Evening star., 1953-09-24
By the Associated Press

ANMUNJOM, Sept. 24.-1ne
Communists today surrendered
to neutral nations custody 359
war prisonerS-23 Americans, l
Briton and 335 South Koreans
whom the Reds say asked to
remain behind the Iron Curtain.
The Americans rode in open
Russian-built trucks loudly sing
ing the Communist "Interna-
tionale."
Arise, ye prisoners of starva-
ton, arise ye starvelings of
want" chanted the tanned,
healthy looking men.
The South Korean prisoners
screamed American imperial
lists, get out!" at United States
newsmen who watched the trans
fer of prisoners to custody of
Indian troops in the demilitar-
lied zone near here.
CcnsOrs Delay Names.
munist Correspondent
Wilfred Burchett told Allied
newsmen the names of the
Americans and the Briton, but
United States Army cenSors
at first would not pass the list.
The Americans looked happy
and contented. The Communists
quoted them as saying they love
their country and some day will
return when the American
people have achieved freedom.
I'VE hope to play our part in
achieving this and we know the
American people will receive us
back on that day with open
arms" said statement the Reds
said was drafted and signed by
the Americans while at nearby
Kaesong.
The Briton. identified as a
marine who had served seven
years of a 12-year enlistment,
was quoted:
II am determined to play my
small part in fighting for the
better sort of world I believe
in.
Explainers Begin Saturday.
Allied "explainers" are to begin
talking to American, British and
South Korean prisoners at the
camp a mile above Panmunjom
Saturday, telling them they have
the right to be repatriated if
they wish.
At the same time Communist
representatives will visit 22,600
North Korean and Chinese pris-
oners who refuse repatriation
at another Indian camp miles
southwest of Panmunjom, trying
to make them change their
minds.
If the $4,000 Chinese don't
change their minds, said Brig.
Gen. A L. Hamblen. head of the
U. N. repatriation group. I'VE will
have won the psychological bat
tie of oul time"
Gen. Hamblen noted in a
statement that three-fourths of
the Chinese volunteer" cap
tured in the Korean war "have
elected to remain on the side of
the free world" and he added:
I'VE regard the choice of these
prisoners as being indicative of
the attitude of the entire Chi
nese people"
More Put on Allied List.
The allies today boosted the
number of missing United Ma
ticnS soldiers for whom they de-
mand an accounting from the
Reds by II to 3,421
Gen. Mark Clark told the Com
munists he considers wholly un-
acceptable" Red answers to u. N.
demands for an accounting of
missing allied soldiers believed
to have been prisoners of war.
In letter delivered at Pan
munjom tonight. the U. N. COM
mander demanded the "immedi-
ate return of those United Ma
tions command personnel re-
manning in your hands, and an
honest accounting for all others
who have been so clearly identi-
fed as having been in your GUS
tody."
Gen.. Clark told the Commu-
nists his demand includes all
U. N. personnel, no matter where
they may have been captured or
where they are held. 1t was a
clear reference to airmen the
Reds say were captured in Man
churia and are being held pris-
oners outside of North Korea.
The allies conceded at meet
ing of the armistice commission
secretariat, that some POWs on
the original list submitted Sep
tember 9 had beer repatriated.
The U. N command deleted 27
names from the original list of
944 Americans, then added Al
more American names. They
also added the names of two
British soldiers and one Cana
dian.
Two weeks after the allies
submitted the first list of 3.404
names. the Reds answered that
most had never been prisoners.
The Communists said some died
in captivity, while others either
had been repatriated, had es-
capped, or had been relased at the
front during the war.
The highest ranking American
turned over to Indian custody is
a sergeant. There were three
Negroes
The Americans laughed and