--- Notes



At present, the revolutionary war is making great strides forward in victory. Every worker and peasant should actively go to the front lines to participate in war work, so as to completely smash the Kuomintang imperialists’ fourth encirclement campaign, secure the first victory in Jiangxi Province, and contribute to the military effort. Military transportation is one aspect of this war work; it directly assists and facilitates the Red Army’s operations at the front. However, at all levels, the mobilization of the masses to form stretcher teams and transport units for service at the front has been inadequate. There has also been a lack of effective propaganda and agitation, failing to inspire enthusiastic participation among workers and peasants. As a result, desertions have occurred, which have adversely affected military transportation and led to losses of war booty.  Another undesirable practice has been that, in the past, wherever people went to perform transport duties, they expected to be paid—a situation that has turned into a form of hired labor. This not only increases military expenditures but also undermines the very purpose of having workers and peasants take part in the war. Such practices must be corrected immediately, and extensive propaganda should be carried out among the working masses to encourage them to join stretcher and transport teams at the front wholeheartedly and voluntarily. The following guidelines and provisions regarding the treatment of transport personnel and stretcher-bearers are hereby established:

1. For long-term transport personnel and stretcher-bearers serving for one to three months, their assignments shall be determined on an as-needed basis. Each person will receive ten cents and five fen in straw-sandal allowance per day, paid once every five days, and will also be entitled to a share of the troops’ rations. No other miscellaneous expenses will be provided.

2. For short-term transport personnel and stretcher-bearers—local levies conscripted from nearby areas to carry the wounded and sick and transport war booty—for periods of ten days or less, no daily straw-sandal allowance will be paid. Instead, a reasonable sum will be granted to cover the cost of straw sandals required during the period of service. As for those temporarily hired locally, an appropriate straw-sandal allowance will be disbursed based on actual local needs.

3. The working hours of labor squads shall be determined according to the original sentence. While on the march, each member may receive five fen in straw-sandal allowance per day; when stationed, no such allowance will be paid, but a share of the troops’ rations will be provided. No other expenses will be covered.

4. Long-term transport teams and labor squads are to be organized by the respective Soviet governments and transferred via the logistics depots to be assigned by the Military Commission to various armies for service alongside the troops. Neither the rear-area authorities nor the depot hospitals may retain these long-term transport personnel and stretcher-bearers.

6. In order to swiftly move forward the spoils of victory and other materials, all military regions and local governments, in addition to making ad hoc mobilizations of the masses, should dispatch Red Guards from various localities to undertake this task. This will not only reduce the difficulties associated with temporary mobilizations and ensure the rapid and loss-free return of all war booty, but will also enable the Red Guards to participate practically in war work under proper leadership.

7. Provincial and county Soviets should regularly supervise and direct the implementation of this work throughout their respective jurisdictions. The specific timing, locations, and numbers involved are to be determined in accordance with instructions issued by the General Political Department.

The above decisions and measures are hereby promulgated. All levels of government and rear-area logistical organs are urged to implement them conscientiously.  Issued under the authority of Chairman Mao Zedong, Vice Chairmen Xiang Ying and Zhang Guotao.