Stranica 1 [1]
XeAcNOol 3. for VYecember 1952.
THE SITUATION IN ChINAs
tn a ne
One of the most important features of the evolution in
China has been, in recent times, that is to say this automn, a change
over in the .lannings for the organization of the Chinese People's
Army. Hitherto, as we pointed out in many previous dispatches,
the organizational planning of the Chinese Red Army was essentially
a short-range effort. Before and during the first ph&ses of the
Korean war, the main point was to get forces ready as fast as
possible and to give them at least some battle training, regardless
of cagualities. ‘his way, the “hinese Army was saceessfully built
up to a powerful war weapon, but the great disadvantage of the
proc ding was that subh feverish activity was often sacrificing
qualitiy to speed and quantity. In discussion on the matter, the
Chinese political leaders nevertheless always emphasized the need
of going fast, since the cv ntingencétes of the world situation demanded
a readiness as fast as possiblee With the middle 6f this year, the
Situation has becom such that, in the estimate of Mao-Tse-tung, and
his military advisors, a stage has been reached, in which the Yhinese
People's Army has sufficiently progressed in order to secure the
saféty of the country and such limiited operations as might be called
for, iff a limited expansion program. In other words, according to
Chinese governmental estimates, the @hinese Army can assure domestic
safety and is sufficiently trained for operations in the size of the
Korean war, possibly the intervention in ¥ormosa and Localized
operations in XmigoIndochina. On the other hand, the Chinese Army
is not yet ready for a global conflicte
At the time when this assessment was made, in the latter
parts of the summsr of this year, the well-trained Infantry force
of Red China contained a force of 4,700.000 men. Of these, 2,800.000
men composed the five field Armies together of 460 divisions. 1,900.06
men composed the so-called garrison Army in “hinae “he aku only
partly trained reserve of varying value, was established at 12 million
men of partisans and political po.ice forces, as well as territorial
denfense units. these forces are suppl mented by an “ir force, of
1-250 fighter planes, 800 of which are jet fighters, ana of 300
bombers. Both fighterxs and bombers, with the exception of the few
rather old trainer planes, are of Russian make, In most instances,
the technical parts of the maintenance troops are still Russian.
The fleet is rather weak and composed mainly of lighter boats, the
heaviest being a 5.000 tons cruiser. There are 30 submarines, based
in Talien and in Yulin. “ut these 50 submarines are all old, world
war II. types and should be considered rather as trainers, since
their usefulness in active warfare against a modern fleet would be
4g.