Evening star., 1949-12-12
Ward Safe on Evacuation Ship,
Feels as fist. Peter Let Him In
By the Asseeiefsd Pres.

BY the Asseeieisd Press
ABOARD LAKELAND VIC
TORY. of Tientsin. Dec. Ia
Consul General Angus Ward ane
hts 19-member party boarded thi:
evacuation ship today and de-
clared he had suffered "hellisf
treatment" at the hands of Chi.
nese Communists.
The United States official, who
was caught at his consulate BY
the fall of Mukden to Chiness
Reds more than year ago, de.
clared his final freedom made him
feel Just as one would "after st
Peter lets you In"
It was the first time in II
months Mr.. Ward had been able
to move without an armed escort
And 20 days Of that time he was
in a Chinese Communist jail. II
solitary confinement, in Mukden
On "a of those days he was kept
in unheated or underheated quar-
ters In freezing temperatures.
Menu Was Bread and Water.
He lost as pounds.
His jail menu was six slices OF
bread daily and hot water.
That's not a very strengthen
ing or fattening diet" he quipped
For all members of the party
including Mrs. Ward. several
women and some children. 1t was
the first time they had not been
under Red surveillance since No.
vember 20, 1948. On that date the
Reds closed the consulate and
clafhped such secrecy on their
movements and fate that even the
State Department knew virtually
nothing about them.
Even their final departure. under
Red deportation orders on phoney
charges. was delayed by red tape.
For some time today. only Mr..
Ward was permitted to board this
ship.
Captain Takes Responsibility.
Before they would permit the
other 10 to come up the gangway.
the Communists demanded the
consul general sign a statement
that they bo .rded safely and
without molestation."
Mr.. Ward baked: he said he
wouldn't sign until all members
Of his party were brought onto
the ship. But they were held on
the tug on which they had been
brought from Tientsin.
Finally, Mr.. Ward signed and
all 10 came aboard.
Capt. Paul Sexton of the Lake.
land also was forced to sign a
statement for the Reds. In it he
assumed full responsibility" for
the entire group and their belong
ings.
Mr.. Ward told newsmen he will
go to Kobe. Japan. on the Lake.
land.
(In Tokyo today the Far East
Lines, agent. c. w. Evans, said
the ship tentatively is due to
leave Taku Bar tomorrow. It
is due at Kobe Friday. En-
route it viii stop at Pusan,
South Korea, to unload cargo
and disembark three Korean
passengers. It is due at Pusan
Wednesday, with q layover OF
eight or nine hours. It omitted
a scheduled Pusan stop en- route
to Taku Bar to pick UP the
Ward party.
PRESUMABLY, the Ward group
will spend Christmas in Tokyo.
He is expected to confer there
with Gen. MacArthur0
On January 8, Mr.. Ward will
board the President Wilson for
San Francisco. He'll continue to
Washington to report to the State
Department.
Then, he and Mrs. Ward will
begin q vacation at the home Of
his brother, Teffell r. Ward. at
Allegan, Mich.
Calls Indictment Travesty.
Mr.. Ward is tall. gaunt, balding
and bearded. He was garbed in
typical Chinese clothing: Breeches,
felt leggings, canvas coat with
sheepskin collar and q fur hat.
He wore steel rim spectacles.
He smoked a stubby black pipe
while chatting with newsmen In
Capt. Sexton's bedroom. Unable
to speak Chinese and tired Of the
haggling, through an interpreter,
over release Of his party, he
turned that duty. over to Philip
Manhard of Los Angeles. United
States vice consul at Tientsin,
who came to the Lakeland with
him.
Mr.. Ward declared flatly that
his indictment and conviction
basis for Red expulsion of his
group-was q travesty. He was
charged with beating a Chinese
employe. Four aides were con-
victed of similar charges.
A Red radio Broadcast said. all
five confessed.
Mr.. Ward didn't even know on
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