Evening star., 1951-11-15
Truman Calls
Korea Atrocity
Report Horrible
Most UnciviIized,'
President Declares,
If Reports Are True

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prisoners by Chinese Communists
as the most uncivilized thing that
has happened in the last century.
Mr.. Truman voiced this indict-
ment at news conference at his
vacation retreat at Key West, Fla.
He said he has not been told
officially of reports of charges of
the murder of $500 American
prisoners, but he said it's a hor-
rible thing.
If the reports are true, the
President added, it is the most
uncivilized thing that has hap
pened in the last century.
He replied with a firm no COM
ment to a question whether this
brought closer the day when we
might use the atomic bomb in
Korea.
The Pentagon, meanwhile, was
still awaiting full explanation by
Gen. Matthew B. Ridgway's head
quarters in Tokyo of the state
ment made in Pusan, Korea, which
made the charge of wholesale
slayings Of American personnel.
No Word From Tokyo.
At noon the Pentagon was still
without official word from Tokyo
on the atrocity story.
An "operational immediate"
message, which in Army parlance
means a top priority communica-
ton requiring an immediate an
sWer. was sent yesterday morning
1t requested the full text of the
statement by Col. James M. Han
ley, chief Of the War Crimes Sec
ton OF the 9th Army, the reasons
Tor its release and so forth.
But this morning the Army was
reduced to reading the text of
the colonel's statement in the
daily newspapers.
The Army's casualty branch was
receiving an increasing flow of in
|quiries from the next-of- kin of
the soldiers and Marines who have
been reported missing in Korea
and from members of Congress.
Anticipating a mounting volume Of
inquiries the casualty branch sup
plemented its staff to handle mes
sages from all parts of the coun-
try.
Exceeds Official Estimates.
Col. Hanley's figure far exceeds
beliefs hitherto expressed Official
ly here.
And the publication of the
figure, at time when the Korean
truce negotiators were still to 20
into the matter of arrangements
for the exchange of prisoners,
stunned officials at the State and
Defense Departments.
The release brought an immedi-
ate demand by Representative
Cole. Republican, of New York for
punishment of the Reds with the
atomic bomb-if the reports of the
maSsacres proved correct.
He asked for an on-the-spot in
vestigation by United Nations Of
f1cials, adding that if the Reds
refused this should be considered
a confession of guilt"
Another member OF Congress,
Representative Shafer, Repub-
lican. of Michigan telegraphed the
Defense Department demanding
"a fortnight explanation" of why
there had been no prior release
OF such information. The figures,
as released by Col. Hanley, went
back to 1850.
Mr.. Shafer said the report on
the Staying of prisoners was zone
more evidence of the Soundness'
OF Gen. MacArthur's insistence
that the United States should
strike hard with everything neces-
sary and seek a full and complete
Victory IN Korea.
Has Defended Reports.
The Army long has defended its
reports on Korean casualties and
the Pusan story was bound to re-
vive questions about their accu-
racy.
The Pusan story coincided with
the Defense Departments weekly
release of casualties based on no.
tification of next-of-kin. Yester-
days official release showed only
moderate change from a week ago
and under the missing action"
category carried only 1873 under
died"
A total of 1882 are listed as
missing in action.
Army authorities, partly because
they aim at absolute precision,
have been unwilling to announce a
man dead" until there is proof
of his death.