ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2689 12 December 1950
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS Special Report - 0203) 7 December 1950
1. PERSONAL DETAILS:| PW NAME: | HSIA, Ping Ching (夏炳請) |
| PW NUMBER: | 3000054 (Interrogated at 14th Field Hospital) |
| RANK: | Pvt ( ) |
| AGE: | 21 |
| DUTY: | Messenger |
| UNIT: | 42nd Army, 126th Div, 376th Regt, 3rd Bn, 7th Co |
| EDUCATION: | 2 years of elementary school |
| OCCUPATION: | Apprentice - Clothing Company |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | Unknown |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 4 Nov 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | CHINA, CHIANGSU-SHENG, WUJEN-HSIEN, SANGCHOU (中國 江蘇省 武延縣 常州) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | Same as above |
| INTERROGATOR: | Capt MONROE (ATIS) |
PW was alert and cooperative but his knowledge and observation were generally confined to his company. Reliability, fair. Not recommended for further interrogation.
3. CHRONOLOGY:Jul 44: Volunteered for service with the CNA, at SUCHOU (蘇州) CHINA.
Jul 44 - Oct 44: Trained as a member of the 1st Sqd, 1st Plat, 4th Co, 2nd Bn, 261st Regt, 87th Div, 71st Army, CNA.
Nov 44 - Jan 45: Trained at TUNGHUA (通化) CHINA.
Jan 45: Engaged CCF for three days.
Jan 45 - May 46: Training and engagements with the CCF throughout North and Central CHINA.
May 46: PW’s CNA Unit arrived MUKDEN, MANCHURIA. Appointed squad leader.
May 45 - Oct 48: Fought CCF at CHENGCHIA-TSUN (程家村), TUNGLIU (東流), KAISU (凱蘇), HSINMIN (新民), and LIAOHSI (遼西) respectively.
25 Nov 46: Captured by the CCF at LIAOHSI (遼西), PW estimates that 260,000 CNA soldiers were captured at this time.
3 Dec 48: Assigned to 42nd Army, 126th Div, 376th Regt, 3rd Bn, 7th Co.
21 Dec 48: Fought CNA at PEIPING (北平).
Jan 49 - Jul 49: Fought CNA at PEIPING (北平) Province, CHINA and HONAN (河南) Province, CHINA respectively.
Jul 49 - Feb 50: Trained in HONAN (河南) CHINA.
Apr 50: Arrived NINGCHINGSHAN (寧静山) MANCHURIA. Engaged in agricultural activities for five months.
16 Aug 50: Arrived CHIAN (輯安) MANCHURIA. Two months training.
11 Oct 50: Crossed the YALU River and entered MANPOJIN (滿浦鎭) North KOREA.
12 Oct 50 - 4 Nov 50: From MANPOJIN (滿浦鎭) PW’s unit proceeded S for two days. Advanced W and engaged UN Forces in vicinity of CHOSIN (長津) RESERVOIR. The 126th Div eventually was deployed in the area immediately S of SAMSU (三水), N KOREA. Balance of the 42nd Army continued to engage UN Forces in the CHOSIN RESERVOIR Area.
4 Nov 50: Captured at SANSULYONG (三水嶺), North KOREA (S of SAMSU, W of KAPSAN).
4. PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE:PW has not seen or heard of UN propaganda leaflets nor has he been exposed to loudspeaker broadcasts.
With particular reference to the ex-Nationalist element of the CCF, PW believes that propaganda pamphlets which under score promises of good food, clothing and freedom if they would surrender would be effective in increasing largo groups of CCF soldiers to surrender.
5. NAVY:Aug 50, PW’s unit political officer, during a unit lecture, mentioned that the CCF was supported by a Navy and an Air Farce and consequently there was no reason to fear the US Forces in North KOREA. Also, PW heard that CCF vessels were berthed at YINGKOU (營口), MANCHURIA.
6. GENERAL INFORMATION:Japanese Units in the CCF
PW stated that there are no Japanese units organic to the 4th Field Army. However, each Army hospital utilizes Japanese doctors.
Other CCF Units in KOREA
While at INCHON (prior to evacuation to South KOREA) PW talked with another CCF PW who stated that he was a member of the 3rd Field Army, CCF. No additional information.
Recruiting Program
Control of CCF recruiting stems from the government and is echeloned through provincial and district units down to village level. Each village is divided into CHU (組) or groups consisting of from 10 - 26 houses each. The head of each group is elected by the village populace. At varying times, no pre-determined dates, the villages are requested by CCF authorities to produce volunteers for military service. The village leader relays this request to the heads of the groups. Inasmuch as the willingness to volunteer is negligible, the group heads utilize a system based upon the drawing of lots. Through this system the village military requirements are satisfied. Those who, following their selection by lots, fail to pass the physical examination are diverted to service with civil police units and the village leader is ordered to supply a replacement.
Pay of Personnel
A CCF private receives 68,000 yuan per month and a squad leader the same amount. Pay scale increases are for platoon leaders and higher. The following Manchurian commodity prices indicate the pay inadequacy of a CCF private:
1. Soap (one (1) bar) - 30,000 - 50,000 yuan.
2. Socks (1 pr - inferior grade) - 40,000 yuan.
3. Cigarettes (one (1) pack) - 20,000 yuan.
Morale
Of the 120 men in the PW’s company, two thirds consisted of former CNA personnel and one third of Communists. Preferential treatment in the various aspects of military life, was given to the Communist soldiers and resulted in a pronounced undermining of the morale of ex-CNA personnel. In addition, the latter resented the continuing surveillance maintained by the Communist members of their unit. Freedom of movement and speech were impossible.
A lower pay-scale than that of the CNA, the constant marching (as opposed to the vehicular transportation they were accustomed to while serving for Nationalist CHINA), insufficient and mediocre food and clothing (they formerly enjoyed US rations and clothing), the constant attacks by UN Aircraft - all combined to decrease the willingness to fight the CNA elements.
On the day prior to the departure of PW’s unit from NINGCHING (寧靜), a lecture was delivered by the company political officer, the gist of which were that the unit was moving to the vicinity of the YALU River for the purpose of establishing protection against a possible invasion by US Forces. Upon arrival at the YALU River, the unit was again addressed by the company political officer. On this occasion personnel were informed that because of the reverses suffered by the NK Army and the certainty of US attack upon MANCHURIA, it was necessary to enter KOREA and aid the NKA in repelling US Forces.
For the Commanding Officer:
SHAPPELL
