Until now, however, the Communist rank and file have disagreed with that view.

His remarks came as talk of a possible party split and even of the party's dissolution has spread through the Communist ranks.

The superiority of the forces of Chiang Kai-shek caused a huge number of casualties in the Communist ranks.

The largest category of prisoners is in fact, coming from within Communist ranks, like former cadres.

By this time, the book relates, many in the Red Army distrusted Mao - so he launched a brutal purge of the Communist ranks.

That defection split the Communist ranks, as the more moderate wing left to form its own party, unwilling to be held responsible for defeating a leftist Government.

He further stated that "The imperialists are always prepared to pay thirty pieces of silver to those who split the Communist ranks."

But those sort of statements are dismissed as elitism by the Communist rank and file.

Mr. Guingona said he believed the statement demonstrated a victory within Communist ranks of hard-liners who do not want a negotiated settlement.

Whoever wins the power struggle in Communist ranks, the orders to shoot crowds will haunt the Government for years.