In Appreciation of the Naval Commanders
and Sailors Who Revolted1
(May 18, 1949)
(Xinhua News Agency, Beiping, May 18) The chairman of the Chinese People’s
Revolutionary Military Commission, Mao Zedong, and the commander-in-chief
of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, Zhu De, sent a telegram to congratulate former Guomindang General Lin Zun, who revolted with the Guomindang’s
Second Coastal Defense Fleet and its commanders and soldiers. The telegram
said:
To General Lin Zun, Captain Shao Lun, Captain Li Baoying, Captain Wu
Jian’an, Captain Zhang Jiabao, Captain Song Jihong, Captain Yi Yuanfang,
Captain Guo Bingheng, Captain Han Tingfeng, Captain Chen Wudu, Team
Leader Du Chengshen, Team Leader Zhang Ruyou, and all of the sailors of the
Second Fleet:
Congratulations on your magnificent feat on the Nanjing River. You led
twenty-five navy vessels to break away from the reactionary camp and join the
great family of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. This action deserves the
warm welcome of all of China’s people. The Chongqing revolted in February and
was bombed by the Guomindang reactionaries in March, and it was followed by
your large-scale revolt in April. It is thus clear that the great will of China’s patriotic people to build their own navy and naval defenses cannot be prevented by
the reactionary remnants. We hope you will unite as one, study the army-building
thought and the working system of the People’s Liberation Army, continue studying naval techniques, and strive for the brilliant future of the Chinese People’s
Navy!
Mao Zedong
Zhu De
The source for this text is Renmin ribao, May 19, 1949, p. 1.
DOI:  10.4324/9781315719436-270