K. This is the 1st working draft of vol. VI. It still ... - From Marx to Mao

BASIC TACTICS
these forays have been carried out, the group fights its way out in
another direction and rejoins the main force.
(2) We send out cavalry or a special task group of infantry. Their
strength should be from a platoon to a few companies. They should
penetrate as deeply as possible into the enemy’s rear and, moving
rapidly and unpredictably, should carry the battle from one place to
another. When there is no alternative, or when the enemy is not
expected to arrive before a certain time, they can also dwell temporarily
in secret where they are. As required by the exigencies of the
situation, they can employ either all or a part of their forces. They
return when the time comes that they can no longer stay in the
enemy’s rear, or when the task entrusted to them is completed, or
FROM MARX
TO MAO
because the enemy has already discovered our traces and our inten-
⋆
tions, and has taken effective measures of defense.
(3) In the enemy’s rear, we choose some young, strong, and courageous
elements among the local population and organize some
small groups who will accept the leadership of the experienced and
trained persons we send out or of experienced persons whom we had
trained previously in the place in question. The secret activity of
these small groups involves moving from their own area to another
one, changing their uniforms, unit numbers, and external appearance,
and using every method so as to cover their tracks to the utmost.
NOT FOR
(4) Or we seek volunteers from our army and provide them with
high-quality light weapons, in order to form them into special guerrilla
units under COMMERCIAL
the leadership of such officers as have benefited
from experience and study.
(5) Guerrilla units can be classified according to their nature.
Those formed of selected volunteers are called special guerrilla units.
Those organized DISTRIBUTION
generally from a part of our army are called basic
guerrilla units. Those organized from the local population are called
local guerrilla units. When basic and local guerrilla units engage in
combined actions, they are subject to the unified command of the
commander of the basic unit.
(6) As for the choice of the members of a guerrilla unit, the members
of a basic guerrilla unit should be taken from among those soldiers
who are healthy, firm of purpose, patient, courageous, and
quick-witted. Moreover, the soldiers themselves be willing to join
the group in question. In the case of the independent actions carried
out by these men in the course of guerrilla operations, there is
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