Citing Unfavorable Battle Examples as a Warning

(October 28, 1948)

Comrades:

I hereby forward to you for reference an instructional telegram[1] issued by Lin and Luo on October 23 to their units. Regarding the issue of not launching a hasty attack after swiftly dividing and encircling the enemy through rapid maneuvers, but rather waiting until preparations are complete before mounting the assault, please pay attention to this matter. The unfavorable battle examples of Shahousuo and Wangdaotun cited in the telegram occurred during the attacks on Xingcheng and Suizhong by two of their independent divisions in September. Such situations, I am afraid, exist not only among the troops in the Northeast but may also occur among the units under your command. However, you have provided us with too little feedback on tactical issues, so we have no way of knowing. This issue indeed merits attention. Please conduct education among all cadres in the army, citing unfavorable battle examples as a warning. If you agree, please distribute this telegram and the one from Lin and Luo to all columns to draw everyone’s attention.

Mao Zedong

October 28

[1] Refers to the telegram sent at 9:00 on October 23, 1948, by Lin Biao, Luo Ronghuan, Liu Yalou, and Tan Zheng to all columns, with a copy to the Northeast Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Military Commission of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. The telegram stated: Before each attack, cadres at all levels must proceed ahead of the troops, personally reconnoiter the terrain, and arrange attack preparations. However, this does not mean casually exposing one’s position or running ahead during a troop charge. “It is strictly necessary to guard against the fighting methods used at Shahousuo and Wangdaotun. In that kind of fighting, without reconnoitering the terrain conditions, without waiting for the bulk of the troops to fully arrive, without properly deploying manpower and firepower, and without cutting off the enemy’s retreat route, a hasty and disorderly assault was launched.”