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보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 2583　7 December 1950

FIELD REPORT (Ⅸ CORPS LDI - 0173)　16 November 1950

Although prisoner had a long record of military service and the information given seems reliable, he was vague and incomplete, due to his low rank and lack of education. Not recommended for further interrogation.

Prisoner inducted 11 Feb 44, in SOUTH CHINA (YUNNAN Province) (　　　) PING I HSIEN (　　　) into the Chinese Nationalist Army. He served as a rifleman and Asst Sqd Ldr. 11 Jun 46 he captured by the CCF in TOSAN Province, MANCHURIA when his Div was surrounded by the CCF 4th Field Army and the Div Comdr surrendered his entire Div. The CNA Div was then made a part of the 4th Field Army and redesignated the CCF 5th Div according to PW. He was assigned to the 4th Inf Regt, 3rd Bn, 8th Co, 1st Plat. Jun 48 5th Div was redesignated 125th Div (Code) and 4th Regt was known as 374th (Code). The 4th army was redesignated the 42nd Army at PEIAN, MANCHURIA in Apr 49. In Jul 49 the 374th Regt departed and moved to KILIN, MANCHURIA where it repaired roads, railroads and public buildings until o/a 26 Aug 50. They then departed arriving TUNGHWA, MANCHURIA 20 Sep. Here the Regt trained for 15 days and departed 5 Oct for TIECHON, MANCHURIA arriving o/a 10 Oct 50. After training there for 15 additional days the Regt departed o/a 25 Oct 50 and crossed the YALU River into KOREA at MANP’OJIN o/a 3 Nov 50. It was not known whether the remainder of the 125th Div or 42nd Army entered KOREA at that time or later, but PW heard that the 125th Div was to follow them into KOREA later. From MANP’OJIN the Regt continued south immediately and arrived TOKCHON (BV6904) o/a 7 Nov 50. Here the 374th Regt Hq was deployed approx 3 kms W of TOKCHON and PWs Plat was deployed 2 kms NW (BV6805) of TOKCHON. On the morning of 13 Nov his platoon consisting of 30 men was shelled by enemy artillery resulting in 6 killed and one wounded (PW). The remainder of platoon scattered and their fate is unknown. On the same day PW was captured.

In the 42nd army were 3 Divs, including the l25th Div. In the 125th Div were 3 Regts including the 374th Regt. The 374th Regt had 3 Bns. 3rd Bn had 3 Companies. The unit designation of the 42nd Army, other than those to which PWs Company belonged were unknown. Attached to the 374th Regt were a Gun Company (approx 100 men), reconnaissance, Signal, Engineer, Medical and Supply Sections (each consisting of 12 men). Strengths of the 125th Div, 374th Regt and 3rd Bn was unk. 8th Co was divided into 3 rifle platoons and each platoon was divided into 3 rifle squads. Before the Co arrived in KOREA and while stationed in TUNGHWA, MANCHURIA in Sep 50, there were approx 160-170 men in the Co, which also had a Mortar Plat of 11 men at the time. However, at TUNGHWA 70-80 men deserted this Co because their homes were in the vicinity and they did not care to fight in KOREA. Since there were no replacements for those men, the Mortar Plat was absorbed into the Co. All unit leaders above Asst Platoon Ldr were Officers, although their rank was unknown, it was surmised that they were Officers since they are identified by thin red pipings on the seams of their trousers.

The bulk of the food fed to PWs Co consisted of Kaoling and Corn with 40 grams of pork or beef per day. They were fed twice daily usually at 0800 hours and 1500 hours. Kaoling and Corn was brought from MANCHURIA on the backs of the men and also on trucks when they entered KOREA. When this food ran out each man was allowed 150 Won in NK money which was used to buy food from the locality. Salt was also used as a means of exchange.

Each rifleman in PWs Co was supplied with 30 rds prior to their departure from TONGHWA, MANCHURIA in Sep and the LMGs were given 300 rds per gun at the same time. HMGs 700 rds per gun, and the 60mm Mortars received 32 shells per gun. He heard that this ammo came from LINCHIANG, MANCHURIA, where the ammo is said to be manufactured. All men carried 3 grenades each. As far as PW knows, no resupply of ammo was received in Co after entering KOREA.

In PWs platoon, the Sqd Ldrs and Asst Sqd Ldrs were armed with TOKAREV M1940 rifles. Others carried Jap model 38 rifles. There were also 6 LMGS (2 per squad) type unknown and 3 × 60mm Mortars carried by PWs platoon. Asst Co Comdrs and above were armed with revolvers and pistols. The Regts Ind Gun Co was equipped with HMGS (Type unknown) and 2 × 82mm Mortars. No heavy guns were seen by the PW in the 125th Div in KOREA, but at TUNGHWA, MANCHURIA in Sep he saw two artillery pieces (Type, calibre unk) attached to one of the units in the Div.

At PEIAN, MANCHURIA in Feb 50 he observed 10 Heavy tanks similar in construction to the “JS” at the 42nd Army Hq. No tanks of CCF observed in KOREA.

The 374th Regt had 5 trucks when they entered KCREA o/a 3 Nov 50. However o/a 7 Nov at a point approx 12 km N of TOKCHON, 3 were destroyed by enemy aircraft. All trucks were loaded with Kaoling at the time.

About half of the men in Pis platoon were former Nationalist soldiers who had about 6 yrs of military experience. It was believed that about half of the men of the 125th Div were also former Nationalist troops. 125th Div until Feb 49 was made up of former Chinese Nationalists at PEIAN when about half of the men were replaced by recruits. These new recruits were sons of peasant farmers sent by the families to the Communist government in appreciation for their land grants received under the land reform system.

On both approaches to the YALU River Bridge at MANP’OJIN PW observed a concrete AA Gun emplacement (Type, calibre unk).

In KOREA unit movements were only made at night by marching 4-6 km from and parallel to main or secondary roads, Strict blackout regulations were observed and fires or even cigarettes could not be lighted. Travelling by night was extremely cold. During the day they slept with blankets in foxholes dug in wooded areas or stayed in civilian homes enroute.

PW states that his unit received no air support in KOREA or MANCHURIA nor did he see any airfields or airplanes in either place.

O/a 3 Nov 50 at CHIAN, MANCHURIA (near MANP’OJIN) PW was told by his Plat Ldr that they were going to KOREA to fight. He did hot know who or what he was fighting. He did not know he was fighting. the UN Army until captured. Ldr also explained that if they were captured by the enemy they would not be fed and they would be decapitated.

PW believes that over half (especially the former Chinese Nationalist troops) are unwilling to fight and would desert their unit at the first opportunity. In PWs opinion the CCF will be defeated in a short time due to lack of adequate ammo, food and clothing.

For the AC of S, G-2: