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보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 1684　7 October 1950

FIELD REPORT (521 - MISD - 0117)　4 October 1950

Subject was cooperative. Military information was limited. What little information furnished can be considered reliable.

Length of service : 1 month 5 days

Physical condition : Good

19 Aug 50 - Inducted at PYONGYANG and appointed Major. Attached to 17 Div, Medical Department. Received no military training.

5 Sep 50 - 17 Div HQs departed PYONGYANG by rail for SEOUL. (1 and 2 Regts had left few days before.)

14 Sep 50 - Div HQs arrived in SEOUL.

15 Sep 50 - Div HQs departed SEOUL by rail for YANGPYON (陽平).

18 Sep 50 - Arrived YANGPYON and departed by foot for SEOUL (night).

21 Sep 50 - Arrived SEOUL. (At this time it was believed that the 1 and 2 Regts joined the Div HQs.)

23 Sep 50 - PW deserted (before Div went into action). Believes the 17 Div retreated into NK territory through UIJONGBU (議政府).

28 Sep 50 - Captured in SEOUL by SK Police after hiding in fox holes and empty homes for 5 days.

While at PYONGYANG PW observed two Russian officers (both said to be Lt Cols) visit 17 Div HQs daily.

17 div was composed of the 1 and 2 Regts. Strength estimated to be approx 3,000 men.

Strength of the Div HQs was about 250 men. The Div HQs consisted of the following sections; Med Dept, Personnel Section, Cultural and Propaganda Section, Finance Dept, Supply Section, Separation Section, Communication Section and the Adjutant Section.

The Div HQs when last seen (22 Sep 50) was located near the SEOUL Medical College in private homes, however, 23 Sep 50 the Div HQs moved away. Medical College was former Jap. Imperial University.

The Med Dept comprised of 14 doctors (including helpers) and two nurses. The Med Dept had no medical equipment nor medicine.

Med officers were told to be on the alert at Div HQs and were given no future plans.

Med officers wore red cross arm bands and were not armed. However, heard that the med officers attached to the regts were armed with pistols.

PW stated that majority (about 98%) of the population of SINUIJU (新義州) had unfavorable feelings toward the Communist regime.

There were communist agents posted in each and every factory, hospital, school, and office to observe and report the people’s activities to higher communists HQs. Therefore people were indirectly forced to join the Communist Party to hold their positions.

The standard of living had greatly declined under the present government. The average laborer earns about 1,000 won (equivalent to 8,000 SK won) a month. Many people are obliged to sell their personal property to survive.

The NK people would be greatly impressed by liberated from Communist Regime.

For the AC of S, G-2: