76 { China’s Quest
By February, the battlefield balance began to shift against the CPV. The ar-
rival of a new general for the US/UN forces, Matthew Ridgway, contributed to
effective tactical responses to CPV tactics. Gaps in line that could be exploited
by CPV disappeared. More artillery and machine guns were deployed to nul-
lify CPV numerical superiority. CPV assaults with numerical superiority of
even 15:1 began to fail. US forces began using defensive battles to kill large
numbers of CPV, luring them into attacks on well-prepared kill zones and
then quickly counterattacking to push CPV northward. US aircraft became
more adept at identifying and destroying CPV bivouacs and supply depots
along the long supply lines running north across the Yalu River. CPV cau-
salities mounted. Hunger and shortage of food, clothing, ammunition, and
weapons became heavy burdens on CPV forces. By June 1951, US/UN forces
had retaken Seoul.
Maintaining an adequate flow of supplies to CPV forces in the face of US
aerial dominance and continual bombing of Chinese logistics was a major
and chronic problem for the CPV. In April 1951, deputy commander of the
CPV Hong Xuezhi reported in Beijing to Zhou Enlai on the dire supply situ-
ation of Chinese forces in Korea. Food, ammunition, and medical care were
all lacking.^38 Zhou responded to Hong’s pleas by ordering increased produc-
tion and delivery of goods, along with increased allocation of trucks and
anti-aircraft guns, to Korea. Starting in September 1951, the Chinese air force
began air defense operations over North Korea. Major logistical problems
persisted. Zhou convened conferences in Shenyang in November 1951 and in
Beijing in February 1952 to address pressing logistic problems. At the latter
meeting, after listening to various government officials report all the reasons
why they were unable to meet CPV requirements, CPV Commander Peng
Dehuai exploded angrily:
You have this and that problem. ... You should go to the front and see
with your own eyes what food and clothing the soldiers have. Not to
speak of casualties? For what are they giving their lives? We have no
aircraft. We have only a few guns. Transports are not protected. More
and more soldiers are dying of starvation. Can’t you overcome some of
your difficulties?^39
Beijing turned to its Soviet ally for help.^40 On October 10, 1950, after the
CCP had decided to intervene but before CPV forces crossed the Yalu, Zhou
Enlai flew to Stalin’s Yalta villa in the Crimea to request Soviet support for
the upcoming effort. Stalin agreed to supply equipment and ammunition, but
only for payment. The Soviet Union would extend credits to finance Chinese
purchases, Stalin said. Regarding air cover, which Zhou urgently requested,
Stalin agreed to provide such support only over Chinese territory, not over
Korea. Even then, Stalin said, it would take two to three months for Soviet
air forces to prepare for such operations. The actual entry of CPV into North