Evening star., 1953-04-23
Reds Pledge TO Free
More Allied P0Ws
Than First Promised
Pvt. Bloch breaks down.
By the Associated Press

PANMUNJOM, April 23.-The
Communists said today they
would free more disabled Allied
prisoners-a startling reversal of
their earlier insiStence on re-
leasing only COS.
They did not say how many
more, nor give their nationali-
ties. But they did pledge to re-
turn all sick and wounded allied
troops in North Korean stock
AIDES as well as those captured
recently.
The unexpected move appar-
emily stalled off a possible U. N.
protest that the Reds were hold
ing back some disabled captives.
Allied prisoners exchanged in
four days have said many more
seriously sick and wounded were
left behind in North Korea.
Clark Is Gratified.
Gen. Mark Clark, U. N. COM
said in Tokyo he was
gratified that the Communists,
''in response to repeated requests
from the U. N. command, have
agreed to return all U. N. c.
personnel in this category"
Some Of the recently wounded
prisoners came back Thursday.
The days total was IA Ameri-
cans, five Australians. six Co.
lombianS and IS South Koreans.
Forty more Americans are due
Friday. So are four British, four
Turks, one Hollander, one Cana
dian and so South Koreans.
Some wounds were fresh and
still unhealed-Marines from the
battle of the Panmunjom out-
posts earlier this month and Co
lombians caught in the Red on
slaught over Old Baldy a few
days before.
Suffering Is Obvious.
The first eight patients were
chalky-faced, some obviously in
pain.
They were rushed to doctors
for first aid and later to hos
pitals for full medical care.
One happy Colombian climbed
through a back window of a
Communist ambulance without
waiting for the door to be
opened.
The IA Americans brought the
total of United States troops
returned to 70. The 40 promised
for Friday would make 119, just
one short of the 120 promised
originally by the Reds. How
ever, the new Red move could
raise that figure.
In four days of exchange, the
Communists have returned 400
Allied troops-mostly South Ko-
the u. N. has re-
turned 1000 Communists. in
TOO Chinese scheduled to
go home.
The Red offer to return more
U. N. troops came at a special
liaison officers meeting called
by the U. N. amid speculation
the Allies would demand more
prisoners after hearing reports
about those still in camps.
Reds Alter Stand.
When the Communists first
announced they would return
about 600 disabled allied prison.
ers, the UNC called the figure
Incredibly small and asked for
a recount.
North Korean Mai. Gen. Lee
San Cho said several times that
the figures had been rechecked
and that 600 was all.
But at this liaison meeting
Gen. Lee told Rear Admiral
John C. Daniel, allied truce del
egate:
II would like to inform your
side that the sick and injured
captured personnel whom our
side is repatriating at this time
include not only all the sick
and injured captured personnel
held in prisoner Of war camps
of our side but also those cap
tured recently by our side at the
front.
Therefore, the number of per-
sonnel to be repatriated by our
side is more than the estimated
figure which your side has been
previously informed. AS to the
exact figure your side will
be Informed daily according tt
the agreement of both Sides"
The meeting lasted only -four
minutes.
The United Nations had called
the meeting. Admiral DAME
said afterward only q minor mat
ter was to besdiscussed and that
it had been arranged before they
met. He did not say what it was
At Munsan, both Admira.
Daniel and 1t. Gen. William K
Harrison. senior United Nations
truce delegate. expressed pleasure
Admiral Daniel commented
1--WE would be glad if we only
got back one more than they
said they would give US but we
HNniIld lika Ia cat fhaYn all harlE y