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보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 716　23 August 1950

FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0534)　20 August 1950

PW was cooperative; information is considered reliable.

Inducted 24 Jul 50 at P’YONGTAEK. Received no training. Left P’YONGTAEK on 1 Aug 50, marched for 15 days and joined 13th Regt on 17 Aug 50 at 1356.4-1133.3. PW received no weapon. PW was ammo bearer for LMG in 2nd Plt. About 1,000 men left 1356.4-1133.3 at 17 2100 K Aug 50, and marched north, arriving at 1365.9-1334.5 18 1830 K Aug 50. Subject was going to run away from his unit and go home, but he was captured by US Forces about an hour later. PW has never fired or even carried a weapon. The group of 4,000 conscripts (including the PW) marched South. The men were all conscripted in KYONGGI-DO.

Higher echelon unknown. 17 Aug 50 at 1356.4-1133.3 the T/O & E of the 1st Bn was changed. As of that date the bn was composed of nine (9) companies. The 1st Co was Arty company with 2 artillery pieces. 2nd Co was LMG Co with one LMG. 3rd Co was mortar company with 15 x mortars. 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th companies unknown.

6th Div Hq --- 1356.4-1133.3

13th Regt (elements?) --- 1365.91334.5

3rd Sqd - 6 men - 1 x DEGTYAREV LMG, 3 x 1891/30 rifles, 1 x submachine gun (one man without weapon)

2nd Plt - 20 men - 1 x DEGTYAREV LMG, 13 x submachine guns, 5 or 6 men without weapon, and the rest carried 1891/30 rifles.

2nd Co - 80 men - 18 x DEGTYAREV LMG, 12 x submachine guns, 15 or 16 men without weapon, and all others carried 1891/30 rifles.

Each rifleman had about 40 rounds. Each submachine gun had 2 drums. LMGs were short on ammunition. 13th Regt - about 1,000.

No information.

3 x T-34/85 tanks observed at 1356.4-1133.3 18 Aug 50. Condition unknown.

No information.

During the march to the south, PW noticed horse carts travelling with the group. Sometimes the carts were in the rear and sometimes preceded the troops. Subject thinks they were loaded with ammunition and rice. The carts an drawn by 2 horses harnesses abreast, while a 3rd horse is lead the rear of the cart and is used as a spire.

Morale: The men of the “Volunteer Army”, South Korean conscripts, didn’t like the idea of being in the army. They wanted to leave and go home. The NCO’s and officers continue to talk with confidence to the men, but PW believes that inwardly they are not so sure of winning.

Replacements: See Military History.

Many of the South Korean civilians are being swayed to the side of the NK Army. Most of the SK civilians believe that the NK will win the war.

Unknown.

On the trip South the 4,000 conscripts were divided into squads, platoons and companies. It appeared to PW that the route and the bivouac areas enroute were planned in advance. The group marched mostly at hight; however, sometimes they had to march until after daybreak before they reached their pre-selected areas. Platoons would stop at the small villages and companies would stop at the larger towns. The men were told when they could smoke. The group ate just after arrival and just before departure. PW does not know where the rice was coming from. From squad leader on up were North Koreans.

The group was strafed 5 or 6 times enroute, about four (4) times in early morning and once or twice during the day. The route followed was:

P’YONGTAEK, CHONAN, CHOCNI’WON, TAEJON, KUMSAN, MUJU, ANUI, CHINJU - - Place of capture.

Enroute, the officers would tell the people of the villages that the North Korean Army had lost of planes but they would not use them because top many South Korean civilians would be killed. PW observed very few NK troop enroute.