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ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 826　30 August 1950

FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0635)　28 August 1950

Cooperative. Intelligent but limited information. Reliability, fair.

28 Jun 50 - Subject was in SEOUL City, observed N Koreans entering the city. Observation period 28 Jun 50 to 25 Jul 50.

"The SEOUL Division". The Seoul Div Hqs is located at former MP Hqs in SEOUL. Subject stated that he heard from a N Korean officer that the SEOUL Div is the 3rd Div, is so called because it was first to enter SEOUL. The combat elements of the 3rd Div are in the WAEGWAN Area.

AA Gun Positions: AA Gun positions are in tho north side of NAMSAN. Subject believes that those are permanent positions. Number of AA Guns unknown.

N Korean Camps in SEOUL: First N Korean troops wore in all the school buildings in SEOUL, but naw they moved into church buildings such as to catholic Church (天主敎會), YONGNAK Church (永樂敎會).

Munition Dumps: The CH’ANGKYONG WON, a park, has been used as munition dump from time to time. Subject twice observed CH’ANGKYONG WON filled with trucks loaded with ammunition. No artillery, or large units of men.

Volunteer Army (疑勇軍): Men from 17 to 37, were conscripted although called “volunteers”. There were 2 drafts up to 25 Jul 50. The first; middle part of Jul 50. Students were all drafted. Men on the street were asked to join the Army, but not compelled. All men received physical examinations in PAE CHAE (培材) Middle School. Training Center or Hqs, unknown. The second; all men in SEOUL City were drafted by People's Committee members, (former underground movement members). They searched all cviilian houses and took young men away. All men received physical examination at Primary Schools in SEOUL. Total number of men in both drafts is about 400,000 to 500,000 (hearsay).

Evacuation: Many Koreans were forcefully evacuated from central district of SEOUL by order of NKPA (hearsay).

Food Situation: Majority of SEOUL citizens cat one or two meals a day because of food shortage.

26 Jul 50: Subject left SEOUL in the evening. Crossed the HAN River by ferry. ICH’ON-CHANGHOWON-UMSONG-KAESAN. During the journey, subject with a companion walked every day till 2100 hours. Up to KAESAN Subject did not observe any large enemy movement. At KAESAN, Subject heard that there was a battle going on MUN'GYONG Area. Continued to CHONGCHON-NI, POUN, OKSAN-DONG, KAERYONG. Near KAERYONG, subject tried to cross NAKTONG River but did not succeed. On 15 Aug, Subject arrived SONGJU vicinity. Subject observed that about half of SONGJU was destroyed by US air raid. Subject left SONGJU on 16 Aug, toward KORYONG by mountain pass. Observed guerrilla unit, of 10 men armed with PPsh Submachine guns running over the mountains. From 16 Aug 50, to about 23 Aug 50, stayed in YONGAN-MYON MYONGPODONG, between SONGJU and KORYOMG. Subject was told it was still too dangerous to go to south, so he stayed in MYONGPODONG. Heard that 2,500 N Korean troops were killed when they tried to cross. NAKTONG River in TUKSONG DONG Area. While he was in the village on/about 21 Aug 50, there was a big N Korean troop movement (hearsay) about 20,000 men passed north above the village. Inhabitants of MYONGPODONG have returned from evacuation and live in peace. Sometimes N Korean troops come into the village and ask for ammunition carrying details.

23 Aug 50, left MYONGPODONG, arrived in CHANGCHA DONG, approx (1142-1434). There Subject was captured by N Korean troops. Observed about 200 N Koreans with an unknown number of mortar, 7 HMGs. 10th Div (Regt unknown), 3rd Bn Hqs was located about 2 km SE of CHANGCHADONG. About 300 N Korean troops were believed to be in this area. Subject did not observe any munition dumps, artillery pieces, or tanks.

On 26 Aug 50, Subject escaped from the village and crossed the NAKTONG River and met US soldiers.

Russian: None

Korean trained with CCF 8th Route Army will organize a unit and replace N Koreans after liberation of T'AEGU, Subject heard from a Jr Lt at CHANGCHADONG.

Subject did not observe any but heard that American PsW were in SEOUL. The number of American PW was about 50. Subject heard a radio broadcast that a US captain was making a speech in the early part of July. subject thinks the broadcast was from P'YONGYANG.

In the KAESAN-MUN'GYONG area American stragglers came out from mountains and surrendered to N Korean individually or in pairs (hearsay).

While subject was captured by N Koreans in CHANGCHADONG, he heard from a N Korean officer (Jr Lt, name unknown) that by request of the US government, N Koreans are treating American PWs with the bast of care, giving them bread and so forth. N Koreans will not kill American PsW because they will exchange one PW for one US tank.

Date of Observation 25 Aug 50 - In the TASAN-MYON Area (1130-1430), Subject did not observe any artillery or tanks. North Korean troops in this area do not receive any supply from rear. Ammunition situation was bad. All they had was what they carried with them. Subject heard that N Koreans were going to receive some mortar shells on 25 Aug 50.

(Hearsay) In SEOUL, YONGSAN Area was completely destroyed except YONSAN Police Station. The ammunition dump in this area continued to explode from 0900 till midnight.

From SEOUL to OKSAN Subject observed many trucks destroyed by air attack. Subject observed many ammunition supply trucks attacked and exploded.

Psychological Effect of US air raids: In SEOUL, majority of SEOUL citizens welcome the US air raid and hope US will keep air planes over SEOUL 24. hours a day.

In the front: North Korean soldiers are very disappointed with their weak air power. There are no N Korean day light movements.

Subject stated that the morals was pretty high among the battle-trained troops. However, they are led by childish propaganda, to the effect that they have captured PUSAN and MASAN already, when subject was in KAERYONG o/a 15 Aug 50.