Horde v. Heroes

Between the Nanking Government of North & Central China and its loosely subservient ally, the Canton Government in South China, is an area of great lakes, marshes and mountains pullulating with bandit Communist armies. Harassed from all sides last week, the tattered, hungry Communists saw to the east the fat fields of Fukien Province just before the harvest, beyond that the sea whence come their smuggled guns. Some 40,000 of them boiled down from the mountains, swept a small local army out of their way. Up to meet them swaggered Canton's 19th Route Army, famed for its defense of Shanghai last year against the Japanese, commanded by hollow-cheeked General Tsai Ting-kai. Outnumbered, the 19th Route Army fought for four days last week over broken country, lost more than 2.000 men, two regimental commanders. General Tsai retreated to fortifications near Lungyen, only 100 mi. northwest of the important seaport of Amoy. Falling back again from Lungyen, he called for reinforcements. The Communist horde billowed on toward Changchow, 30 mi. from Amoy. Refugees streaming into Amoy brightened at sight of a U. S. gunboat in the harbor, at news that 50,000 reinforcements had been sent General Tsai. Before the reinforcements arrived. General Tsai and his 19th Route Army pulled themselves together, turned and smashed the advancing Communists. The horde quivered, stopped, then streamed back toward the mountains. General Tsai followed, energetically shooting.

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