Evening star., 1952-05-17
Paratrooper Regiment
Transferred 10 Koie
To Reinforce Guards
By the Associated Press


TOKYO, May 17.-Gen. Mark
Clark tonight said the United
States 18TH Airborne Infantry
Regiment has moved from Japan
to Koje Island to reinforce the
United Nations guard over tough
Red prisoners of war there and
prevent mass outbreaks which
inevitably would result in addi-
tional violence and bloodshed."
The new United Nations su-
preme commander said he ordered
the reinforcements to Koje Ito
insure the complete control of U.
N. POW Camp No. l at Koje-Do
by the United Nations authorities.
Brig. Gen. Francis r. Dodd,
former commander of the island
camp. was held hostage by the
prisoners 78 hours last week. Gen.
Dodd and his successor, Brig. Gen.
Charles Colson, who agreed to stop
screening prisoners in return for
Gen. Dodd's release. both have
been relieved of their command
by Gen. Clark and returned to
previous duties.
Gen. Clark has repudiated the
concessions granted the prisoners
by Gen. Colson.
Defenses Strengthened.
The newest commander, Brig.
Gen. Hayden L. Boatner. has
strengthened the island defenses
since he took over.
Associated Press Photographer
George Sweers reported today that
battle-toughened United Nations
troops on the island were build
ing new sandbag pillboxes and
new guard towers.
About 20 tanks, some equipped
with flame throwers, were stand
ing by on the island,
Presumably the 18TH took more
tanks to the island today.
II do not propose to counte-
nance for one moment further un-
lawful acts on the part of these
prisoners of war and civilian in
ternees." Gen. Clark said.
He said the 18th had COM
|pleted its movement to the island
80 miles off Southeast Korea.
Requested by Van Fleet.
Gen. Clark, who took over the
U. N. command one week ago to-
day, said he ordered the para
troopers to Koje at the request
Iof Gen. James A. Van Fleet
United States 9Th Army COM
mander.
He said they would temporarily
reinforce the troops already there
United States troops and South
Korean guards have in the past
been guarding the prisoners on
Koje.
The 18TH regiment, a unit
larger than most infantry regi-
ments. has been stationed al
Beppu in Southern Japan fol
about one year. Before that it was
in Korea, where it participated in
two combat jumps.
communist prisoners of wal
and civilian internees on Koje
have not only resorted on repeated
occasions to unlawful violence but
obviously acting under instructions
from outside agents of the inter.
national Communist power con.
spiracy. have threatened mass out.
breaks which inevitably would re.
suit in additional violence anc
bloodshed." Gen. Clark said.
| Will Abide by Convention.
The general added:
"The United Nations authoritie
will continue to observe the pro
visions of the Geneva Convention
in the administration of U. N
POW Camp No. l and at all othe
POW camps under their control
At the same time, they will re-
quire that the prisoners of wa
) land civilian internees observe tn
responsibilities placed on them b,
the provisions of the same con
vention. Good order and dis
cipline will be required of then
at all times.
1 The presence of the famou
18TH Airborne Infantry Regimen
Twill enable Gen. Hayden L. Boat
/ ner. commanding general, U. n
: POW Camp No. /, to insure tina
. my directives in this matter ar
fully implemented."