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보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 915　8 September 1950

FIELD REPORT (ADVATIS - 0597)　25 September 1950

Cooperative, information seems fairly reliable.

Inducted 6 Jul 50 at South SINUIJU (新義州).

Trained 20 days as rifleman.

Departed SINUIJU 3 Aug 50 evening - train - arrived SINANJU morning 4 Aug 50

Departed SINANJU 4 Aug 50 - morning - train - arrived SEOUL (KYONGSONG) 9 Aug 50 via PYONGYANG (平壤), KUMCHON (金川), KAESONG (開城) and MUNSAN (汶山).

Departed SEOUL 9 Aug 50 evening - train - arrived WONJU 11 Aug 50

Departed WONJU 11 Aug 50 - marched - arrived CH’UNGJU (忠州) 13 Aug 50

Departed CH’UNGJU 13 Aug 50 - marched - arrived P’UNGGI (豐基) about 15 Aug 50

Departed P’UNGGI 15 Aug 50 - marched - arrived CH’ONGBONG (1200-1500) 18 Aug 50

The PW stated there were six (6) battalions in the 73rd Independent Regiment, and only the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions departed 3 Aug 50 from SINUIJU. The battalions were all infantry battalions. PW does not know whether the other 3 battalions departed SINUIJU after their departure.

PW was separated from unit on 23 1100 Aug 50. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd battalions were deployed on each of the three mountains located in IMAM-NI. During the morning of 23 Aug 50 the battalions were attacked by ROK troops. The firing was so intense that the troops wanted to withdraw but they were threatened with death by the platoon and company commanders if they withdrew. The 2nd Platoon gave up after they were told to surrender by ROK troops. Platoon leader was killed during the engagement. At time of capture PW was armed with M1891/30 rifle, 25 rounds, and one (1) grenade.

73rd Ind Regt CO: LEE CHU WON (李柱原), rank Lt Col, age 35

3rd Bn CO: HONG YONG P'O (洪榮浦), rank, Major, Age 40

2nd Plt Idr: CH'OE SANG YUN (崔相允), rank Jr Lt, age 22

Replaced at ANDONG. Bad foot due to marching. Replaced by KIM YONG T'AE (金榮泰), rank Jr Lt, ago 25

Also 4th Plt ldr (HMG plt)

1st Plt ldr: CH'OE KYONG MUN (崔境文), rank Jr Lt, age 23

73rd Independent Regt: unknown; there are 6 battalions in 73rd Ind Regiments. Battalion - 700 men, Company - 150 men, Platoon - 50 men, Squad - 10-12 men. Riflemen armed with M1891/30 rifles, 25 rounds, one grenade. Squad leader with PPsh submachine gun, 280 rounds, asst squad leader with M1946 LMG, 100 rounds (hearsay). Officers - battalion and Regt commanders with pistol (M1895 NAGANT Revolver). The other officers either had PPsh submachine gun or none, they were suppose to be issued pistols as ANDONG but due to no supplies they did not receive any weapons.

2nd Company, 4th Platoon (HMG plt): PW heard there were 3 HMGs in platoon but observed only one. 1st, 2nd and 3rd Platoons were rifle platoons. 3rd Battalion, Mortar Company - no mortars in company. Number of men in company unknown.

Negative.

Observed 2 x 160mm M1943 mortars 8 km North of IMAM-NI on 22 Aug 50. During the night the pieces were covered with green grass. Four or five men wore observed in nearby area. Unit unknown.

No trucks or other vehicles observed south of ANDONG. While walking from WONJU to ANDONG PW observed every day 5 or 6 trucks with supplies going north and coming south. PW stated some of the trucks were empty and some were covered with tarpaulins. At ANDONG PW observed soma trucks arriving with man and leaving empty. He observed about 50 trucks loaded with troops entering ANDONG. He was told by hie friends they were Koreans formerly with the CCF troops. This was observed during the night of 16 or 17 Aug 50.

Observed no new issue of weapons or equipment in ulit. From SINUIJU to WONJU PW ate rice twice a day, from WONJU to IMAM-NI PW ate once a day.

He ate barley mixed together with potatoes and rice. Food was brought from villages.

The objective of the 3rd Bn was to occupy the town approximately 6 km south of IMAM-NI which was occupied by ROK troops. they were ordered to occupy the town by the night of 23 Aug 50. Hoard orders from plt ldr. Further objectives unknown. The objective of the 73rd Independent Regiment when they left SlNUIJU was to police occupied areas. PW did not observe or hear of any other units in the area other than the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions.

Between 15 Jul to 26 Jul 50 every night three trains with average of 35 cars passed South SINUIJU from SINUIJU. The first train passed at sunset, the 2nd at about 2000 hour, and the 3rd at early dawn. PW stated he observed about 7 trains loaded with weapons. Twice he observed train load of tanks on flat cars. One train pulled 30 cars with 30 tanks. He also observed two train loads of artillery on 30 cars, one piece per car and other unidentifiable cargo accompanied the artillery. Observed other trains all loaded with trucks. One train hauled about 30 cars, one truck to ea.ch car. Some trains hauled box cars and coal cars. All these were loaded with equipment, covered with tarpaulin or foliage. The PW observed these trains from distance of 350 meters and could not make out the type of tanks, artillery or trucks. The trains were headed toward P’YONGYANG. PW does not know where the weapons came from.