포로신문
보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2499　4 December 1950

The following information was obtained from a group of 19 recovered American military personnel who were interrogated upon their arrival in JAPAN, from KOREA, by Central Interrogation Center, ATIS. Interrogation was conducted at the Tokyo General Hospital by Lt, NUNLEY.

Information possessed by these men is as follows:

Source was captured on 4 Nov 50 at a point about 5 miles south of UNSAN. Chinese captors first took watches, pens, pencils and other belongings from the prisoners. They took prisoners who were able to move away but left source and other wounded prisoners where they had fallen for three days and nights. On the second night after capture, they brought prisoners some watery rice soup. On the 4th day after capture (8 Nov 50), the wounded Americans were picked up and put in houses near the place of capture. There they were left with no guard until 16 Nov 50. During this period they were stripped of almost all their clothing by North Korean civilians. On the third night in the houses (11 Nov 50) prisoners were brought a 5 gallon can of cooked rice by the Chinese.

On 16th Nov, the wounded were picked up by the Chinese, put on stretchers, and carried to UNSAN. From there they struck out crosscountry, stopping at various places until finally they arrived at what appeared to be a Regt Aid station. There Chinese Aid man washed and dressed their wounds and fed them. From here they were moved to what source thinks was a Field Hospital. There were three Chinese nurses and several doctors here. Sources was unable to give location. Here all prisoners received treatment. They all received tetanus shots and had a medical record made out and given to them to keep. Here Chinese doctors performed surgical operations on three of the wounded Americans. Most of the medicine and drugs used here was American made.

All the men were interrogated. Interrogators seemed more interested in the men's personal life than in military matters.

On or about 20 Nov 50 the men were loaded on trucks and left the hospital. They began moving south toward American lines.

Around 22 Nov 50, source saw a soldier whom he thinks was a Russian. As it was night. he could not distinguish this person's facial features but the soldier was wearing red shoulder epaulets and had a red star emblem on his cap.

Prior to their release at or near SONG-GU-DONG, which is some four to six miles southeast of UNSAN, prisoners were given copies of a letter, presumably intended for American commanders, by the interpreter in charge of the truck movement, a Chinese officer named LEE.

Copy of the letter

"We are fighting for the independence and unity of KOREA and also for the human peace of the Far East and the whole world. We think it is a pity that hundred thousands of US soldiers were thrown into the Korean war as a sacrifice by the American imperialists and war mongers. Now we collected several wounded soldiers that you have cast. According to our Army's justice traditions and conventions, today we send them back to your troops. We hope that you will receive them.

We send these wounded soldiers to the place between you and I. Only one ambulance is permitted to carry them. You may carry them by turns but you must bear a red cross flag of 1 meter square in size at the left front of the ambulance jeep. It is prohibited to bring with any weapon or send more than one jeep. We decide that you have to come at a.m. p.m. of　　 and must obey the rules aforesaid, otherwise you will be shoot.

In addition, we hope that after these wounded were recovered, they will not fight again with Korean and other peace-loving people.

Source thinks this letter may have been written by LEE, as the English used was much like that spoken by him.

Source observed an M-4 tank in UNSAN being operated by Chinese soldiers on or about 16 Nov 50. He estimates that 30 to 40% of the Chinese front-line troops were armed with Thompson sub-machine guns. He also observed quite a few German-type collapsible-stock automatic "burpguns". Chinese had carbines but carried few M-1 rifles.

After capture on 2 Nov 50, source was moved from village to village by night. He finally ended up at what he believes was a field hospital, but does not know the location. Here he received medical treatment and food. Prisoners left this hospital on or about 19 Nov 50 by truck. After leaving the hospital they stayed the first night in what appeared to have been a fairly large town, which was still smoking from air force bombardment. Source saw what he believes was a division or corps hqs, and also observed a large radio tower and station on the outskirts of this town. He saw many knocked out and abandoned trucks on the road. He observed what he believes to have been a Russian soldier or officer near the hqs building. This individual was wearing a dress uniform and had a red star on his cap.

Chinese seemed not to care about interrogating the officer prisoners but did a lot of talking to the EM, telling them that the officers were responsible for the war and that they (the Chinese) were fighting for the liberation of the Korean people, etc.

Chinese interrogators insisted that the prisoners call them "comrade". They refused to talk about Russia or Russians. They definitely looked down upon North Koreans.

Source saw an American M-4 tank with Chinese crew on or about 15 Nov in UNSAN. He states that Chinese were very also mechanics and quickly utilized captured vehicles.

Source believes that all Chinese Officers and NCOs wear identical uniforms (red Ⅴ on sleeves and red stripes on trousers) with no rank insignia.

Prisoner observed large quantities of captured American ammunition including tracer, mortar, and white phosphorus (mortar) shells.

Most of the stretchers at the field hospital where source was located from about 16 to 20 Nov 50 were American made.

Source reports that Chinese relied mostly on mule trains for supply, although they did utilize some trucks and jeeps

At the hospital, source along with several others who had lost their clothes to North Koreans were given Chinese uniforms to wear.

Chinese soldiers disliked North Koreans.

Source reports that Chinese firmly believe that South Korea started the war by attacking North Korea. The Chinese interpreter claimed that Manchuria had been bombed at least 20 times by UN aircraft.

Prisoner said that the Chinese all like American weapons, especially Thompson sub-machine guns. They told him that they expect eventually to be armed completely with American weapons.

Chinese use mule-trains and ox-carts for supply.

Source reports that Chinese had at least a platoon or more of soldiers in every village. These soldiers stayed inside house and camouflaged their vehicles during the day. Camouflage was excellent. Pack animals were usually kept hidden in thick woods during the day.

Source reports that he heard a continuous stream of tanks and trucks moving south from UNSAN from ten o'clock at night until four o'clock in the morning on the night of 4th Nov 50. As source was wounded and some distance from the road, he could not give type or number.

While being held at PYOKTONG, source observed two anti-aircraft units. One was located approx 600 yds SW of where the main road hits the YALU River. The other was located approx one mile NE of the outskirts of PYOKTONG across what informant said was either a lake or back-water from a smaller river which flows into the YALU at PYOKTONG. Source could not pinpoint the location. He believes these anti-aircraft units were equipped with radar detecting devices, because the Chinese guards always moved the prisoners into houses under cover two to three minutes before aircraft appeared. He believes the units had 90mm guns.

Chinese were ferrying thousands of troops across the YALU every night. Source reports that from 2,200 hrs until around 0200 hrs a continuous column of troops was moving south form the ferry.

He saw one unusual machine gun which he could not identify. He reports that the weapon was approx. four ft. long, tripod mounted, with an air cooling system similar to the US light machine gun except that the diameter of the cooling system was approx four inches and the barrel had an unusually large flash-cup. Source estimates that the machine gun was about 50 caliber.

Source estimates that 80% of the vehicles being used by the CCF were American make.

Source observed some cavalry along with about a regiment of CCF south of UNSAN on or about 3 Nov 50. He reports that CCF vehicles are well taken care of but that gasoline is of very inferior quality. Each truck which he observed carried one drum of extra gasoline.

Source observed several 120mm mortars, place and date unknown. He reports that the Chinese used white phosphorus mortar shells. He thinks they were American.

Observed one Russian at KAJONG (phonetic) on or about 21 Nov.

Source reports that Chinese utilize mostly ox-carts and mule trains for transportation of supplies. They have some Russian made trucks and quite a few jeeps.

Informant was operated upon and given medical treatment at a field hospital mentioned previously. Doctors used morphine to kill the pain and according to source were very gentle and did an excellent job.

He reports that the CCF is very well trained, with excellent discipline.

Source reports that the div or corps hqs mentioned previously was located in PUCKCHIN. He also states that the field hospital was located some three or four miles north of PUCKCHIN. CCF medical supplies were very limited. Bandages were washed out and used over and over.

Chinese captors told the prisoners that they would be sent to school in China, before they changed their plans and released them.

All the released prisoners agreed that the CCF was a well-disciplined, thoroughly indoctrinated fighting force. They a preference for automatic weapons, especially Thompson sub-machine guns and carbines. Movement is usually at night. Pack trains and ox-carts are used extensively in transportation of supplies. Individual soldiers are masters at the art of camouflage.

The prisoners were well-treated. Only in one or two instances were personal possessions taken and in some cases, Chinese recovered possessions which had been taken by North Koreans and returned them to their owners. Prisoners were usually fed the same as the Chinese soldiers.

No great effort was made to indoctrinate the Americans, although some of the wounded were given English language newspapers, magazines, and a book "The Peoples' China" to read.

Chinese called themselves the "Korean Peopls' Army" but admitted that they were Chinese. They did not care too much for North Koreans. Prisoners reported that, in general, the attitude of the Chinese was that the North Koreans had foulded up the war and that it was up to them (the Chinese) to straighten it out.

For the CO, TIS: