Evening star., 1953-05-10
The PhoenixyiUe Story,

CI4IuC against numan1Cy,50e because
the Chinese and North Koreans
were all good. "peace-loving" peo-
Pile. while our leaders were "capi-
talist warmongers."
Again the techniques most used
were lectures, discussions and
repetitious brpadcasts to the
prisoners. In most camps the
classes" were held daily. Pris-
oners would gather for one to two
hours Of lectures by English
speaking Chinese - some who
claimed to have been educated in
American universities.
A typical lecture, repeated end
lessly. went something like this :
Why did America invade Korea ?
America planned to invade
China. and Korea was to be the
springboard. Americas ad-
vanced imperialism would enable
American industries to monopo-
lize Chinese industries and raw
materials. Wartime produc-
ton is more profitable to America
than peacetime production.
American capitalists will profit
from war In Asia no matter
which side wins. -"
Close Attention Compulsory.
The POWs had to listen care
fully as these lessons were
hammered home. The posted
rules said, mo sleeping. No
smoking. Go to the latrine only
when necessary" Men who did
not pay close attention found
they were Jailed" for minor.
sometimes imaginary infractions
Of camp rules. Jail, in the win
tertime, meant a sure case Of
frozen feet.
Following the lectures. the
prisoners would break up into
small groups to discuss the days
topic. If a Chinese adviser joined
them-and If q prisoner knew
what was good for him-his
comments would be enthusiastic.
In some groups each prisoner had
to comment In turn.
After the discussion groups
broke up, the prisoners still
would be subjected to the same
Red propaganda. repeated on
loudspeakers. over and over
again. .... -.
Some soldiers thought by the
Reds to be particularly suscept-
ible to the propaganda were
given individual attention. Inter-
rogators asked them about theib
career in the service. their work
back home. their political
thoughts, the identity of their
friends. Then they were told how
much better life would be under
communism.
Did Campaign Succeed.
This, then, was the brain
washing to which our soldiers
were subjected. Was it success
full? Were the minds Of the
CTS twisted into acceptance OF
Communist ideas?
The answer given by the
soldiers at Phoenixville was a
resounding mo"
And their answer was backed
up by the opinion psychiatrists
who talked to them and the
scores Of reporters who inter-
viewed them. So far as anybody
has been able to determine from
the closest study Of these men.
there was not a commie-liner in
the lot.
The months Of repetitious in
doctrination apparently h a d
been expunged by few hours Of
freedom. 1t was possible that
some effects of their experience
fingered in the traces Of Com
munist terminology. for in
stance. It was possible that our
other prisoners who were yet
to be released might have been
subjected to even more vigorous
indoctrination and might bear
more serious mental scars.
But the fact remained that as
far as the men at Phoenixville
were concerned, the Communists
seemed to have wasted their
educational" efforts.
GIs Compiled Under Duress.
Then why did these and other
prisoners permit themselves to
be used by the Red propa-
gandists?
The men readily conceded that
they mad signed peace appeals"
and confessions" - confessions
that were recorded and broad
cast throuphollt the Communist