Militia Turning Peasants Into Good Citizens Regimentation of People for Peace and War 'A. political experiment is being carried out in Kwangsi_ province which may easily affect the whole of the future government of China, This is the formation and training of 2 provincial militia which includes hot only military preparation for a possible war, but also a mobilization the civilian population in all departments to meet the same even-
'Why' this experiment should have been originated in Kwangsi—a prov-nee lacking in resources and unable pay for any large military preparsulons—is not altogether" clea Except that its immediate. ruler Generals Li Tsung-Jen and Pei Tsung: lis, are both militarily minded and Inclined to preserve the provincial government In a state of semi-Sutonomy. Nethertheless they have cultivated an idea which may yet bear fruit in other parts of the coun-and have an unexpected influence upon future developments in govern ment.
The militia of Kwangsi is not of the same nature and not for the same purpose as the militias with which Chinese history and acquaint nee with other parts of the country have made most people familiar. The Kwangs! militia is differently organized. It may briefly be described a training school for collective or community fe, In introducing i its sponsors have made its aims lea go Meet Modern Demands General Li Tsung-jen" said in regard to it: "The word militia hot a new term; nor is its organiza tion 'a novel undertaking, but the militia of Kwangst is organized to meet the demands of modern times, {is nature and system of organization, therefore, are different from those of the militias of other places and other times. Its alm begins with the reconstruction of Kwangsi and ends with the rejuvenation of China, As member of the community, the militia man's mission is to preserve order in his home town or village; as a citizen his mission is to defend his nation against aggressors.
"The second meaning "of the Kwangsi militia as an organization ts bring about the realization of poli teal democracy. In government ad~ ministration we oppose dictatorship. We recognize democracy, not dicta the political highway. political rights suffocated, may be developed. Then, and only verning powers then, can the nation be said to be a nation of the people. For it is only when public opinion commands respect that democracy can be said to exist, "Article 11 of the Outline Plan for the Construction of the Province of Kwangsi" reads: "To organize and train the people of the whole province with the prevailing regulations applied to the militia; to cultivate their powers of self-protection, self-support, and self-government, through which the foundations of true polltial democracy may be Isid.
"Such is the highest political ideal the militia movement in Kwangsi."
'A slightly more detailed account of the objectives of the movement is ftiven by General Pel Tsung-hsi. He "Our decision to train the militia was arrived at as carly 1990. To train the students and to bring the people of the whole province under organization, that we may be prepared for the great crisis of the next world war. "Our sim and purpose in training the militia are that, politically, they may be capable of self-government; economical. ly, they may be capable of self support; and militarily, they may be able to defend themselves. It is only. when the people of the entire nation fare able to govern themselves, 10 Support themselves, and to protect themselves that the Chinese race will bbe able to rise from the last struggle in the vortex of the next world war." dear of All Government General Pei's vision of the plight of Kwangsi in the next war need not be taken too seriously. When and
will probably be at the opposite pole the next war breaks out, Kwang that round which the strife is raging. But nevertheless the Kwang si generals have sot as their aim the {deal of all government—self-support. self-defence, and self-government and the means by which they hope to arrive at their goal are worth In organizing the Kyangsi militia, stress is laid upon developing the strength of the lowest stratum, for Which reason the "village" or' the "street" Gri the case of a town oF city) is taken as the unit." A certain number of "village" or "street™ units form to make a "district" or "town" Unit. The next targer unit is the "county" or "hsien." The hsiens combine to form a "militia section."
The province is divided into eleven "militia section", viz: Nanning, chow, Yulin (Watlam), Sinchow, Liuchow, Hsingyuen, Kweltin, Pinglo, LungehoWw, Paisth and Tienpao, For each "militia section" there is estabished "a Sectional Command. All leven sections are under the supervision of the highest provincial authorities, that uniform control may The militia is classified Into the Regular Corps, the Emergency Corps, the Reserve Corps, and Public Em: ployee's Corps, The Regular Corps 1s subdivided into class A, B, and C troops. Class 'A troops consist of 90 men; Class B troops, 72; and Class C troops, 00.
The training officers and. assistant emeers are appointed by the Chief Militia Command, to train the mill-Bla men in their respective localities, The Emergency Corps is made up of retired militia men from the Regulnr Corps, The Reserve Corps All able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 45 who are not serv ing in the Regular Corps are called serve in the Reserve Corps, to receive training in the respective localities of their domicile. Accord-
Ing to regulations in force, those between the ages of 18 and 30. are admitted to the "A" troops. Those between the ages of 31 and 45, to the "B" troops, Each troop is commanded by a captain, with a group-captain to each district or town and a county-captain to command the groups in a given county, The post of captaincy Is concurrent ly filled by the village "elder" or the chairman of the street committee: that of the group-captaincy, by the istrict mayor; and that of the county captaincy, by the county magistrate, 'The Public Employees' Corps is composed of public employees why have had previous military' training.
"The methods of training the militia have the advantage of introducing a certain amount of organization and iselpline into the masses, but have the serious disadvantage of taking men who are ill able" to" afford It away from their farms and land and foreing them (0 make ready for a war which may interest them not at all. In theory the methods are good; in' practice, it is doubtful whether the discontent they arouse is worth the potential eMiciency they create, training school for militia of-Acers, the Militia OMcers' Training Academy, was established Jost Juno, to centralize the work of training those who will guide the movement The present enrolment is 2757. The cadets are all recruited {rom senior and junior middle school graduates. Thes* are classified into three groups: senior middle school graduates, those with the equivalent educational Standing, are admitted to Group they are trained" for six months, Junior middle school graduates are fassed as Group I, and receive ten months ° training. ' Junior middle School students who have comploted at least one year's study are put into the third "group; their training Is clghtoen months, Type of Training The training consists of the usual military and physical instruction, anti-aircraft and anti-gas measures, and algo embraces a very much wider Meld. In this field are included the Fudiments of good "citizenship, an elementary knowledge of political organizations, the knowledge of simple birth control, afforestation, the planting of crops according to modern solentine investigations, cattle raising, and road construction. "All these sib: acts are taught by means of lectures, tactical demonstrations, groin di cussions, and investigations of the machinery of village _yovernment. Upon graduation the cadets are sidered cupable of taking the lead helping their fellows to reach the three-fold objective of the movement political, educational, and military: and to take a responsible part in the administration of government in their own districts. Through their assistance it is hoped to reorganize the whole rural constitution of the province, until every Iest__mat woman and child is aware of his responsibilities. towards the province and ultimately the nation—and is 'Atted to carry them out, 'AS al present performed, the trame ing. of the rank and Me of: the militia interfering considerably with the dally work of the peasants in' the provinee—inen who live, asa rule in @ somewhat hand-to-mouth man ner and can ill afford to be away from their fields. "The peasantry are instructed in the national laws. and ordinances, political "organization, police regulations and the punish: ments inflicted for breaches of them, and other items calculated to. ime rove their efficiency as citizens, az (Continued on page 478.)
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.