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보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 4387

FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS FWD 0005)　4 November 1950

(REF TO THIS NO. 2217)

PW was cooperative but did not appear to be overly intelligent nor observant.

Information obtained, however, seems to be fairly reliable.

General Information:

The principle cities of HOPEI province were PEIPING (北東) and TIENTSIN (天津). Population of the province unknown. In this province not all level land was utilized for agriculture. PW believed that there was not enough farmers to cultivate the remaining level lands.

Waterways:

HOPEI province had only a few rivers, the principle one being PO HAI River. Its mouth was located at PO HAI Bay of the Yellow Sea and extended upward in a NW direction. The average width of this river was about 60 meters and was deep enough to accommodate fair-sized freight ships up to and beyond the inland port TIENTSIN. The river tides in the vicinity of TIENTSIN rose and fell about a meter. The muddy water flows about 4 km per hour. The river is usually crowded with Chinese junks and sampans.

Natural Resources:

HOPEI province produces limestone, coal, iron-ore, and a small amount of gold. Due to the lack of mountains, the province was poor in mineral resources. A few forests produced only a small a amount of lumber.

Seasons:

Winter - Nov to Feb inclusive. Summer - May to Jul inclusive.

General Information:

HOPEI province, being situated in the northern most section of CHINA, was relatively poor, compared to her southern agricultural provinces. It did not boast of having fine roads or communication systems.

Roads, highways, trails, etc:

All the roads, including highways, were dirt-surfaced in the rural area. However, good concrete highways and roads appeared, as one approached toward PEIPING and TIENTSIN. Most of the streets in PEIPING were paved with asphalt, while TIENTSIN had concrete-surfaced streets. PW last entered TINGHING in Dec 48 and observed that the streets were in fair condition. He heard that when the CF entered this city in Jan 49, it supervised thoroughly the repairing of all streets. PW last entered PEIPING on Apr 50 and saw that the majority of the streets were in good condition. He stated that heavy vehicular traffic is not heavy. All the mountain roads or trails were dirt-surfaced, as were rural roads, and became fairly muddy during the rainy season. The freezing of the roads, to depths of at least 1 meter from late Nov to late Jan, generally improves their conditions as to surface traction.

Railroads:

TIENTSIN is considered as the railroad center of HOPEI province. Three main sets of railway line branched out of this center - (1) toward NE to MANCHURIA, (2) toward south to SHANGHAI, and (3) toward west to PEIPING. All of the above lines are double-tracked. As far as PW knows, all trains (mostly passenger trains) arrive and depart TIENTSIN on set schedules (unknown). PW stated that there are as many freight cars as passenger cars. Railway activities did not generally increase, after the CCF took over the control from CNA. All the freight cars seemed to carry household or similar non-industry items.

Under CCF rule, the would-be passengers of tains have to present travel permits before receiving their tickets. (Refer to General Information). There are no exceptions; no matter how short the trip. Permits were inspected from time to time at each station shop.

Telephone:

PW stated that there were two telephone exchange buildings in PEIPING. He last observed then in Dec 48. The principle or the larger one of the two was called the “PEIPING Telephone Exchange”. Its exact location in the city was unknown to the PW. The structure was three story high and constructed of concrete. The roof was believed to be peaked and laid with black tiles. Except to say that the building was very large, PW was unable to estimate its size. A barbed wire fence completely surrounded this telephone-exchange building. It is now controlled by the CCF. PW has never entered this building and was not able to give interior information.

Population:

Population of the province was not known. PW did not recall observing any Korean nationals.

Education:

PW stated that since the CCF took control, the education system dropped to a low degree. Prior to that the CN Government made schooling compulsory up to the 6th grade. Even then, the majority of the rural children did not attend schools. Higher education was almost unheard of in the rural area. Only large towns or cities possessed public schools. However, these schools were always overcrowded and lacked properly trained teachers. In the rural areas, each village had to erect its own school, hire and pay for the teachers, and buy textbooks. Funds were raised through private contributions from the pupils’ parents.

Religion:

It is the informant’s opinion that many of the people in the province did not adhere to any form of religion, chiefly because there was no free time for worship. An unknown percentage of the population believed in LAMAISM. There were only a few BUDDHISTS and very few, if any, Christians.

With the entry of the CCF in Jan 49, the freedom of religion was gradually abolished and communism slowly introduced. The CCF destroyed all temples and monasteries in the rural and mountain areas. Those in the cities were left intact; however, religious services were not permitted to be held in them. This form of prohibition came about slowly but firmly. Priests disappeared overnight, and sacred scriptures were stolen.

Public Opinion & Morale:

It is the PW opinion that the governing methods of the CCF were intensely hated by the majority of the population; however, they were in no position to revolt. Long prison terms or death sentences were rendered to suspects reactionaries. There was no such thing as a fair trial. Suspects usually disappeared overnight and were never heard of again.

The civilian general morale was lowered even further with the forced army conscription methods employed by the CCF.

Health & Sanitation:

Disease was very prevalent in this province. There was virtually no control once the epidemics started. Dysentery was most common, followed by typhus, influenza, malaria, and smallpox. Yellow fever, cholera, and typhoid also occurred frequently. Due to the intense cold in the winter, epidemics were at a minimum. The majority of the cases appear mostly in the summer. The rural areas did not receive immunizations or vaccinations. PW heard that the populace in the cities received immunizations periodically; however, he did not know whether those were compulsory or not to all people or just to those who are able to afford them.

Sanitation methods are virtually unknown in the rural area. Even waste matters into rivers, ponds, and open sewers. People daily use the river water for cooking, bathing, and washing, some not even boiling the drinking water.

There were no public hospitals or clinics in HOPEI Province, according to the PW. Private hospitals usually charged fees higher than what the majority of the population could afford. Almost all illness and light surgery were treated at the patients’ homes. In the rural areas, a village community usually boasted a general practitioner, who also looked after animals, as well as humans. PW believed that the majority of these quasi-doctors treated ailments with herbs and roots, rather than with western medicines.

Summary:

PW was concripted into the CCF and brought to ANTUNG on 9 Apr 50. He was assigned to the 56th Inf Unit and stayed in ANTUNG until 14 Oct 50. He was trained as a Regt stretcher bearer.

Observation:

PW was a member of the 56th Unit from 9 Apr 50 to 14 Oct 50. He was only familiar with sub-units as high up as Regt level.

Location:

PW believed that the 56th Unit was quartered in several sections of the city, PW sub-unit, 3d Regt erected a camp in CHI TAO KOU (七道溝), a district in the NNW outskirts of ANTUNG. Other sub-units (unknown) were located near the banks of YALU River.

Personnel:

PW was not able to estimate the strength of the 56th unit. However, in his own sub-unit, 3d Regt, there were about 1,200 men. He did not know the number of officers in his Regt.

CCF officers did not wear insignia of rank. Unless he memorized the officers’ faces, PW would not be able to tell who was the platoon leader, company commander, etc. Officers were usually pointed out or introduced to the soldiers during lecture periods. Officers can be easily detected from the soldiers, as they wear red stripes on seams of coat sleeves and on seams of trousers.

PW stated that over 50% of the soldiers in the 56the unit was composed of former Nationalist Army personnel. Even Nationalist officers are readily conscripted into the Unit and still held their original grades. PW asserted that his platoon leader never changed, when they were captured by CCF and when they were conscripted in the CCF.

Weapons & Equipment:

PW did not observe any large calibre weapons in the 56th unit, accept for limited number of mortars. All farmer nationalist soldiers captured by the CCF brought their personal, American made M1 rifles and equipment to increase the overall firepower of the unit. All original CCF soldiers were armed with Japanese made M-38 rifles and field equipment.

PW stated that the 56th unit had very few trucks. In place of trucks the unit utilized wagons pulled by horses. Their number was unknown.

Training:

During the period 9 Apr 50 to 14 Oct 50 the 56th Unit went through 7 months of training. For the first three months the soldiers received running, leaping, and other physical training to toughen their bodies. The next two months were spent in field drills, marches and handling and care of weapons. The last two months were spent in familiarization with personal weapons. The soldiers received a concentrated training in nomenclature and firing of weapons.

PW stated that one Bn of soldiers was trained at a time at any single training schedule. At time all soldiers of a Regt would go out on field maneuvers. No instructions on map and compass reading or gas training were given.

A typical training day starts with reveille at 0500 hours, followed by morning calisthenics and drills till 0700 hours. Breakfast is held from 0700 to 0800 hours. Military basic training is commenced from 0800 to 1200 hours. Between 1200 and 1500 hours, the men take afternoon naps. Studying is done from 1500 to 1600 hours. From 1600 hours the evening meal is eaten. Soldiers are then free to walk about in the town till dusk, at which time he must be present in his unit area.

The soldiers were all fed as many bowls of cooked millet as they wanted both in the morning and evening meals. A thin onion broth was usually poured over the millet. The menu never changed as far as PW can remember.

Clothing:

The personal clothing of the CC soldier and that of the NK soldier are identical, except that the NK uniform was complete with shoulder epaulets showing rank and branch of service.

During Sep 50 all the personnel of the 56th unit received new issue of winter clothing. Prior to this, the men only possessed summer clothing. Winter clothing consisted of olive-drab, cotton-quilted coat, trouser, and cap. A rubberized canvas shoes completed the outfit. Officers’ clothing issue was almost identical, except that their coats were buttoned in the center front and were equipped with breast pockets. Officers received bottom shoes, which were either of leather of rubber throughout.

PW, while stationed in ANTUNG, MANCHURIA, from 9 Apr 50 to 14 Oct 50, did not observe any large commercial or military vessels in the Yellow Sea.

PW once observed in Aug 50, a hidden battery of AA guns (in the vicinity of ANTUNG) firing at high-flying unidentified aircraft.

PW did not observe nor hear of any other CCF units being stationed in ANTUNG from Apr 50 to Oct 50.

No information available on airfields, tank units, etc.

ID Cards, Travel Permits (HOPEI (河北) Province, CHINA Jan 49 - Apr 50)

ID Cards:

The general population did not necessarily have to carry personal identification or place of employment cards, even after the CCF entered the province in Jan 49.

Travel Permit (Short Trips):

The general population was required to carry travel permits, even if one went from his village to another. The permits for short travel (village to village by foot) were issued by the head of the village. A traveler was not allowed to leave his village or enter another village without showing his permit. The permit must indicate the person or place to be visited, time and date of visit, etc. The permit is not easily obtained, and an applicant may have to present his permit-request several days in advance. When the traveler, after making his trip to another village, returns, he has to return the permit to the head again.

TOPOGRAPHY:

Temperature:

Snow:

Snow starts to fall from late Nov and ends in late Jan. Snow piles to an average depth of 30cm. Snow commences to thaw in mid-Feb. Thawing does not generally affect farmlands to any great extent.

Rainfall:

Rainfall was very heavy in this province throughout the warm months. Rainy season starts in Jun and ends in Jul. Heavy rainfall usually raises the river level to a dangerous height. At times the water flows over the river banks and floods the entire or part of the province. However, the water depth was not high enough to cause serious damage.

Ice:

Rivers freeze from late Nov to mid-Feb. The average depth of the ice is 60 cm. Trucks can safely cross over this ice. Thawing commences in mid-Feb, and the ice usually breaks up and flows out into the sea. This means that the inland river port of TIENTSIN cannot be utilized from late Nov to mid-Feb.

Natural Vegetations:

In the mountains were small pine trees, oaks, and cedars. He did not believe that they were ready to be cut down for several years. The open plains were covered with green or brown grasses, depending upon the season. The outstanding natural vegetation was unknown to the PW.

Cultivated Crops:

The principle crops of the province were vegetables - cabbages, white turnips, and onions, in that order, then rice, millet, cotton, corn, wheat, and peanuts.

Soil:

Farmland soil was a mixture of black and reddish dirt to an approximate depth of 60 cm. PW stated that the soil was generally rich without using the system of crop rotation. Chemical fertilizer was almost unheard of in the rural areas.

Uncultivated soil was mostly brownish with evidences of thick layers of clay underneath.

Visibility:

Visibility, as a whole, was fairly good throughout the year, despite the large number of rainy days. Fogs and mists were at an minimum. Low hanging clouds were golden soon.

Freezing of Soil:

The earth, from late Nov to late Jan, is usually frozen to a depth of at least a meter.

GENERAL:

Since there are no police organization in rural areas, specially appointed (by Unknown) officials usually inspect the permits of the travelers.

Travel Permit (Long trips involving train transportation):

If one desired to travel to a distant city (in the same province), a special travel permit must be presented before receiving a train ticket. PW believed that such permits were obtained at the local police headquarters. Permits are otherwise used in the same manner as the short trip travel permits.

For the Commanding Officer: