军队的问题，最近我和一些同志谈过，主要有四个问题：第一是“消肿”，第二是改革体制，第三是训练，第四是加强政治思想工作。
The problems of the army which I have recently discussed with some comrades include four main ones: First, reducing “bloatedness”; second, reforming structure; third, improving training; and fourth, strengthening political and ideological work.
第一，讲“消肿”。
First, I'll discuss the question of reducing “bloatedness”.
这次会议主要是研究军队“消肿”这个老问题。
This old question is the chief topic of the present meeting.
我讲的不是像对越自卫还击战这样的事，这样的事好应付。
I don't mean an emergency like the self-defensive counter-attack on Viet Nam.
That kind of incident is easy to cope with.
当然，我们还有很多不利的因素，比如有好多干部没有打过仗，缺乏指挥作战的经验，装备又比较落后，等等。
Of course, we still have many disadvantages.
For example, many of our cadres lack experience in directing operations because they have never seen action, our equipment is relatively backward, and so on.
但是经过对越作战可以看出，敢这两个字我们还是有的。
The battles against Viet Nam, however, showed that our troops are brave.
然而我们必须清醒地看到，我们存在的一个最大问题，就是军队很臃肿。
However, we must soberly recognize that one of our main problems now is that the army is over-manned.
现在提出“消肿”，主要是要解决军队机构重叠、臃肿，以及由此带来的各级指挥不灵等问题。
The current proposal for reducing “bloatedness” is primarily designed to solve such problems as organizational overlapping and overstaffing with the consequent inefficiency of command at various levels.
经过这几年，军队的各级机构又加大了，随之官僚主义现象也发展了起来。
In the last few years, army organizations at various levels have again been expanded, leading to a revival of bureaucracy.
因此，军队要提高战斗力，提高工作效率，不“消肿”不行。
Therefore, unless we reduce “bloatedness”, we won't be able to raise the army's combat effectiveness and work efficiency.
还有，我们国家现在支付的军费相当大，这不利于国家建设，人员过多，也妨碍军队装备的现代化。
In addition, our current military expenditures are rather high, to the detriment of national construction.
The fact that the armed forces are over-manned also makes it harder to modernize their equipment.
减少军队人员，把省下来的钱用于更新装备，这是我们的方针。
Our policy is to reduce manpower and use the money thus saved to renew equipment.
如果能够节省出一点用到经济建设上就更好了。
If some of the savings can be used for economic construction, so much the better.
冷静地判断国际形势，多争取一点时间不打仗还是可能的。
After calmly assessing the international situation, we have concluded that it is possible to gain a longer period free from war than we had thought earlier.
在这段时间里，我们应当尽可能地减少军费开支来加强国家建设。
During this time, we should try our best to cut down military spending so as to strengthen national construction.
总之，搞四个现代化也好，把军队搞精干、提高战斗力也好，都需要“消肿”。
In short, it is necessary to reduce “bloatedness” if we want to carry out the four modernizations or to streamline the army and raise its combat effectiveness.
我们这次精简，主要是减少不必要的非战斗人员，减少统率机构、指挥机构人员。
The main purpose of our present streamlining is to reduce the number of unnecessary non-combatants and of personnel in leading and commanding organs --
这次的措施比一九七五年更进了一步。
The measures now adopted go a step further than those of 1975.
比如，各级指挥员人数，过去保留得多一点，这次要力求少一点。
For example, the number of commanders who are to remain at various levels will be smaller.
很多同志提议，一个团两个副团长、一个副政委就可以了，这个意见好。
Many comrades have suggested that in a regiment, in addition to the commander and political commissar, two deputy commanders and one deputy political commissar are sufficient.
This is a good idea.
师也可以这样做嘛！
It should be applied to the divisions as well.
现在领导班子实在太大。
The present leading bodies are really too big.
这个问题如果不果断处理，再过几年，不晓得问题会变成什么样子！
If the problem is not dealt with firmly, I don't know what things will be like in a few years.
一九七五年时，军队要包起来的干部已经相当多了，现在，相隔四年之后，要养起来、要退休的人就更多了。
In 1975, the army already had to look after a fairly large number of cadres.
Now, more than four years later, it has to look after still more, including those who should be retired.