Probably between 5,000 and 10:00 (at the outside) entered Shans ori-Sinally, mostly men from' unau, Kiangsi and Shensi. 'They didn't wear" special uniforms, but were Elothed mostly in ong' black robes, Jwere poorly armed, only about one in {hres having rifles, and'with no cannon fof any kind. "Among. them were many' quite young boys who were conspicuous for their daring "und Iruculence. Few prisoners. were taken by" the Goverment forces 'Any stragglers or wounded who fell into their hands were generally shot, with the exception of boys under tixleen, These' were sent 10 special Feformatory camps. at Taiyuan, in the hope of weaning them from' the Communist doctrines.
But in almost every case the boys refused not only to give away any nallitary "information, but even to meant. What became of them in the fend, T did not learn. The original Invaders were joined by a certain number of the local riff-raf, perhaps fas many as 5000, but on the whole the population remained passive, Jess from any" attachment to thee government, than because of the Hrongly suspicious and provincial character of the Shansi people was, as 'T have. Indleated, a curiously. mild Communist invasion They appear to have" been out to make epod_ impression "on the Population" Their chief slogan was have come to. drive out the Japanese!"—also Chiang Kal-shek and Yen Hsi-sha Japanese." attitude seems to have been that of therers, rather than the stand: wrers of & revolutionary doe
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.