They found that under the new government, they were able to live in peace and go about their daily work without fear of being impressed into the army for military or labour service, They found that they were ald fur everything they sold. They found that their homes were no Tonger burned, destroyed, or cupied. They were exempted, until they were able to straighten' things out, from taxation, Under the Generalissimo's regi the conscription system was abolis ed. A..coolle corps was formed. known as the, Tick Chien Tui (Iron 'Shoulder Corps), whose especial duty it.was to carry' supplies for the troops and who were paid for this service. This was an important feature of the anti-Red campaign for the farmers were left in peace and able to till their land, and they even ce-operate with the troops.
In short, the people got something new and unexpeaied. Their appreciation was beyond bounds, as your special correspondent learned when he interviewed many of them. All agreed that, with the introduetion of the New Life Movement, things had changed entirely.
When the Government forces entered Nancheng, a survey was immediately made and it was discovered that there were some 20,000 strong adults whose ages ranged from eighteen to 40. All of these men were organized into volunteer groups in six districts, each district consisting of a number of pao, oF smaller units, and each pao com-
Everybody In the former Red areas is now registered under family, each family—compr group of ten persons, special badges are ismed, Should strangers or suspects approach, they are immediately accosted, arrested, and held until they are identified.
The volunteers, like those of—th Pih Tung Tui, or Special Movement Force, which has been dealt with in previous articles, are trained regular military officers for a period of three months, at the end of which they ore handed over to the local administrations for disposition as mem= bers of the public safety group. oF to train others. Village elders, those who display signs of leadership, and those who have been educated, are given the rank of sergeant' or corporal.
Comprehensive Training 'The training of these men consists of military tactics and citizens' defence, as well as elementary due: tion, They are taught to protect their hemes and keep the peace, to guard strategic points, such as blockhouses. watch towers, bridges and roads, and, moat important of all, they are taught to enforce the blockade and prevent smuggling to and from the Communist-bandit districts.
Their training finished, these men act as detectives and spies and as a regular volunteer police force, whose duties include everything mentioned in the previous paragraph, as well as the rounding-up of stray bandits, deserters from the army, suspects and other bad characters, all of whom are sent to headquarters to be dealt with, Armed as they are with their crude weapons of days gone by. these men are performing excellent service and many casualties have been sustained in their ranks, the first four days of October alone. three of them were killed and seven others seriously wounded. Others received minor wounds or injuries in the performance of their duties.
'Apar: from their military and citizens' defence training, the volunteers are given courses in elementary education, in the San Min Chu T Three People's Principles" of Dr. Sun Yot-sen), and in the New Life Movement.
Tt 18 of considerable interest and of particular gratification to the people to note that the British Government: has been doing its bit towards the rehabilitation of Kiangsi Province through grants made by the Administrative Board of the British Portion of the Boxer Indemnity Funds, under certain conditions which' have already been fulfilled.
Apart from these funds. grants have been made by the Provincial Government Generalissimo' Headquarters and the local administrations. Although the total is by no means large, every little heles and a considerable amount of work is being done with the funds at the disposal of those in charge.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.