has occupied our territory, it is of no use to him and he decides themselves to draw on their own initiative.
In guerrilla war, we must respect the principle of "Winning the region is no cause for joy, and losing territory is no reason for sorrow. "To lose territory or cities is irrelevant. The important thing is to devise methods to destroy the enemy. If the enemy's effective strength is undiminished, although we take cities, we will be able to keep them. Conversely, when our own forces are not sufficient if we give up cities, we still have hope of regaining them. It is quite wrong to defend the cities to the extreme, this only leads sacrifice our own efficient power.
CHAPTER IV
ORGANIZATION
1st OPPORTUNITIES OF ORGANIZATION.
(1) When we devote themselves to warfare in an open area, sparsely populated areas with low cultural level where communication is difficult and facilities to disclose correspondence is inadequate, that is advantageous.
(2) Narrow mountain, rising and sloping terrain, or areas near the narrow roads, all of which are inconvenient for moving large bodies of troops-is also advantageous.
Opportunities exist also:
(3) When people in the enemy rear is in sympathy with our army.
(4) When the enemy is well armed, and his troops numerous and brave, so we have to avoid direct clashes.
(5) When the enemy has penetrated deep into our territory and we are preparing everywhere to implement measures of harassment and obstruction against him.
(6), dense forests or Reedy marshes, in the depths that we can disappear, is most advantageous for this purpose, especially in late summer and autumn, when we find ourselves behind a curtain of green.
Second forms of organization.
The effect of a guerrilla unit takes one of the following ways:
(1) We send a large cavalry unit from our major force, along with mounted artillery or cavalry, accompanied by a division or more armed with light automatic weapons. They need as quickly as possible into the enemy rear to destroy his entire communications links, and implement thorough and complete destruction of all his stock of food grains for the horses and ammunition. Moreover, they emit a small group of their forces to destroy all locations military significance in the enemy rear. When these forays have been made, the group fights its way out in another direction and rejoin the main force.
(2) We send out cavalry or a special task group of infantry. Their strength should be from one division to a few companies. They should penetrate as deeply as possible into the enemy rear and move rapidly and unpredictably, should bear the battle from one place to another. When there is no alternative or when the enemy is not expected to arrive before a certain time, they can stay temporarily in secret, where they are. As required by the terms of the situation, they can employ either all or a portion of their forces. They return when the time comes that they can no longer reside in the enemy rear, or when the task for them is completed or because the enemy has already detected our track and our intentions, and has taken effective measures for defense.
(3) The enemy's rear, we choose some young, strong and brave elements among the local population, and organize some small groups that will accept the leadership of the experienced and skilled people we send out or experienced people we had trained earlier question place. The secret activity of these small groups entails moving from their own territory to another, changing their uniforms, number of units, and appearance, and with all methods so as to cover their tracks to the extreme.
(4) Or we are looking for volunteers from our Army and provide them with high quality light weapons in order to form them in special guerrilla units under the direction of such officials who have benefited from experience and study.
(5) Guerrilla units can be classified according their nature. These are formed of selected volunteers called the special guerrilla units. These organizations generally from one part of our army is called basic guerrilla units. These are organized from the local population is called local guerrilla units. When fundamental and local guerrilla units participating in combined operations, they are subject to unified command of the commander the basic unit.
(6) As regards the election of members of a guerrilla unit, the members of a basic guerrilla unit should be taken from among the soldiers who are healthy, solid object, patient, courageous and resourceful. Moreover, the soldiers even be willing to join that group. In the case of the independent actions performed by these men during the guerrilla operations is generally no way to check whether their tasks are carried out in accordance with orders, and often they act beyond knowledge of the responsible manager. For this reason, the selection and training of members of guerrilla units have as its central theme "faithfully perform a task."
(7) The election and appointment of the commander of a guerrilla workgroup or small group requires even greater care and reflection. The capacity of governors of the faithful and courageous action, their military knowledge and especially their knowledge of guerrilla tactics, possession of a lively intelligence and the ability to quickly adapt to changing circumstances, their loyalty, and their bold are indispensable conditions to execute plans and carry out our tasks.
3rd The number of troops
The number of men belonging to a guerrilla unit is determined by the tasks, but is generally range from five or ten men for well over a thousand. However, the maximum strength of such an entity does not exceed one regiment. If the number of soldiers is too large, the movement of our forces to be encumbered, there will be major problems with food supply, and it will be difficult to conceal troops using fake uniforms. Because of these problems, our intention being detected or uncovered before they were implemented. Furthermore, filling our supply of ammunition would be a problem. Furthermore, we will often have problems because of bad roads, with the result that not only will all our plans prove merely an illusion, but we would often get into difficulties for any good purpose in going and returning.
The great superiority of a small guerrilla unit lies in its remarkable mobility. With very little expenditure of time and effort, you can get food and it is also easy to find a place to rest, because you need not much in the way of rations or a place of shelter to camp. Even less is delayed by bad roads and supplies of ammunition and medicines are also easy to fill. If we do not succeed in our operation, we can retreat in good order.
4th TYPES OF SOLDIERS.
With regard to the type of soldiers engaged in guerrilla units cavalry, engineers, and highly mobile infantry troops are excellent. Cavalry is responsible for creating disorder in the enemy's flanks, and also when we pursue the enemy, to maintain pressure on his rear and create confusion on his flanks, and in his rear. Moreover, at any time guerrilla cavalry unit only way to send correspondence and for reconnoitering. Therefore, the cavalry is indispensable for any guerrilla unit. Engineers used to destroy the enemy's rear communication (such as railways, telephone and telegraph lines, bridges, etc.) With regard to highly mobile infantry units, they are useful to startle the enemy and produce in him a feeling of insecurity night and day.
5th Weapons.
Apart from the rifles of the infantry and cavalry, light machine guns, grenades, etc. guerrilla units should also be equipped with pistols and machine guns.
To the extent that the terrain allows, you can also add heavy machine guns, mortars, and small guns.
6th MEN AND BAGGAGE
Convenience of movement and flexibility, which appears as a guerrilla unit of the baggage train, where equipment and ammunition, etc., should all be so simple as possible for convenience. The combatant and noncombatant members of the unit should all be organized as most suitable for guerrilla warfare, and all other persons are not necessary should be kept to the absolute minimum.
(A) The officers and men in each guerrilla squad should not exceed eight, and each division should not exceed 26, and each company should not exceed one hundredth
(2) where automatic weapons are much more numerous, the number of men will be further reduced, and guerrilla units, consisting of five or six men could be sent out several times in order to achieve the greatest results in terms of harassing the enemy or securing intelligence.
(3) Each head of a unit shall have only one decent at most. Apart from this the complexity of the tasks, two or three officers should share the services of an orderly. Even more attention should be accorded to not abuse this rule by unnecessarily increasing the number of couriers to replace orderlies and to see that a disproportionate number of men not sent to perform a given task, which matches the strength of one's own unit. Therefore, when you send out couriers, one must consider carefully whether they can perform their duties or otherwise.
(4) It is preferable that each mass units should not be carrying bundles of food. When dry rations made separately by each soldier is exhausted, you should use the opportunity to borrow pots and pans of the population, thus preparing supplementary rations. If it is necessary to carry bundles, each unit shall not carry more than two.
(5) Bundles of written material should not be transported for longer than necessary. Normally, two bunches per regiment, one per battalion, and one per company is allowed. The weight of each bundle must not exceed 40 kg.
(6) Every officer, and soldier must carry his own bed, knapsack, etc. Bearers should not be engaged to transport these items. This rule should be firmly established in advance.
7th Object to be transported.
A guerrilla unit preferably should have the following things:
(A) equipment and explosives to destroy railways, telephone and telegraph lines, arsenals, etc.
(2) drugs. The necessary investments in case of emergencies should be according to season, but bandages, etc., should provided on a permanent basis.
(3) A compass and map of the area where the guerrillas unit operates.
(4) Light radio equipment specially important to be able to transmit at any time on the situation of the enemy and to listen in on enemy reports.
(5) A certain quantity of gold coins to provide unanticipated needs and to buy food.
8th Discipline.
Whether the military discipline of a guerrilla unit is good influence reputation our whole army and its ability to secure the sympathy and support for the popular masses. Only strict discipline to assure the complete victory in all our independent actions. Therefore, our attitude to those who violate military discipline, harm people's interest and not vigorously enforce the orders of his superior, should be to punish them hard, without the slightest regard for politeness. The use of military discipline in a partisan unit is not aimed solely punishment. Rather, it aims to strengthen political instruction of officers and men and increase their level of political consciousness, and thus indirectly to exclude a large number of actions contrary to military discipline and causes officers and soldiers to understand the psychology of the masses, so that at appropriate times, they can combine effectively with ordinary people.
9th Political organization.
(A) Each guerrilla working group and small group must have a political leader, and in the headquarters of the guerrilla unit should be a political education department to lead political work of officers and soldiers and dealing with human problems of all the political instructors.
(2) Each root unit of a guerrilla unit should create a special commissioner to guard against infiltration and activity of reactionary elements and to encourage the soldiers without a clear ideological consciousness leading a hesitant in their purpose.
(3) To prevent desertion of soldiers, a selection of desertion, as well as "groups of ten, it should" be organized in each guerrilla unit. The groups of ten and the committee against desertion are negative ways to prevent desertion. Their organization and work to be performed should look like:
a. In order to prevent desertion, all guerrilla unit set up a desertion committee and each root device should organize a group of ten.
b. Committee against desertion must consist of 7-9 persons, one of them is the President and other members. It should be composed of lower-level cadres who can endure difficulties and if thinking is the monastery, and the leaders of the groups of ten. Groups of ten is composed of ten men in all, one of them is head and the other members. They consist of faithful and reliable soldiers.
c. The over-all activity in groups of ten subordinate committee against desertion. Regarding military issues, it is subordinate to the Commander the device and that the committee v desertion. In other work, it is subordinate to the political education department. Both groups of ten and committee against desertion must accept the guidance of their commanding officer.
d. The work of the group of ten should take into account all the acts and speaks of officers and soldiers, especially the "camp idlers" and such. Unstable elements should be secretly viewed, although they are members of the group of ten or their friends.
e. The meetings held once a week to review the work and report to the commanding officer and committee against desertion on the situation in general at all times. After each extreme difficulty or when our army suffered a small defeat and staying in his base camp, special attention should be paid to unfavorable attitudes that can develop among soldiers and interviews, which could jeopardize the morale among soldiers.
f. The work of the committee against desertion consists primarily of examining work in groups of ten, and in admonishing and guide them at appropriate times. The Committee may also call conferences of the leaders of all groups of ten or plenary conferences of all members of the groups to discuss development of the work as a whole.
Soldiers' life is a bit like living in the desert, and every day the men undergo fatigue policy studies and training in the art of combat. This can easily create a feeling of disgust and repulsion. To provide entertainment for the army and to compensate for a boring life, one should settle in a guerrilla unit clubs or amusement room. (For details on the organization and activities of such clubs, see the account in Chap. XV, 10).
10th Special forms of military organization.
(A) To remedy the inadequate supply of ammunition and poor marksmanship, each company must have: 3-9 sharpshooters, to be employed solely to shoot from ambush at long distance, or to shoot at specific targets (hostile officers, machine-gunners or artillery-men, couriers, etc.).
(2) The commander of each task group and small group should choose particularly sharp eyesight cure to function as stated. Normally, a working group commander must have two of them, a small group commander one. These men serves only to remedy the inadequate battlefield observation.
(3) Each working group and small group of a guerrilla unit should have two nurses who devote themselves exclusively to the acute treatment of sick officers and soldiers and instruction in hygiene.
(4) In order to obtain reliable information about enemy location, they could oppose him without losing any opportunities should all guerrilla units set up groups of scouts. Normally this would be sufficient if each unit has a division, each group has a squad, and each small group a minor element. A network of local scouts should also be established by the group of Scouts when they walk, or by spies disguised in advance.
CHAPTER V
TASKS
The main purpose of the action of a guerrilla unit located in the strongest possible enemy blows to his morals and in creating disorder and unrest in the back, in the preparation of its primary strength in the flanks and rear, to stop or slow down its business, and ultimately spread his struggles strength so that enemy units crushed one by one, and he is precipitated into a situation where even with quick and deceptive acts, he can either advance or retreat.
1st Destroy railways and highways in the area of action, as well as important structures along the roads. Telephone lines and telegraph systems are particularly important.
2nd Destroy enemy's main or secondary supply depots.
3rd Destroy the enemy's stockpile of food and military equipment.
4th Strike the enemy's rear, on his baggage train or in his mounted and dismounted cure, and by his mounted scouts, etc. Also seizing the provisions and ammunition that the enemy is bringing up the rear to front.
5th Strike the enemy of independent working and residential areas that he has not yet solidly filled.
6th Mobilizing and organizing people masses everywhere and support their own self-defense.
7th Destroy airfields and military depots of the air force in the enemy rear.
CHAPTER VI
TRANSACTIONS
1st ACTION.
1st The first principle lies in close and secret preparation, and quick and sudden attacks. Fierce winds and heavy rains offer an opportunity for a guerrilla attack that makes thick fog, dark night, or circumstances in which it is possible to frame a weary foe.
2nd The operation of a guerrilla unit should consist of offensive warfare. Whether its numbers be large or small, such an entity may appear where it is not expected, and in its attacks that take advantage of the enemy's lack of preparation. But when there are signs that the situation is negative or when there is no certainty of victory, it is appropriate to withdraw rapidly, so do not suffer losses. If the attack was originally planned by the guerrilla unit does not provide a favorable outcome, and the enemy moves to the offensive when a guerrilla unit pull quickly. Only when the enemy is behind us, and it is impossible to evade its attacks, we are fighting a defensive action and then gradually withdraw.
2nd USE OF tactics.
1st The terrifying power of a guerrilla unit definitely does not depend solely on its own figures, but its use of sudden attack and ambush, so "cause of unrest in the east and strike in the West," is now here and now is using false banners and make empty demonstrations propagating rumors about one's own strength, etc., to smash the enemy's morale and create in him a boundless terror. Moreover, we must pay attention to such principles as: "The enemy advances, we retreat, the enemy retreats, we advance the enemy stops, we harass him," disguised attack, etc.
2nd A really excellent stratagem to bring the enemy to his destruction lies in mobilizing the popular masses to make a strong defense by depriving the country of luring the enemy to penetrate into our lines deep cut in his communications. of placing him in a position where he has problems with its food supply, where his men are tired and the terrain is unfavorable, and then launch an attack
3rd Such tactics as sudden attacks, ambushes, makes a strong defense by depriving the country, etc., a guerrilla unit must do everything to avoid positional warfare, and all frontal commitments. Before the local guerrilla units received regular military training. they should not launched against the enemy in a regular and protracted struggle. For this reason, when local guerrilla units are first formed, they should be used only for the actions by the basic or special guerrilla units. It is only after a certain period of time that they can act independently.
4th If we strike at the point where the enemy feel the greatest difficulties in order to draw his main force to come to the relief of the position, so afterwards we send our main force another place, either to attack other isolated and weak forces of the enemy or to attack his reinforcements on the march.
3rd Beneficial and disadvantageous Terrain.
1st Because open terrain provides very little coverage, it's a little unfortunate for us, when guerrilla units operate there. Covered, mountainous, or broken terrain is advantageous to us.
2nd A guerrilla unit should be thoroughly familiar with the terrain in the region of action and should think often about how it can be viewed from a place where the enemy army does not expect it, after a secret and hidden routes such as valleys, forests and narrow winding paths, so as to approach near enemy army and take advantage of a situation where the enemy, persuaded he is certainly has not taken action to defend at all. So after the principle that "thunderclap leaves no time to cover your ears, "the device can turn a sudden blow and then disappear into hiding without trace, and thus reduce the enemy to a level where he can not feel comfortable if he withdraws or promote, attack and defend, move, or remaining still, sitting or lying.
3rd Relatively large villages, towns, and places where there is a reasonably large amount of grain and other goods are often objects of enemy attacks and harassment. A guerrilla unit should regularly spy out the enemy's trail and prepare an ambush, so to attack him when he is the midst of his march.
4th A guerrilla unit must use every method within its scope, to prevent enemy small units can enter. and his main force from hiding there. In case of necessity, a guerrilla unit should also strive to expose military strength, disposition, and plans of the enemy operates outside its field of action.
4th SEASONS.
A guerrilla unit must consider the seasons (winter, summer or autumn, are suitable for operations), with regard to the strength of our forces and the enemy, and particularly in relation to the weapons of war, it must also be thoroughly familiar with the organization of the enemy's rear. Whether each season is favorable for us, is also determined with reference to the terrain.
5th SECRET ACTION
The peculiar quality of the operation of a guerrilla unit lies entirely in the enemy by surprise. Therefore, we must take all possible steps to keep military secrets, as detailed below:
1st Head of the Unit should explain to his subordinates of their duties and operation just before the action starts, or while they are promoting. In case of necessity, he should explain the whole plan just completed, so others learn about each step only when required.
2nd The best method of transmission of orders in a guerrilla unit by oral explanations from the commander to his subordinates. It is necessary to limit the written orders as far as possible, to avoid leakage of military secrets.
3rd One should not discuss all one's actions and plans with guides or the local population. This is true even for locals favorable to us and it is even more necessary to prohibit such speech, when we are about to attack a specific location.
4th We should send the loyal and reliable scouts in advance to observe the point where we need to camp or to lie in ambush along major roads in the enemy's rear, to cut off his information.
5th As we advance our rear guard should take full responsibility for the deletion and remove all secret signals and road signs. We should also advance detour, so the enemy does not know the direction of our time.
6th Fixed code names should be used instead for all units names and the use of real names of units should be strictly prohibited.
7th Except in cases of necessity, all documents should be burned immediately after they have been read.
8th Apart from the methods already mentioned, the true plans for a guerrilla unit also be hidden in some cases through local population to deliberately spreading false information about the operation of the guerrilla unit in order to mislead the enemy.
6th SCHEMES And preparations for moving.
To our movements can be rapid, except to do our utmost to simplify all of our organization we should always maintain good preparations for action (investigation and intelligence on the front, care of sick soldiers, preparing to guides, primarily active local farmers, whose sympathies lie with the guerrillas, or other reliable persons), and we should also preferably involve three days dry rations. If this happens, so when we want to move, we move and where we want to stop, we stop and there is no need for special arrangements.
7th CONDITIONS OF victory.
1st A condition for victory in a guerrilla unit is that officers and soldiers have a very courageous and resolute spirit. They must also be filled with a spirit of action together, and thoroughly attentive and resolved to perform their own tasks. Apart from this, they must have healthy bodies and be able to endure boundless hardships, be good at using their weapons, etc.
2nd A guerrilla unit should not lose heart in difficult times should not cease its activity if it encounters difficult circumstances. Regarding their confidence ultimate victory, their confidence in the success of their cause, and especially their hatred of our national enemy, such circumstances should only strengthen their aim to foster courage in spite of all obstacles.
8th UNITED MEASURES.
If a small guerrilla unit, because its figures are inadequate, can not perform a task for it, it can combine temporarily with a couple of other guerrilla entities to perform its task.
Guerrilla operations to be carried out under cover of night.
CHAPTER VII
Surprise Attack
The first points that should be carefully considered in relation to our tasks before a surprise attack.
When a guerrilla unit is finished concentrate for an attack, and when plans for the scouts, service, courier, etc., have all been completed with satisfactory results, and we are preparing a surprise attack on a given inhabited place, the commander of the guerrilla unit first form a clear idea about each of the following points.
1st What is the strength of the military forces defending the given inhabited place? How are they deployed? How are they armed? What is their fighting capacity? How many scouts to sound a warning, they sent out?
2nd Are there any other enemy in the vicinity? If there are, how far away is he? If he can quickly come to help the defending forces? Can we imagine how he would come to help them? From what direction he would come?
3rd What kind of roads are there that could be followed by guerrillas and by the enemy? What hidden roads is near the place we intend to attack as a surprise? What path will we take to get to the place we striker? The preceding three points are not only things we should know considering conducting a surprise attack and we must not fail to consider them with regard to our withdrawal after the attack.
4th As for fixing the date of a surprise attack, it is best to make it that night, for, under cover of darkness, even though the attack would fail, it can still inspire panic in the enemy. But we can attack at night, if we are thoroughly familiar with the terrain, and has clearly understood the enemy's dispositions or have extremely good guides. Otherwise, we choose instead to make such a surprise attack at dawn. If a surprise attack must be directed at a supply depot, it happen in the dead of night dark, the men, horses and military equipment in such a repository will be on the move again very early, at dawn.
5th Can the people of the given inhabited place support the enemy or not? How can we prevent people from bringing problems for themselves in this way?
While we must think through our plans at length, we must avoid too subtle levels.
2nd Focal points before taking off.
1st Before you get out, should be a guerrilla unit to complete all preparations for the march (see below). Furthermore it should consider taking the stretcher to transport injured soldiers.
2nd The method to a surprise attack on the enemy, should thoroughly understood in advance not only the commander of the unit and commander of each task group, but also of all members of independent working group. The best way to send such information through an oral explanation by the commander and his staff. Written instructions of any kind must be kept to a minimum, to avoid having their content transmitted by a loss or error.
3rd Prior to fixing all officers at all levels should appoint a successor, on the one hand expressing their decision to sacrifice himself and, on the other hand, to avoid the risk that if they were wounded or killed, the action may order guerrilla unit does not achieve its goals because of them, affecting the whole situation.
3rd Focal points MENS Is on the go.
1st We must make the greatest effort to conceal the movements of a guerrilla unit and to prevent detection by the enemy. Therefore, while advancing, we must leave the high roads and avoid large towns and from out-of-the-way places, or places where there are no roads at all, further along narrow winding paths. But we should stay away from the miry roads, to avoid excessive fatigue.
2nd When forward, we must not go too long on the same way, because it makes it easy for the enemy to discover our tracks. From the perspective of keeping our secret movements, it is also generally appropriate to move at night, even when we are promoting long distance.
3rd When we are promoting, in order to hide us, we should keep the number of people we send out reconnaissance for the very lowest level. Generally it will be enough to send a few scouts along the way, but we must have very good guides.
4th If we are not quite sure that no is no enemy spies come to respect us, it is best to divide our forces into small groups that advance separately in different directions and then concentrate on a point who have been secretly appointed.
5th When a guerrilla unit on the move, it should be constantly ready for a meeting with the enemy. For this reason, generally commanding officer of a guerrilla unit advances, accompanied by his staff, just behind the scouts, elite soldiers behind or in front of the employees in the unit (the staff is left to the leadership of Deputy Commander). Thus it is easy to get a clear picture of the situation, and decisions can be taken very quickly. If the commander sees that it is possible to encourage his advances if he gets knowledge of the difficulties he prefers. All that is required is for two or three officer to hold a discussion and then the decision can be made. Thus we avoid send orders back and forth, with consequent waste of opportunity and we reduce the command form the back, and the resulting evil of that act not in accordance with the circumstances.
6th Apart from scouts sent out on the road, the soldiers in the guerrilla unit to load their rifles, to avoid accidental discharges during March and discovery of the enemy.
4th ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN if the enemy has been found, while it is in March.
1st Under no circumstances should be a guerrilla unit provoke a pointless battle before it has reached its goal. Although a guerrilla unit may encounter the enemy during its march, it should prepare a way to get round him if necessary, to deviate from the original plan. If there is no way to avoid battle, we should come from the ambush, after rapid preparations then find where the enemy does not expect us and destroy him with a surprise attack. At the same time when we perform such a maneuver, we must be aware whether the enemy stops or advances, and send out scouts to reconnoitre from every direction. If the enemy army is not ready for battle, or even if he in some strength, he is not on alert, we will charge him immediately. Otherwise, we should remain in hiding and calmly await an opportunity.
2nd When in the course of our march, we encounter the enemy's outposts or scouts, we must avoid being seen by them, and circle past them in strict secrecy. But we encounter a situation where we judge there is a possibility to be understood, we must act quickly and grab them without firing a shot.
5th Disposition of troops during a surprise attack.
When a guerrilla unit carries out a surprise attack, the disposition of his troops be more or less as follows:
1st We must implement a fierce attack from our main force at the point in the enemy's disposition where it hurts most – a really quick and resolute sudden blow. We should also send a second force around to perform strenuous efforts on the enemy's flanks and in his behind to confuse his conviction, and prevents him from fathoming where our greatest strength is.
2nd We should attack a point in the enemy's disposition of all forces, but we should also perform simulated deployments in other places and do a demonstration with an empty few scattered soldiers, so confuse the enemy's eyes and ears, and spread its forces.
3rd If we can determine in advance the enemy line of retreat, so should we in the framework of what is possible, send a portion of our forces to intercept him. Ii enemy's heavy artillery and logistics supply located outside the village, so we should appoint a special little group to address them.
4th If the guerrilla unit numerically strong, it should be divided into several columns and carrying out attack from two, three or more directions, trying to cut off enemy retreat, but we should consider the matter carefully to avoid creating confusion in our ranks, which can result in erroneous to take our own troops for the enemy. Because of this possibility, it is necessary, prior to action, to agree on signals.
5th In case of a surprise attack on the enemy, if there is reason to fear that enemy reinforcements could arrive from a certain direction, we should send a small body of troops prior to operation of the route, where reinforcements could arrive, thus preventing their advance, or a report this danger of the main force.
6th At the time of a surprise attack, the choice of the point where the majority of attacks will decrease and the geographic distribution of our forces (generally two-thirds of our men used for the main direction of attack, and only one third of auxiliary directions of attack) must definitely be such to prevent the enemy forces to spread out or receiving reinforcements and to enable us to smash them one by one.
7th The various groups making up a guerrilla unit to share their strengths in a very short distance from the point where the attack must take place and then make a separate but coordinated beforehand. The best place for this is the point from which the charge will be made. In this way we can avoid such accidents as losing our way or the early division of our forces and we can too. safeguard against the danger of surprise attack by the enemy. For the farther apart are the various independent columns or groups, the more likely it is to be separated by terrain and the harder it becomes to expect all to strike in the same moment.
6th The success of a surprise attack.
Generally, we charge the enemy when he is not prepared in cases where he is frightened and confused. If we really want to strike when the enemy is not expecting us and reach success, the following points should be followed to:
1st We must act quickly and secretly and not let our plans to be revealed prematurely.
2nd We must find a time when the enemy's early warning system is not very attentive.
3rd We must make a blank screen and attacks in several locations a time so that the enemy's reaction is confused, his forces fear and inhibit each other, and he can not spend all his strength to resist us stubbornly.
4th While performing the surprise attack, we attack at the appointed hour, there must be no noise, no shot fired, and there shall be no battle screams. We must make every soldier understand the use of the used weapons in a surprise attack which is bayonet and hand grenade. We must not return fire, simply because we hear shooting at the enemy. It is only when we have an opportunity to take advantage of the situation to attack the enemy that we must launch our attack, our vanguard well supported by our rear guard, chooses frontal, flanking, or direct blow.
7th Measures After the success of a surprise attack.
1st So Once tasks a surprise attack has been made, a guerrilla unit should quickly return. Before withdrawing, it is best to walk a few liters in a false direction, and then afterwards turn around and walk in our true direction so that the enemy will be able to discover our tracks, and will not be able to follow us.
2nd It is not appropriate of a guerrilla unit to take along prisoners, or to acquire large quantities of prey that hinders our movement. It is best to require that prisoners first hand in their weapons and then spreading them or execute them. With regard to the booty, if it is sent by the local government, or of the population.
3rd During the battle, three officers and men out by the company should have the exclusive task is to gather up and collect abandoned rifles and ammunition. After a victorious battle, we should devote all our efforts to collect everything on the battlefield and we also urge people in nearby areas to collect these things together, so not the slightest trifle is left behind.
8th Measures after defeat in a surprise attack.
If a surprise attack is defeated, we must quickly pull to the place of assembly, which designated in advance. The usual meeting place is the place where we camped the previous night. If our forces are sufficient, we may leave a reserve unit along the designated exit route to look for prisoners and wounded.
CHAPTER VIII
Espionage
1st Focal points when they perform OUT espionage.
1st All reports on the situation should be transmitted without loss of time to one's superiors or friendly armies.
2nd The reports that we collect absolutely must be in full detail. All sloppy and negligent reporting must be severely prohibited.
3rd The extent of espionage is not limited only to the situation of the enemy, spies must also be aware of the terrain. We should be informed about all aspects of the terrain, which is detrimental to us, especially those aspects in favor of the enemy, such as narrow roads, river crossings, detours routes to avoid these river crossings and narrow roads, etc.
4th We should bend every effort to obtain complete and detailed information on all matters having no relation to our guerrilla unit, and our efforts should never cease until we understand the situation thoroughly.
5th We should be mindful of the sentiments of the people against ourselves and the enemy. Are people actively aiding us? How is their positive attitude expressed?
2nd METHODS of espionage.
Apart from sending out courageous and intelligent individuals (ie, spies) to conduct espionage on each page be a guerilla unit combines closely with the popular masses of space in question. Moreover, in strategically important places, we use reliable local residents or among those who sympathize with the guerrilla unit (for example, we can make use of feudal relations and find a relative or a person belonging to the family of the person performed by the enemy, and we can also recruit among those people who hate the enemy, etc.). We give these people a relatively good salary, establish a secret spy network and a system of guards, so we can transfer information with the facility.
3rd Espionage ON NUMBER of enemy troops His tactical abilities, AND HIS buildup.
1st Where are so many enemy infantry, cavalry, artillery-men, and other entities exist? How many Armoured cars and trains, tanks and aircraft have the enemy have? And where are they?
2nd What kind of defensive works makes the enemy in its front, the back and around his city and elsewhere? What kind of forces defending?
3rd Where is the enemy camps and arsenals?
4th What about enemy reserves and flanking troops? Where are they?
5th How is the morale of enemy soldiers? Are they prepared to fight or not? What is their relationship with people and with their own officers?
6th What about enemy army supplies of military equipment, bedding and clothing, food and other items?
4th Espionage ON terrain.
1st First and foremost, we must be mindful of the important roads in the area and their directors, their width, type of surface, whether they are muddy, etc. and
About the Author