Evening star., 1953-10-30

The enemy in Korea handled
prisoners, Army Secretary
SteUenS said yesterday, in ac-
corddnce tUith a cold -blooded
program OF torture and mur-
der" Here are four tertudl
excerpts from the Arny'S re-
port on Communist atrocities
Which oiUe a fair idea what he
tUaS talking about:
Seoul-Pyoneyong Deoth March
On September 26, 1850, Ko-
rea added its counterpart to
the infamous Bataan death
march involving approximately
376 American prisoners of war.
Only 296 survivors completed
this two-week horror hike.
In August, 1850, these pris-
,onerS were being held in Seoul,
awaiting movement north
ward. Nearly half Of the
group were wounded, many
seriously but despite this they
received practically no medical
care. Instead, they were beaten
often, and on at least one oc-
casion, were subjected to the
humiliation of being forced to
parade down the main street
of the city. Their personal
belongings were all stolen,
and in addition, their combat
boots were confiscated, many
being left barefoot, and a few
receiving ill-fltting Korean
shoes in return.
During the ordeal of the
march to Pyongyang, many of
the sick and wounded were
unable to maintain the pace.
At this tire the Communists
demonstrated policy that
runs like a connecting thread
through all the reported at
rocity cases. That policy was
the summary execution of any
prisoner whose physical condi-
ton would burden their opera
tions. These bodies were al
ways left unburied along the
roadside.
Beatings Commonplace.
Beatings from the guards
were commonplace throughout
the ordeal. No medical care
was provided and the only food
was one or two rice balls per
day. For water, the un-
fortunate survivors had to shift
for themselves, drinking from
roadside bitches and adjoining
rice-paddies. AS a result, most
of them suffered from attacks
of diarrhea and dysentery.
Some of the wounded man
aged to ride on an oX-cart, but
with no medical care, their
wounds became infected and
maggot laden. The senior Off
Ger among the prisoners. a
major, constantly pleaded with
the captors for medicine,
water. and more food. For his
efforts, this officer received
only additional abuse and
beatingS. At one time, when
an opportunity to escape af-
forded itself, he refused to &C
(, company those leaving. stating
I, that he felt his duty required
him to remain and do what he
could to alleviate the suffering
! Of the men. . .--.
" pOnce an American plane
flew over the hapless column
and dropped supplies for them.
However, the North Korean
captors Immediately and me-
thodically collected these
items, appropriating them to
their own use. Some 33
soldiers managed to escape
during the march and were
rescued by friendly forces. In
all cases, these individuals were
undernourished and suffering
from sever malnutrition.
Others were in. dire need OF
medical care for neglected
wounds.
Sunchon Tunnel Massacre
When the fall of the North
Korean capital of Pyongyang
to United Nations forces
seemed imminent, all prison.
ers of war were entrained by
the Communists for move
ment northWard. The men
were herded into open Condo
las. packed to overf1owing, and
forced to ride unprotected in
the raw october weather.
Pneumonia and exposure then
started taking its daily toll
from the weakened survivors,
and their buddies conducted
burial parties for them when
ever an adequate halt was
made. After they had suf-
fered such inhumane treat
ment for a period of nine days,
their train arrived at a rail-
road tunnel approximately Az
miles northwest of Sunchon,
and remained inside the
mountain all day to avoid the
United Nations air activity
taking place in the area.
During the early afternoon OF
goth October, 1850, the starv-
ing men we're promised their
first meal in several days,
having eaten only hard crack
ers distributed intermittently
during the journey. Their
North Korean tormentors took
the American major, together
with a group of selected pris-
oners, purportedly as a detail
to go to a nearby village to
prepare the food. They were
never seen nor heard from
again. Hours later, the men
remaining in the tunnel were
informed that food had been
prepared for them. and that
they were to be conducted to a
Korean house to eat. but due
to the limited space, they must