THE ENEMY: Where’s Mao? Where’s Lin?

The masters of Red China, like the masters of Red Russia, sometimes shroud their deeds, plans and illnesses in unexplained absences. Where, last week for example, was Mao Tse-tung? And where was his top field commander, Lin Piao?

In Peking last week, every comrade of any rank at all seemed to be taking part in the festive birthday party (33rd) for Russia’s Red army & navy. Mao was notably not present. Rumor had Mao ill, or in Moscow, or fallen from power.

Meanwhile, in Korea, Lin Piao’s Fourth Field Army, the flower of Red China’s armed might, was being cut to tatters. No one in the West knew whether General Lin was on hand to watch the sacrifice. Rumor last week said he had left Korea for another significant post in South China. In his place, according to underground reports, was Peng Teh-huai, deputy commander in chief and boss of China’s First Field Army. In his new job, it was said, Lin would be at the controls for any adventure against Formosa or Indo-China.