KOREAN WAR PRISONERS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27111, 6 August 1953, Page 9

KOREAN WAR PRISONERS

Scenes At First

Exchange

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9 p.m.) SEOUL, August 5. The first 400 Allied prisoners of war to leave Communist prison camps drove through the Korea cease fire line this morning to the warmest sympathy and to all the resources the United Nations forces could give them in Panmunjon.

They were delivered promptly on time, some smiling and cheering and some so weak and pale that they could hardly walk.

The men were given food, drinks, and letters from home (which some of them read with tears in their eyes). Within the first hour of the repatriation operation the sick and wounded were being rushed by helicopters to an Allied hospital in Seoul.

This morning the Allies also began to deliver Chinese and North Korean prisoners-of-war to the Communists.

As they drove north, the Communist prisoners made noisy demonstrations, standing up in their lorries and waving clenched fists towards Communist territory. Some of the Chinese tore their uniforms.

In retaliation, one convoy of South Koreans, heading south, burst into defiant songs, but most of the Allies were quiet. Many of them, particularly the South Koreans, appeared too weak to sing. Among them were seven litter patients. American Marines lifted the emaciated prisoners tenderly and carried them into the reception points. Many returning Allied prisoners wore blue cotton shirts and trousers. British and American Red Cross workers greeted the returning prisoners.

About 600 Chinese and 1800 North Koreans were repatriated today. The North Koreans drove up singing, waving home made flags and shouting “Kim II Sung (North Korean Premier) is a great leader." One American driver said the Chinese had been pleasant during the journey to Panmunjon but “once they found themselves among their own people they began to look nasty.” Shoe Thrown at Sergeant

• One “sick” North Korean officer ran round an ambulance to hurl a shoe at a United States sergeant. The sergeant ducked and it missed. The first United Nations repatriates to return to Allied territory were sick and wounded who landed by helicopter at “Freedom Village” on the edge of the buffer zone.

They were greeted by more than 20 Allied generals and a military band playing “California, Here I Come.” The American Army Secretary, Mr Robert Stevens, who is visiting Korea with Mr,Dulles, arrived with the Bth

Army Commander. General Maxwell Taylor, to watch the exchange begin. The Commander of the British Commonwealth Division ii}’ Korea and Japan, Lieutenant-General Henry Wells, and the South Korean Army Chief of Staff, General Sun Yap Paik, were also present. To receive their prisoners the Communists had built two long wooden sheds decorated with red tapestries. A huge archway was adorned with Chinese characters saying “Return to the Fatherland” and “Long Live the People’s Republic of Korea.” The Communists announced tonight that they would release 392 United Nations prisoners during the second day of exchange, tomorrow. They comprise Australians, 25 Britons, 25 Turks, 70 Americans, 10 Filipinos, seven Colombians and 250 South Koreans.

The Communists promised to return 400 a day and the reason for the deficiency is unknown. The first batch to be renatriated will comprise 42 sick and wounded Americans and 50 sick and wounded South Koreans.

A New Delhi message reports that an advance party of the Indian contingent which will handle the disposal of prisoners-of-war who do not want to go home left today for Tokyo.