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

158 MAO TSE-TUNG
the greatest results in terms of harassing the enemy or securing intelligence.
(3) Each commanding officer of a unit should have only one orderly
at most. Apart from this according to the complexity of the
tasks, two or three officers should share the services of one orderly.
Even more attention should be accorded to not abusing this rule by
unnecessarily increasing the number of couriers as a substitute for
orderlies and to seeing that an unnecessarily large number of men
are not sent to carry out a given task, thereby reducing the fighting
strength of one’s own unit. Hence, when one sends out couriers,
one must reflect carefully on whether they can accomplish their task
or not.
FROM MARX
TO MAO
(4) It is preferable that each mass unit should not carry bundles
⋆
of food. When the dry rations carried separately by each soldier are
exhausted, one should take advantage of opportunities to borrow the
pots and pans of the population so as to prepare supplementary rations.
If it is necessary to carry bundles, each unit should not carry
more than two.
(5) Bundles of writing materials should not be carried in excess of
needs. Normally, two bundles per regiment, one per battalion, and one
per company are permissible. The weight of each bundle should not
exceed 40 kilograms.
(6) Each officier and soldier should carry his own bedding, knapsack,
etc. Bearers should not be engaged to transport these items.
This rule should be firmly established in advance.
NOT FOR
COMMERCIAL
7. OBJECTS TO BE CARRIED
DISTRIBUTION
A guerrilla unit preferably should have the following things:
(1) Equipment and explosives for destroying railroads, telephone
and telegraph lines, arsenals, etc.
(2) Medicines. Those needed in case of emergencies should be
carried according to the season, but dressings, etc., should be provided
on a permanent basis.
(3) A compass, and maps of the area in which the guerrilla unit
operates.
(4) Light radio equipment, which is especially important in order
to be able to report at all times on the situation of the enemy
and to listen in on the enemy’s reports.