ABSTRACT
The most outstanding feature of the early months of 1968 was probably the rapid formation of numerous revolutionary committees. The army was largely responsible for this; its political and educational functions were extended further, and a somewhat unsuccessful attempt was made to associate the workers in the same activities. On January 1,1968 six provincial revolutionary committees existed out of the twenty-nine planned. The study and living application of the works of Mao Tse-tung were naturally given a pride of place among their duties. Their other tasks consisted mainly of recommendations to their members to go among the masses as often as possible, to share in their work, and to behave like true "revolutionary rebels." On October 11, the Twelfth Plenum of the Eighth Central Committee, enlarged by the inclusion of the Cultural Revolution Group and representatives of the provincial revolutionary committees, opened in Peking. It lasted until October 31.
