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

BASIC TACTICS
4. TYPES OF SOLDIERS
As for the type of soldiers employed in guerrilla units, cavalry,
engineers, and highly mobile infantry troops are excellent. Cavalry
is entrusted with the task of creating disorder on the enemy’s flanks,
and also, when we are pursuing the enemy, with that of maintaining
pressure on his rear guard and creating confusion on his flanks and
in his rear. Moreover, at all times, cavalry is the guerrilla unit’s
only instrument for transmitting correspondence and for reconnoitering.
Hence, the cavalry is indispensable to any guerrilla unit.
Engineers are used for destroying communications in the enemy’s
rear (such as railroads, telephone and telegraph lines, bridges, etc.
FROM MARX
TO MAO
) As for the highly mobile infantry units, they are useful to startle
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the enemy and produce in him a feeling of insecurity night and day.
5. WEAPONS
Apart from the rifles of the infantry and the cavalry, light machine
guns, hand grenades, etc., guerrilla units should also be supplied
with pistols and submachine guns.
To the extent that the terrain permits it, one can also add heavy
machine guns, mortars, and small cannons.
NOT FOR
COMMERCIAL
6. MEN AND BAGGAGE
Convenience of movement and agility being the characteristics
of a guerrilla unit, the baggage train, cases of equipment and ammunition,
etc., should DISTRIBUTION
all be kept as simple as possible for the sake
of convenience. The combatant and noncombatant members of the
unit should all be organized as most appropriate for guerrilla warfare,
and all other persons who are not indispensable should be kept
to the strict minimum.
(1) The officers and men in each guerrilla squad should not exceed
8; each platoon should not exceed 26; and each company should
not exceed 100.
(2) When automatic weapons are somewhat more numerous, the
number of men can be still further reduced, and guerrilla units composed
of 5 or 6 men can be sent out repeatedly, in order to achieve
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