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

BASIC TACTICS
CHAPTER XI
SURPRISE ATTACKS
ON THE ENEMY’S TRANSPORT UNITS
An attack on a transport column is one of the most advantageous forms
of action for a guerrilla unit, since we can obtain in this manner the weapons,
food, and supplies we need.
FROM 1. SUDDEN SURPRISE MARX ATTACKS
TO MAO
With such attacks, we can frighten the enemy out of his wits, and pre-
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cipitate him into a state of complete confusion. The coolies of the transport
units are, in large part, timid peasants forcibly impressed. Moreover, the
size of the covering force is limited, and it is generally spread out over a
very long distance. If we overturn one of the wagons, we can make all the
wagons behind it stop too.
2. METHODS OF ATTACK
NOT FOR
COMMERCIAL
1. The guerrilla unit must not forget that its task is not to defeat
the enemy, but to capture the enemy’s wagons. Consequently, we
should detail only a part of our forces to do battle with the enemy’s
covering unit. The rest of our men should be ordered to plunder,
pursue, and demolish the materials he is transporting. Hence, whenever
we carry out such a surprise attack, we should do our best to
contrive matters so as to open fire rapidly against the transport unit
and cause them to DISTRIBUTION
stop, in order to increase their confusion and fear.
2. In order to stop the whole transport column, it is only necessary
to shoot at the front part of it, because, under conditions of
mass anxiety and bewilderment, when the wagons in front stop, they
will interfere with one another, fall over on the side of the road, and
bring about a situation of extreme confusion. If there are a large
number of transport wagons, and if, because the front of the column
is under fire, the wagons at the rear endeavor to turn around and
escape, the guerrilla unit should send out a small number of riflemen
to shoot furiously from cover at the tail end of the column, so
that it does not dare turn around.
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