BRAINWASHING IN KOREA

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28440, 21 November 1957, Page 15

BRAINWASHING IN KOREA

Effects On U.S. Prisoners (Rec. 11 p.m.) CHARLOTTE (North Carolina), November 19. About 70 per cent, of the United States soldiers captured in Korea became traitors to their country, Colonel John Booth said yesterday. Colonel Booth, a United States Air Force surgeon who is an ex-, pert on brainwashing techniques employed by the Communists, said that about half of the 8000 American prisoners of war simply laid down and died, mostly from “broken hearts.” He was addressing a civic club at Charlotte. He said that American soldiers co-operated with the Communists, denounced their own country, and, in many cases, informed on each other without the Communists laying a hand upon them: Colonel Booth said that United States prisoners, demoralised by brainwashing, simply “lay down, faced the wall, stopped eating and gave up hope.” He said that this behaviour contrasted with the behaviour of 300 Turkish prisoners who flatly refused to speak to their captors, kept their strict military discipline, cared for their sick, shared their food and held on to their fierce personal pride. The Americans, he said, were beaten down by the Communists who gathered the men in groups and constantly denounced their Government, religions. wives, sweethearts, and families. The Americans found themselves almost unable to fight back, he said.