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보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 4407

FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS FWD 0009)　7 November 1950

Information fairly reliable. Informant cooperative, but judgment poor.

The town of LUNGCHING was surrounded by natural barriers. There was a river (average width - 70 m) running south to north along the west side of town, and another river joined the above river at the southwestern corner of town, flowing from W to E on the south side. Rolling hills (80 m) ran along the entire east side of LUNGCHING. There was west flats extending to the north and these were used for farming. The soil in that area was dark brown, and was moist all year round, it was considered suitable for farming.

Rivers: The river bed was of sand and pebbles. Riverbanks were gradual and natural. Willow trees were planted on the banks of the river. The average depth of the river is about 1½ m. These rivers overflowed about once a year however, it seldom caused any damage. The rivers froze to the depth of a meter, from late Nov through early Mar.

The snow falls from mid-Nov until the early part of April. The average depth is about 40 cm. The ground freezes from Nov to Apr to a depth of 1½ meters.

Rainy season is from early Jun to mid-Jul. Average rainfall per day is about 1 cm.

Natural Vegetation - Trees and grasses.

Crops - Rice, wheat, soybeans, corn, Irish potatoes and cabbages.

Double track RR line ran through the northern section of LUNGCHING. It led to CHAOYANGCHWAN to the east and to TUNGHSINGYUNG to the west of LUNGCHING. (The width of the RR was about the same as those in KOREA.) The condition of the railroad was very poor, and PW seldom saw trains running. Trains were chiefly used to transport soldiers from one station to another. These railroad lines were very old, and the ties were nearly all rotten. From 1947 to 48 the government of MANCHURIA made every effort to repair these railroads, and majority of those Koreans residing in the area were forced to repair them. Passersby were taken to labor office, and forcefully sent to work. Transportation of necessary supplies to LUNGCHING was mostly by trucks. In rainy season, the roads became very muddy and it was impossible for vehicles to pass. In the latter part of 1948, PW saw a new project a sand road was being built along side of the dirt road from LUNGCHING to TUNGHSINGYUNG.

There were airfields in the western area of LUNGCHING, however, they were unused after the Japanese left.

Telephone lines strung parallel to the railroad line: Telephones could not be owned by individuals, they were installed in offices, police stations, and other government offices.

There were electric power lines along side the RR. Hearsay - The poser derived from a Hydro-electric power plant in the vicinity of YALU River. The thermo-electric plant in LUNGCHING was taken away by the Russians, in late 1945.

Possession of radios was forbidden to any individual after the Russian Occupation.

The population of LUNGCHING is estimated to be about 130,000 and 70% of the total were considered Koreans, and the rest were Chinese. Most of the Koreans in this vicinity worked in commercial stores, factories, and offices. The Chinese mostly were farmers.

Educational level was very low. More than 60% of the population was illiterate, the government did not make any attempt to raise the educational level. Compulsory education was never heard of in this area. A few children attending school (most of these with parents holding a well paying business position).

Since the Occupation by the Russians, there were no such things as religion in LUNGCHING. Prior to that majority of the people in LUNGCHING were Catholic, Protestant, Buddists, etc.

The sanitary conditions in LUNGCHING were very poor. The people of LUNGCHING was requested to take preventive inoculations, however; actually there weren't enough vaccine for the people. There were few doctors with specialized ability. In the town of LUNGCHING, there was only one hospital. This hospital could not accommodate patients. Patients were left at their home. At times, doctors were unable to attend the critical ones which were left to die. Medical supplies were very scared, facilities were even more so.

O/a Aug 1947, a former HAESONG Primary School was converted to barracks for the 8th Route Army enlisted men. PW believes that, about one Bn was stationed at that place, when he left LUNGCHING in Dec 48 for NK. These men were receiving training at the nearby training area. The covered barrack was a cement 2 story building with gable type sheet iron roof. The barracks area was enclosed by popular grove. There were two guards standing at the gate.

There were two building on the eastern side of town occupied by the 8th Route Army, and used them as Officers Training School. They were formerly KWONHWA Women's School, and Unjin Middle School. These buildings are brick (red) buildings with concrete gable type roof. These two buildings four storied. The Unjin Middle School formerly accommodated 1500 students. In the area of these schools, there were many poplar groves.

These schools were located at the slope of TUNGSAN formerly Mt YINGKUO (ENGLAND; the mountain named after English missionaries, who built both these schools long ago).

The area around the school was enclosed with barbed wire entanglements.

For the Commanding Officer:

LUNG-CHING-TS’UN OBS-1930-MAY 48