ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 4435
FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS 0166) 29 November 1950
| PW NAME: | KWON, Chae Ung (權在雄)(권재웅) |
| PW NUMBER: | 22473 |
| RANK: | Pvt (戰士) |
| AGE: | 21 |
| DUTY: | Medical Aidman |
| UNIT: | 6th Div, 13th Regt |
| EDUCATION: | 6 yr Elementary School; 2yr Middle School |
| OCCUPATION: | Farmer |
| PLACE OF CAPTURE: | OKCH’ON (沃川) |
| DATE OF CAPTURE: | 1 Oct 50 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH: | KOREA, KYONGSANG PUKTO, YONGDOK-GUN, CHANGSU-MYON, PAEKCH’ONG-DONG #335 (慶尙北道 盈德郡 蒼水面 柏善洞 335) |
| HOME ADDRESS: | MANCHURIA, LIAOPEI-CHENG, HAILUNG-HSIEN, SHANGHENG-CHEN, YUNGSHENG-TSUN (滿洲 遼北省 海龍縣 山城鎭 永■村) |
| INTERROGATOR: | Cpl Azama (ATIS) |
PW was cooperative and spoke freely. He was of better than average intelligence and related information to the best of his knowledge. Information herein may be considered reliable.
Born in YONGDOK (盈德), South KOREA. Attended 6 years of Elementary school in CHAGNSU-MYONG (蒼水面), South KOREA and 2 years of Middle school in SHANCHENGCHEN (山城鎭), MANCHURIA.
13 Jun 49 Conscripted into the CCF, 166th Div, in MUKDEN (奉天), MANCHURIA. Assigned to recruit training bn of the 496th Regt.
21 Jul 49 Departed MUKDEN with entire Dive for SINUIJU via ANTUNG.
23 Jul 49 Arrived SINUIJU (新義州), North KOREA.
Aug 49-22 Jun 50 Engaged in field training at SARIWON (沙里院).
NOTE: The town of SHANCHENGCHEN (山城鎭) in this report also includes the farming village of YUNGSHENG-TSUN (永■村) which is located 6 km E of the wall surrounding the town. PW resided in the farming village.
SHANCHENGCHEN (山城村)
Pvt D/O 1944 - Jun 49
Surrounding Area:
Described as being hilly with cultivated land to the east of the town, extending from W to E. A railroad running E to W was north of the wall which enclosed the town. (See Sketch)
River:
Location - Running parallel to and about 1½ km S of the RR.
Direction of Flow - West to East.
Width - 20 m - 40 m. Depth - 1 m - 1.3 m.
Seasonal Fluctuation - 1 m.
Condition of Bottom - Sandy (Yellowish)
Condition of Banks - Grassy
Nature of Slope - Variable
Navigation - None
Thickness of Ice - 40 cm
Months Frozen - December to March
This river was a tributary of the SUNGGARI (松花江) River.
Soil:
Texture of Soil - Black loam.
Natural Vegetation - Willows and 40 cm tall grass which was used for feeding animals.
Cultivated Crops - Kaoliang, corn, soy beans and rice. Main crop - rice.
Climate:
Seasons - Summer - Jun - Aug
Winter - Nov - Mar
Temperature:- Summer - Maximum 35ºc Hottest month - July
Minimum 30ºc
Average 32ºc
Winter - Maximum -20ºc
Minimum -40ºc Coldest months - Dec, Jan
Average -30ºc
Precipitation: Rainy Season - Jul - Aug (1½ mon). Fairly heavy. Some years the rainfall spoiled the crops.
Snowfall - Starts late Oct; Ends March.
Average Depth - 10 cm
Yearly Snowfall - 70 cm
Ground Frozen - 1.3 m. From Dec - Mar
Wind: Heavy winds (NW) from Mar - May. Velocity - Unk.
Little or no wind in winter.
Communications Office SHANCHENGCHEN (山城鎭)
Pvt D/O 1944 - Jun 49
Location: (Point 3 - Attached Sketch)
A communication office, housing the Post office, telephone and telegraph offices was located 1.3 km SSW of the RR Station; 1.8 km W of the gate to the town.
Observation:
Observation was made frequently while passing in front of the area. Interior observation was not made.
Area:
The area was enclosed by a 3 km high brick wall.
Building:
A one-story red brick bldg (size - unknown) with a gabled type tile roof.
Other Informations:
On the walls of the enclosure near the gate, there was a sign “Telephone and Telegraph Office, Post Office.”
No further details.
SHANCHENGCHEN (山城鎭)
Pvt D/O 1944 - Jun 49
Population:
Approximately 7,000 (of which 1,000 lived outside the wall) comprised of 80% Manchurians and 20% Koreans.
Government and Administration:
The local government in the farming village where PW lived was headed by the TSUNGHANG (村長), village leader. Subordinate to the village leader was the PANGHANG (村長), block leader. Approximately 30 homes comprised one block. Organization of the village administration was unknown.
The village leader and block leaders were elected by the people every 3 years. The block leaders were elected by the people living in their respective blocks. The duties of the block leader were to represent and act as a liaison office to the village leader. The village leader represented and acted as a liaison officer to the village leader. The village leader represented and acted as a liaison officer to the town government of SHANGHENGCHEN. Details unknown.
To be eligible for voting, one had to be at least 20 years old. The people also elected the town leader. These 3 offices were the only ones which the people were allowed to vote for. The last election in the village was held in Sep 48. On three different days of that month (Sep 48), the people voted for the 3 gov’t heads. They elected 3 Manchurians (names - unknown).
Communications:
There was no regular postal system in this village. Mail was brought to the village administration office and was picked up there by the individuals. Anyone knowing of any mail which had come in notified the person to which it was addressed. It was not necessary for each person to pick up his own mail; frequently friends picked up each other’s mail.
The postal rate for letters was 5,000 yuan. Other rates were unknown. Stamps could be purchased in 5,000, 10,000, and 20,000 yuan denominations.
Education:
In this village, there were 2 elementary schools. One taught in the Manchurian language and the other in Korean. The schools were coeducational.
Living Conditions:
The typical farmhouse was built of mud with thatched roof. There was no city water nor modern sewage disposal system. There was no electricity in the farming villages. However, in the town, where there was electricity, there were brick, wooden and mud homes with thatched and tile roofs. As in the villages, the town also obtained its water supply from community wells.
Taxes:
While working on his farm, PW had to deliver 30% of his crops, as taxes, to the gov’t. A gov’t official came to inspect the crops, therefore evasion of taxes was not practical.
Land Reforms:
In Aug 47, land reforms were in effect and each farmer received approx. 1,400 tsubc of land. All homes in which the farmers were living were given to them. PW felt that the land reform was to his advantage and to the advantage of all the farmers in the village. The farmers did not have to face as many hardships as they did during the Japanese occupation. The farmers felt that they were working for themselves because there were no landlords as there had been formerly.
PW estimated that while working on the farm with his father and mother, their annual income in 1948 (after tax deduction) was 4,000,000 yuan. This was sufficient to sustain a living but was not sufficient for any savings.
Public Opinion:
The general attitude of the people in the village was favorable toward and Communist administration. Land reform had taken place and the people were satisfied with it. The tax system was considered fair and reasonable. All in all, the people of the village were convinced that the gov’t was better than the Japanese rule.
Through propaganda, the people have come to regard the US as a nation of capitalists. The average citizen pictures capitalists as a rich group of people who have prospered at the expense of the poor people. As a nation, the US was thought to be one which occupied other nations in order to sell their many products. Thus the US had grown rich while causing suffering among the peoples of other nations.
The people look upon the USSR as an ally of the Chinese Communists. They see RUSSIA as the liberator of the masses and a nation which will return the government to the people.
As informed through propaganda, the people believe that the Soviet Gov’t is a true democracy. The people showed a favorable attitude toward the Soviet Union because they hoped to have a gov’t for the people after the Japanese capitulation.
SHANGCHENGCHEN Gov’t Offices (山城鎭街所) SHANCHENGCHEN, MANCHURIA
Pvt D/O Feb 46 - Jun 49
Location: (Point 2 & 2a - Attached Sketch)
The SHANGHENGCHEN Gov’t Offices were located approximately 1 1/3 km SW of the SANGCHENGCHEN Railroad Station and 3½ km west of the gate (main entrance) to the wall surrounding the town.
Observation:
PW passed in front of these government offices about twice a week while attending school during the above period. He also observed these offices while shopping in the town during the period Feb 48 to Jun 49.
Description:
Point #2 - Two story grey brick building with slate gabled roof, dimensions unknown, enclosed by a brick wall 4 m high. Building was formerly used by the Japanese Army. Point #2A - One story brick building, slate gabled roof, 6 m x 6 m x 5 m.
Farm Implement Mfg Plant SHANCHENGCHEN, MANCHURIA
Pvt D/O 1944 - Jun 49
Location: (Point 8 - Attached Sketch)
500 m S of the RR Station. 100 m SE of the transformer station. 100 m E of the chopstick mfg plant.
Observation:
Observation was frequently made while passing by on a road about 100 m away.
Description:
From the E side of the plant, from where observation was made, it appeared that the entire area was enclosed by a brick wall. In the enclosed area, there were 2 sheet metal bldgs. with gabled galvanized iron roofs. (size unk)
This plant produced plows, hoes, sickle, forked hoes and shovels. The PW learned the location of the plant from a store clerk. The farm implements from this plant were sold locally.
Sawmill SHANCHENGCHEN, MANCHURIA
Pvt D/O 1944 - Jun 49
Note - All information concerning the sawmill is heresay.
Location: (Point 9 - Attached Sketch)
600m SSW of the RR Station. 100 m S of the Transformer station. 100 m W of the farm implement mfg plant.
Hearsay:
PW often heard that this was a sawmill and wood working shop. Wooden chopsticks, coffins, and lumber for housing construction composed the products of this sawmill. PW has never seen this sawmill.
Transformer Station SHANCHENGCHEN, MANCHURIA
Pvt D/O 1944 - Jun 49
Location: (Point 10 - Attached Sketch)
100 m NW of the farm implement mfg plant. 300 m SSW of the RR Station. 100m N of the sawmill.
Observation:
Observation was often made from a distance of 50 m from the road to the RR Station.
Description:
The area was estimated to be 250 m x 70 m and was enclosed by a 1½ m-high barbed wire fence. There was a mass of wires running through insulators which where attached to steel towers. The wires extended into the electric station. These steel towers were about 20 m high. There was a 1-story brick bldg. (6 m x 10 m).
It was heard that the electric power was generated and sent here from a hydro-electric power plant on the YALU River. There was an electric line running parallel (south) to the RR. The electric line was strung on wooden poles, about 6 m high and 50 m apart. There were 2 cross bars at the top. On each cross bar, there were 2 insulators (one on each side) with one wire running through each insulator.
Electricity was available only within the enclosed portion of the town.
Militia Headquarters SHANCHENGCHEN, MANCHURIA
Pvt D/O Jan 48 - Jun 49
Location: (Point 5 - Attached Sketch)
The Militia (自街隊) Headquarters was located 1 1/3 km SW of the SHANCHENGCHEN Railroad Station, directly opposite the SHANCHENGCHEN Gov’t Offices.
Observation:
PW passed this Militia Headquarters about twice a week while walking through the town.
Description:
One-story brick building, slate gabled roof, 13 m x 6 m x 6 m, enclosed by a brick wall 3 m high. The wall was guarded by armed sentries. A training field was located to the rear of the headquarters.
Capacity:
Approximately 600 men armed with Japanese “Model 38” and “Model 99” rifles and American carbines, captured from the Chinese Nationalist Army, were trained by this headquarters.
Remarks:
Volunteers between the ages of 16 and 35 were accepted after physical examination. Duties were to maintain public security and to control subversive activities and espionage. Training was the same as in the CCF. Leaders were dispatched from the CCF Headquarters in HAILUNG-HSIEN (海龍縣). Yellowish-green cotton uniforms and canvas shoes were worn. Uniforms were padded with cotton in the winter.
For the Commanding Officer:
SHAPPELL
AREA SKETCH OF SHANCHENG CHEN (山城鎭) MANCHURIA As of June 1949 POP: 7,000
LEGEND
1. SHANCHENG CHEN RR Sta
2. & 2n. SHANCHENG CHEN Government offices
3. Post office, telephone & telegraph office
4. Northeastern Bank (1-story gray brick building, gable-roof, 6 x 5 x 6 m)
5. Militia headquarters
6. Middle school
7. Elementary school
8. Farming implement mfg plant
9. Sawmill
10. Transformer sta
11. to 15. Farmers houses (YUNGSHENG-TSUN (永勝村) village, formerly called HICASHI SANJOCHIN, “East SHANCHENG CHEN” (山城鎭) during the Japanese occupation.)
