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보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 4421

FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS 0137)　17 November 1950

PW was cooperative but his conversation was not to fluent. Seemed to be of average intelligence and memory. Distances and information were given to the best of his knowledge. Information may be considered reliable.

1938: Moved to CHILIN-SHENG, YENCHI-HSIEN, YUSU-CHU, HSIAOCHI-HSING, SHOJISHAN (吉林省 廷吉縣 裕庶區 小■鄕) MANCHURIA with his family.

Dec 41: Completed six years of primary school.

Dec 41 to Oct 43: Worked as seal engraver at a store in TUMEN (圖們).

Oct 43 to Dec 43: Unemployed. Stayed at home in YENCHI-HSIEN, YUSU-CHU, HSIAOCHI-HSIANG.

Dec 43 to Jan 44: Forced to work as ammo bearer for the Japanese 814th Unit Ammo Depot at YENCHI (延吉).

Feb 44 to Apr 50: Farmed with father at YENCHI-HSIEN, YUSU-CHU, HSIAOCHI-HSIANG.

15 Apr 50: Departed for CHONGJIN (淸津) North KOREA.

Surrounding terrain – The town (LAOTOUKOU (老頭溝) MANCHURIA) and vicinity were practically surrounded by hills, about 50 m high, with cultivation on the top and sides. The ESE sector was level ground.

River

Width – 40 m

Depth – 1.2 m

Seasonal fluctuation – July – about 2 m rise

Condition of bottom – sand and gravel

Condition of bank – dirt and fairly rough

Nature of bank – 45° slope

Navigability – none

Floods – yes

How often – once per three years – July

Extent of damage – unknown

Months stream frozen – Nov to Mar

Thickness of ice – 40 cm

Texture of Soil

Blackish red (mixture of sand and clay)

Vegetation

Pine – very few

Vegetables

White cabbage, turnips, green onions, millet, corn, rice, soybeans, kaoliang, wheat, and other vegetables which PW could not name.

Snow

Month began – Nov

Month ended – Mar

Average depth – 33 cm

Deepest – 50 cm

Months ground freezes – Nov to Apr

Depth – 60 cm

Rainy Season – July

Summer Season – Jun to Aug

Winter Season – Oct to Apr

Agriculture

Insufficient rain for farming. Therefore, water was obtained from the river or from wells.

Remarks

Severe snow storms occur on or about January. Visibility becomes less then 15 m. Wind velocity was unknown.

Steel RR Bridge　　　　　　　　LAOTOUKOU (老頭溝) MANCHURIA

Pvt　　　　　　　　　　　　　　C/O Feb 44 – Apr 50

During the above mentioned period, PW observed the RR bridge while walking to and from work. The bridge was located approx 1.5 km NW of the LAOTOUKOU (老頭溝) RR Station. It was a steel plate girder type bridge, measuring about 150 m in length and 4 m in width. The water clearance was approx 20 m. PW believed that there were approx 6 reinforced concrete piers situated 20 m apart. The dimensions of each pier was approx 5 m in width, 7 m in length, and 20 m in height. A single track standard gauge RR leading to HSINCHING (新京) was on the bridge. Further details were not known.

Concrete Bridge　　　　　　　　LAOTOUKOU (老頭溝) MANCHURIA

Pvt　　　　　　　　　　　　　　D/O Feb 44 – Apr 50

PW frequently observed the above concrete bridge which was located on the W side of the town approx 700 m WSW of the LAOTOUKOU (老頭溝) RR Station. The bridge was approx 60 m in length, 5 m in width, and about 10 m above the water.

The capacity of the bridge was unknown. PW believed that there were 4 concrete piers measuring about 5 m x 1 m x 10 m placed approx 10 m apart. Further details were not known.

Wooden Bridge　　　　　　　　LAOTOUKOU (老頭溝)

Pvt　　　　　　　　　　　　　　D/O Feb 44 – Apr 50

During the above period PW observed the wooden bridge occasionally while walking to and from work.

This bridge was located in the northern part of LAOTOUKOU (老頭溝) approx 1.2 km NW of the RR Station.

It was a flat, wooden bridge measuring about 80 m in length, 4 m in width, and 8 m high. Capacity of this bridge was unknown. However, PW observed trucks loaded with coal passing over this bridge occasionally. Further details not known.

Local Police Station　　　　　　LAOTOUKOU (老頭溝)

Pvt　　　　　　　　　　　　　　D/O Feb 44 – Apr 50

During the period mentioned above, PW went to the local police station many times and heard sentences passed on criminal offenders or witnessed the death of the same offenders.

The Local Police Station was located about 800 m WSW of the LAOTOUKOU RR Station. The total land area was approximately 100 m square and was enclosed by a brick wall 4 m high. The following bldg comprised the local police station:

1. Equipment whse – wood construction – 15 m by 7 m by 4 m

2. Local Police Station – brick - “L” shaped, 60 m x 8 m

3. Policemen’s quarters – wood and concrete – plastered walls – 70 m by 10 m by 4 m.

Approximately 30 local policemen comprised the local police force. The local police chief’s rank was equivalent to that of a 1st Lt in the army. Below the police chief, there was a platoon leader and an asst platoon leader. PW stated that all orders were received from the Provincial Police Hq, which was located at YENCHI (延吉), MANCHURIA, by telephone and mail.

The police uniform worn by the local police staff members was yellow. The cap was also yellow. The policemen, including the asst Platoon leader, were armed with rifles (Japanese make), and the police chief and platoon leader were armed with pistols (Japanese make). PW stated that usually when the police chief went out to check the area, he was accompanied by his messenger. PW stated that the average ammunition carried by the policemen in one bandolier was 30 rounds. However, one bandolier could hold about 100 rounds. The normal number of rounds carried by the police chief and the platoon leaders in pouches was not known.

The local policemen’s age averaged from 18 to 27 years. These policemen were elected by the village people, provided they had not done other types of work in the past, except farming. Their past reputation also had to be good. During the period of service, which was unlimited, if an elected member was not performing his duties properly, he was released from the police force permanently and forced to go back to farming. Upon relief from duty, the individual was banned from voicing his opinion at village and town trials for a period of one month. The individual was also barred from movements outside the city limits of LAOTOUKOU (老頭溝), MANCHURIA. If the individual’s activities were satisfactory during the one month period, he was pardoned. However, if the activities were unsatisfactory, the punishment period was extended one-half time more than the original punishment period. The punishment period was increased to an indefinite period if satisfactory showing was not made by the individual. Therefore, according to the PW opinion, members of the local police force took pride and performed their duties to the best of their abilities.

The policemen of the local police force did not go out on patrols but did their work within the police station. Duties consisted of checking reports concerning offenders before trial and investigating reported uprisings. About three policemen were sent to the village trials as witnesses.

The local police station tried only major offenses. Trials were conducted by the police chief who read the charge sheet to the people. In return, the people stated their verdict, not guilty or guilty. Offenders who received sentence of six months or under served their sentences at home. Usually the offender was locked up for three days before being sent home to serve his sentence. While the offender was serving his sentence, he was not permitted to voice his opinion at the village meetings or trials.

Every month, the village chief reported the offender’s behavior to the local police chief. When sentence was over, the village people conducted a meeting and decided whether or not the offender was eligible to be freed.

PW stated that the village conducted trials in an identical manner with that mentioned above. However, only minor offenses were tried. Sometimes when the farmers were busy, trials at the local police station and village trials were conducted by appointed officials only.

Offenders who received over a six months’ sentence were sent to YENCHI, (延吉) MANCHURIA, and served their sentences as convicts. Also the LAOTOUKOU (老頭溝) police station had authority to execute offenders. The verdict of execution was voiced by the people. When an execution was to be carried out, two or three officials came to witness it from YENCHI, (延吉). The execution report was forwarded to YENCHI Police Headquarters.

PW stated that during the period from 1945 to 1946, about 5 Koreans and Manchurians were executed. These persons were former police officers and MP personnel in MANCHURIA during the Japanese reign. The reason for the verdict was that they killed quite a few people, mostly Communists during their tour of duty.

PW stated that the LAOTOUKOU police station chiefly enforced regulations concerning anti-communism and freedom of speech among the people. The LAOTOUKOU people respected the police force. The policemen took pride in performing their duties honestly. Their morale was high. Due to the fact that they were elected by the people, they did not want to bring disgrace upon themselves.

The police force members were paid very little (amount unknown), but they received daily rations, according to the size of their families, from the farmers. However, occasionally the policeman’s family received clothing material from the government as a special ration.

The local police station controlled the military training of the young farmer of military age.

Education was not a requirement in being elected as a policeman.

The former police chief, a former 8th Route Army member, was replaced by KIM, Man Su (金滿■), because he was caught taking bribes from the farmers.

Coal Mine　　　　　　　　　　　LAOTOUKOU (老頭溝) MANCHURIA

Pvt　　　　　　　　　　　　　　C/O Feb 44 – Apr 50

During the period mentioned above, PW on one occasion went to the LAOTOUKOU Coal Mine to apply for employment. (Sketch #2)

The LAOTOUKOU Coal Mine area was located approximately 1000 m northwest of the LAOTOUKOU railroad station and at the base of two hills 20 m high.

PW heard that approximately 600 Manchurians and Koreans were employed on 3 – 8 hour shifts, and that a total of eight coal mine shafts were excavated directly into the hills at the base. The coal mine was government operated.

PW heard that the coal mined was the best grade in CHILIN-SHENG (吉林省) Province. However, the daily production was unknown. The coal mined was shiny black. Both soft and hard coal was mined here. The mines sold part of the coal within LAOTOUKOU, but the greater percentage was transported elsewhere by rail. The number of shipments per day was not known.

As for transportation facilities, there was a single rail line which extended into the LAOTOUKOU (老頭溝) Coal Mine area from the southeast. There was also a gravel road 4 m wide which extended to the northeast of the mine.

PW was not employed at the LAOTOUKOU Coal Mine nor did he hear pertinent information pertaining to the same.

During PW visit, he observed an unknown number of Security Guard soldiers. These soldiers guarded the coal mines very closely, which made unofficial movements very limited.

Flax Factory

Pvt　　　　　　　　　　　　　　LAOTOUKOU (老頭溝) MANCHURIA

D/O Feb 44 – Apr 50

The flax factory was located about 600 m to 700 m SSE of the LAOTOUKOU RR Station and about 150 m northeast of an unknown river.

During the period mentioned above, he passed near the flax factory while going to and from athletic tournaments.

The total area was about 400 m by 300 m and was encircled by a single strand of barbed wire. The area was guarded by Security Guard soldiers.

PW stated that during 1945 when the Russians took over MANCHURIA, the people in the area took everything from the flax factory except the machinery because there were no Russian guards. However, after equipment was installed and machinery was repaired, the flax factory commenced operation on or about November 1945. During the same month, Chinese Nationalist agents set fire to the flax plant and everything but the machinery was destroyed. Once again, on or about the beginning of December, it began operation. Since then, the flax factory has been set on fire by Chinese Nationalist agents about two more times.

There were three buildings which comprised the flax factory. Each of the buildings was of wooden construction and measured about 70 m by 20 m by 10 m (?) high. However, the amount and types of machinery installed within each of the buildings was unknown.

Flax, which was obtained from the area farm lands, was used in producing cloth. PW observed the product and stated that it was not fully processed into cloth material. Therefore, the product was transported to an unknown area by rail for further processing. The products were to be utilized to make uniforms for the CCF.

The production capacity was unknown. An unknown number of employees, including Japanese, Koreans, and Manchurians, were employed on one 8-hour shift per day.

All the Japanese employees were technicians. PW heard that if the Japanese technicians were not employed at the flax factory, the factory could not be operated.

When PW departed LAOTOUKOU (老頭溝) the Japanese technicians were still employed there. There was also a Japanese school within the flax factory area.

There was one platoon (40 men) of Security Guard soldiers at the flax factory. There was a single track spur line which extended to the flax factory from the ENE. There was also a gravel road, 4 m wide, which extended to the northeast.

When PW departed, he heard that the machinery to produce pure cloth material was being installed.

No further information was available.

PERSONALITIES

KIM, Man Su (金滿壽) Age – 37 or 38 Civilian

Rank – equivalent to 1st Lt

Korean

Position – Police Chief of LAOTOUKOU Local Police Station

Height – 5’ 2”

Weight – 60 kg

Build – Medium round face, fairly dark complexion, straight forehead line, heavy voice.

Hair – long

Language – Manchurian

Former occupation – farmer (elected by the people as Police Chief)

Married

KIM, Tae Jin (金泰振) Age 0 42 Civilian

Korean

Position – HSIAUCHI-HSIANG (小箕鄕) Farmer’s Village Headman

Height – 5’ 0“

Weight – 50 kg

Build – small, semi-V-shaped forehead line, mustache, high cheek bone, high-pitched voice.

Hair – long

Language – Japanese

Married, two children

For the Commanding Officer:

SKETCH OF LAOTOUKOU (老頭溝) MANCHURIA OBS: FEB 44 – APR 50 SKETCH - 1

FLAX FACTORY LAOTOUKOU MANCHURIA OBS: FEB 44 – APR 50 SKETCH - 2

1. Eight employees’ & Security Guard soldiers’ quarters. Ea 30x8x4 m

2. Well (o)

3. Office. Brick const

4. Concrete reservoir. 15x10x5 m

5, 6, & 7. Flax factory. Ea 70x20x10 m (?)

8. Guard Office

9. Single RR spur line

10. Barbed-wire fence

11. Gravel road, 4 m wide

12. Gravel road, 4 m wide

13. River 40 m wide and 1.2 m deep. Name was unknown

14. Mountain