The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-04-06
POWs Are Pawns Today In
What Appears To Be New
Kremlin-Directed Peace Move
pY DON WHITEHEAD

las, 900 prisoners in the Korean
War-3,19s of them Americans
were the pawns today in what ap-
peared to be q giant new peace Of
fensive directed from the Kremlin.
It isn't particularly surprising in
the light Of past events.
Early In Tie Korean War, the
Chinese Communists disclosed they
placed high political and propa-
ganda value on their Allied pris-
oners.
It remains to be seen whether
the Reds viii try against the
truce talks which resumed today
, at Panmuniom-to exploit the cap
lives they hold.
The first indication Of their atti-
tude came in November, 1850,
shortly after the Chinese entered
the war to support the North Ko-
rean Army shattered by the United
Nations forces Of Gen. Douglas
Macarthur.
The North Koreans had used
their prisoners cruelty. Americans
who fell into their hands generally
were treated brutally. The old
rules for humane treatment of
prisoners were ignored. Many
Americans were mastered.
There was nothing phony about
those massacre reports out Of Ko-
rea. ! saw massacre victims my.
self near the little town of sunchon
in North Korea. Survivors who
crawled out Of the hills told Us the
story of what had happened.
A prisoner-of-war train stopped
In a lonely tunnel at dusk :. Red
guards told the Americans they
were to be given food :. The pris-
oners walked into the fields and
sat huddled in little groups wait
ing for their food -. And the
guards opened fire without warn
ing. killing SO.
The Chinese-apparently wanting
to reverse the bad propaganda eff
fects Of the atrocity stories-did q
turnabout.
Late In November, In an obyi.
Gus propaganda move, they re-
leased n Americans after trying to
indoctrinate the soldiers against
American imperialism"
The Chinese told the youths 10
return to their lines and spread
the word that the Chinese didn't
want the war which they said was
started BY the ''no-good cap
italists."
One soldier said: 81 just agreed
with everything they said az long
as ! was their prisoner--but only
because / wanted to get home"
Many American prisoners may
have given the Chinese the impress
sion they were sympathetic to
Communist indoctrination, while
mentally saying. Nuts to you"
The Reds have said they are
holding 3,lss American prisoners
Of war. 1000 other nationals, and
5000 South Koreans. The u. N.
reports holding l32. 900 Chinese and
North Korean prisoners, among
them 81, 900 who insist they are
anti Communists and don't want to
return home.
During The first months Of the
war, the hard-core Communists
were penned together In prisoner
stockades on Koje Island, off the
coast Of Korea. The most fanaticaI
were among 5000 kept in one com.
pound.
Here again the Communists ex.
plotted prisoners for propaganda by
stirring up bloody riots at Koie.
The truce talks broke down over
the Red insistence on forced re.
patriation Of all prisoners-resard-
less Of whether they wanted to re-
turn home or not.
The Allies would not agree 10
this. They said to return prisoners
against their win might be sending
them back 70 certain death.
Now Red China's Premier Chou
Enlai suddenly has offered to ne.
gotiate the U. N. proposal 10 ex-
change ailing prisoners. Coneeiva.
bly, this would give prisoners a
choice ~ to whether they return
free.