澳洲報刊有關桂係報導選(8)
【進入到太平洋戰爭時期，在西方戰地記者的眼中，抗戰中的中國士兵如何？誰是中國抗戰中最受士兵愛戴的著名戰將？這篇報道獨特的中國軍隊的戰地通訊，列舉了四位著名的戰將：薛嶽、李宗仁、白崇禧和張發奎——四人都是老廣！在澳洲記者的眼裏，抗戰中值得他們稱道的戰役有：台兒莊大戰、攻占昆侖關和長沙戰役。】
CHINA'S UNIQUE ARMY
Brave Soldiers and Popular Leaders
By W. G. BURCHETT
"Argus" War Correspondent
CALCUTTA, Monday
With the Japanese apparent concentrating in an attempt to knock out China, the next few months are liable to test the Chinese armies to the utmost. What is the strength of these armies? How do they fight, and why have they been able to withstand the Jap colossus so long? Their numerical strength is difficult lo estimate, but latest figures supplied by Hoyin Chin, Chief of Staff and War Minister, in April last year, gave 5,000,000 men under arms, and 10,000,000 trained reserves. Due to the weakness of the Chinese armies' firepower, the effective strength of these numbers is incomparable with those of other nations. However, this takes no account of the immense number of guerillas. The Chinese Army is different from any other army, but in some respects is similar to the Soviet organization, its training is still based on the principles of the famous strategist, Sen Wut-tze, of the Chow dynasty, who placed the greatest emphasis on morale; and secondly emphasised tactics which force the enemy to fight on ground of your own choosing.
So for as the Chinese have been successful in recent years, it is not able that Taier Chwan. Kun Lonckwan, and Changsha, Chinese commanders believe the credit to be due to the Generalissimo's interpretation or Sun Wut-tze's principles.
About 80% of China's soldiers are of peasant stock. Until recently conscription was not general, due to the difficulties of training and equipping the huge numbers represented by call-up of the whole age groups. Recruits were chosen by a twice yearly ballot, which allowed wealthy parents to buy substitutes for their sons from their poorer neighbours. This practice is now dying out. The Chinese respect for learning exempts students from conscription, but many students volunteer, and all must enter training camps twice a year. All Government officials must spend a specified time each year in military training.
THE CHINESE SOLDIER
By our standards the Chinese soldier's pay is ludicrous. We must realise, however, that the average Chinese peasant counts himself lucky if he succeeds in the fight against famine, and gathers sufficient rice for feeding his family. The troops get free rice (2.21b daily), free uniforms, and lodging, plus between 30 and 50 Chinese dollars monthly (between 8/ and 13/).
Wong Yo-kun is a typical Chinese private. I met him laid out on a stretcher during the first Sino-Japanese encounter in Burma. Between shouting orders through the telephone as the Toungoo battle raged, his divisional commander (major general's rank) recounted Wong's deeds that day. He had killed one first and one second Jap lieutenant, and 4 soldiers, captured 4 bicycles, and 4 rifles, and destroyed 3 motorcycles. When a Jap attempted to bayonet the regimental colonel, Wong tackled him with bare hands. He was shot in the neck, and a dagger was plunged through his forearm, but he still held on till a pistol shot ended the Jap's career and saved the colonel's life.
A year ago Wong was tilling the grey Hunan soil. Times were critical when he was called up, and he served only a 3 months' training course before being drafted to Hsueh Yueh’s armies for the defence of Changsha. Afterwards he was transferred to Burma. His mother, who was left with a younger son, is looked after by the State to the extent that she is able to buy military rice at a nominal figure-about 3% of the market price-in lieu of a family allowance. Had Wong been married his family also would have been entitled to military rice, and the children eligible for free kindergarten, primary, and middle school education. Wong was painfully, but not desperately, wounded, and the divisional general said he had recommended him for a course at the central military academy, because Wong showed not only great bravery, but also qualities of leadership. Wong at the academy would continue to draw a private's pay, and after a 2 years' course would graduate as a first lieutenant. In the Chinese Army there is nothing to prevent a private from becoming a marshal if he has the ability.
The wide area of China has resulted in a different system of military groupings from other countries. The country is subdivided into 9 war areas, in each of which is stationed a group army, equivalent to our Army Corps. This may consist of anything from 4 to 12 armies. An army often called army corps-normally consists of 3 infantry divisions, a company of cavalry (really mounted infantry), a battalion of artillery and engineers, and a company of signalers, & etc. Divisions vary between 7,000 and 15,000. Divisions consist of 2 infantry brigades of 2 regiments each, the latter broken up into 3 battalions, comprising rifle companies and machinegun units, proportionate to the quality of the division. The basic unit of the Chinese Army is the squad (comparable with our platoon), consisting of about 12 men, equipped mainly with rifles, but at least one automatic rifle, and each troop carries 2 hand grenades. Squads with the army in Burma are better equipped, however, with several Bren-type light machineguns and a Chinese version of the Tommy gun each, Machinegun units have Lewis type heavy machineguns, while the artillery uses trench mortars, mountain howitzers, and field pieces up to 6 inches. For the Burma campaign also are used modern American 75 howitzers and moderate numbers of 2-inch anti-tanks.
POPULAR LEADERS
At the front, when not fighting, Chinese soldiers, in addition to 4 hours' drill, have a 2 hours' lecture daily. Political subjects, including an outline of international affair, are also included. The Chinese equivalent of the Soviet political commissar is a political officer who holds the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and who acts as regimental second in command. The Chinese have many idolised commanders, for whom any soldier would cheerfully die; for instance, Hsueh Yueh, the "little tiger," hero of Changsha and participant in the great Taier Chwan victory. Close-shaven, bullet-headed, small, and slim, with a wry, humorous mouth, Hsueh Yueh is a strict disciplinarian, who lives with and loves his troops. The famous Kwangsi generals, Li Tsung-Jen and Pai Chung-si, familiarly called the. Kwangsi Twins, who have inflicted disastrous defeats on the Japs, also are well loved. The "Iron Horse," Gen Chang Fa-kwei, famed for the stirring defence of Shanghai and for holding on to Pootung till the last Chinese troops retired to other sectors, won the title "Iron Horse" by fighting through with Chang Hseuh-liang's armies from Hangkow to Kaifeng in 8 days. All these generals are veterans, and still on active service.
One of the most colourful figures is Marshal Feng Yu-hsiang, a Christian general, who still preserves his reputation as a son of the people by dressing in peasant's clothes. An immense figure of a man, shaven headed, with rolling underlip, he looks like a laughing Buddha. At present he has a nominal position as the Generalissimo's military adviser, but his main function is giving "pep" talks at the military academics, where his homely language and blunt statements endear him to the recruits.
On top of all these is the Generalissimo, austere disciplinarian, one of the greatest military strategists of all time, who has gathered thread by thread into his hands all the strings which hold together a mighty nation of peace-loving people, united by one resolve-to rid their country of the Japanese invaders, so that it can return to its peaceful occupation of tilling the soil.
The Argus, Tuesday 26 May 1942, p.2.
