ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 4357
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS 0070) 25 October 1950
| PW NAME: | CH’OE Ch’ong Song (崔靑松) (최청송) |
| RANK: | Pvt (戰士) |
| AGE: | 25 |
| DUTY: | Rifleman |
| UNIT: | Unk (Volunteer Corps) |
| EDUCATION: | 8 yr |
| OCCUPATION: | Peddler of Miscellaneous Articles |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | POUN (報恩) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | O/a 1 Oct 1950 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | HAMGYONG PUKTO, ONSONG-GUN, NAMYANG-MYON, MAKYANG-DONG (咸鏡北道 穩城郡 南陽面 南陽洞) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | CHOLLA PUKTO, WANJU-GUN, SAMNYE-MYON HO ONG-NI (全羅北道 完州郡 參禮面 后亭里) |
| INTERROGATOR: | Sgt. Sasaki (ATIS) |
Although PW did not know details he was cooperative. PW left MANCHURIA in Nov 45. Reliability - good.
CHRONOLOGY:
PW was taken to MI-SHAN-SHENG (密山縣) MANCHURIA by parents and stayed there until 1937.
1937 - PW was employed as a foreman at the “S”“O”“A” Steel Works (昭和製鋼所) at AN-SHAN (鞍山).
Dec 1942 - PW was employed as a foreman of Manchurian coolie laborers at the TAIUGMAM (大豊滿発電所) hydro-electric Power Plant at CHI LIM (吉林) MANCHURIA.
Apr 1944 - PW was employed as a foreman of a group of laborers engaged in development of farm land in P’AN SHAN MSIEN (盤山縣) MANCHURIA.
Nov 45 - Departed MANCHURIA for KOREA.
“SHONA” STEEL WORKS
ANSHAN
CBS: 1937 to 1942
HEARSAY: 1942 to 1945
PW was employed at this steel works during the above period. It was located approximately 1 km SE of the main RR station. It was the largest steel works in MANCHURIA.
PW estimated the distance going completely around the plant area was about 24 km. Most of the plant buildings were of brick construction and they were black with soot. The plant area was so large that new workers could easily get lost.
The main plant buildings in this area were #1 smelter plant, #2 smelter plant, rolling mills, large machine shops, rolling stock plant, and a plant believed to be a coal liquefaction plant. There was an electric furnace where manganese was smelted and also 3 large fuel storage tanks in this area.
The large number of smokestacks emitted a large volume of smoke and the sky above the plant area appeared cloudy all the time. The former Japanese KWANTUNG Army controlled the steel works and a special guard unit and military police patrolled this area. There even was a chemical unit and their job was to produce a smoke screen above the steel works area in the event of an air attack.
In the #1 smelter there were six 300 ton capacity furnaces and in 24 hours of operation, each furnace was able to produce 500 to 1200 tons of steel. PW believed that the #2 smelter plant had the same number of furnaces.
Some of the main products of this steel works were rails, sheet iron, wire, iron rods, angle and channel iron, and wheels for locomotives and cars. At the machine shops machine parts were manufactured.
Most of the machinery and equipment in this steel works were made by JAPAN’s best companys such as “HITACHI”, and “MITSUBISHI.”
About Oct 1943 US B-29’s flew over this steel works and bombed it. The #2 smelter plant was destroyed but the other plant buildings received slight damage. Many civilian houses in the area were destroyed. Of the estimated 300,000 population of ANCHAN about 90% of the people were employed by the “SHONA” Steel Works.
After V-J day the Russians entered ANSHAN and they stripped most of the machinery from this steel works and shipped it into Russian territory. PW believed that this steel works could not be operated by the Manchurians as they did not have any technicians.
AHSHAN was a large industrial city and was considered as one of the 8 most important cities in MANCHURIA.
HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER PLANT
CHI LIN (吉林) MANCHURIA
OBS: Dec 42 - Apr 44
PW was employed as a foreman of a gang of laborers at the Hydro Electric power plant which was located approximately 12km E of QMI-LIN City. This power plant was the largest of its kind in MANCHURIA and it was known as the “TAIHOIAN” Hydro-Electric Power Plant.
PW heard that there were 8 generators each producing 100,000kw and that the #1 and #2 generator which were German and US manufactured were taken by the Russians after V-J day. The electric power produced at this plant was believed to be sent to cities as far as TUKDEN, MANCHURIA. Power transmission lines supported by steel frame poles led in all direction from this power plant.
The large concrete dam here measured about 20 meters wide at the top, about 80 meters wide at the base, 99 meters in height and 2 km in length. There was a double track narrow gauge railroad running across the top of the dam and cars were able to traverse across the dam also.
The construction of this power plant was begun in 1932 and was scheduled to be completed in 5yr but it could not be completed so the completion day was extended another 5yr. PW believed that this plant started full operation in Apr 43 and many high ranking officers and civilian officials came to witness the ceremony.
In the winter of 1944 or 1945 a few B-29’s flew over this area but did not drop any bombs. At this time AA guns were fired and a smoke screen was raised over this power plant. There was even a wire net placed in the water on the side of the dam facing the reservoir. The purpose of this wire net was to catch any mines, if any, before they struck the dam.
An estimated 50,000-60,000 workers, including Japanese, Koreans, and Manchurians were employed in constructing this giant power plant.
PW believed that Japanese, technicians working at this power plant have not been repatriated JAPAN and are still there. PW heard that Japanese technicians employed in large Plants all over MANCHURIA are still detained. They receive better treatment than the Manchurians.
For the Commanding Officer:
KANAYA
