American Prisoners Released By Communists In Manchuria

Wanganui Chronicle, 24 November 1950, Page 5

American Prisoners Released By Communists In Manchuria

They Return Saying Chinese Do Not Want To Fight The Americans

SEOUL, Nov. 23 (Rec. 6 pm).— Twenty-seven wounded American prisoners were released yesterday by Chinese Communists three miles from the American lines in Korea, carrying a verbal message: “The Chinese don’t want to fight the Americans.”

The Americans were released north of Yongbyon. They included three sergeants and four corporals. They reported that they had been well treated and well fed, and a Chinese interpreter talked to them each day. The interpreter told the prisoners that the Chinese Communists wanted only to protect the Yalu River power plant and reservoirs, and not fight the Americans. They added that the Chinese had prepared positions at these installations to “defend them to the death.” The Americans were all veterans of the Bth. Cavalry Regiment, cut off at the beginning of November in a surprise Communist offensive. A Reuter correspondent says the release of the prisoners began widespread reports that Peking is seeking a negotiated peace in Korea. Many observers believe the Chinese action was a genuine attempt to convince the world that they are interested only in maintaining a buffer zone to keep the Yalu River power stations out of the reach of the West.

This speculation is backed by a look at the war map over the last ten

days. The Chinese, though known to be present in North Korea in great force, have carefully avoided battle and have been withdrawing without fight before a cautious United Nations advance. At the beginning of November the Chinese struck savagely at scattered vulnerable United Nations spearheads and then suddenly withdrew from contact. Observers believe that this was intended to show that China’s claws were sharp, but would be kept sheathed If the Yalu power installations were left alone. It also fitted in with Peking’s own statement that the Chinese are mainly (interested in the power installations. The American prisoners were released after having been driven 60 miles from their prison camp at Pyoktong, on the Manchurian border. A United Press correspondent reports that the Chinese also released an undetermined number of British and South Korean prisoners. The correspondent says the releases came amid rumours that some kind of deal is in the making with the enemy, and a reliable source said an American officer has contacted and is “negotiating with the Chinese,” who requested air bombing to be stopped.” General MacArthur’s spokesman said today: “There is a reason” why the United States troops have not advanced into the apparently unoccupied territory between their lines and the Manchurian frontier.

The spokesman declined to say what the reason is. He disclosed that an American patrol had gone into Unsan and then withdrew. Asked why the patrol did not remain ' there, the spokesman replied: "There is a reason.”