A DRAMATIC ESCAPE FROM THE CAMP - AND IT'S CONSEQUENCES WITH THE
ALLIED VICTORY COMING –
On 9 June, 1944, fourteen months before
the end of the war, Bill Tipton and Arthur Hummel escaped, after many months of
planning and of communication with Chinese guerrillas not far from the camp.
Here is a letter from Wang Yu Ming dated 7
June, 1944, two days before their escape
CONFIDENTIAL
June 7th, 1944.
TO MEET YOUR REPRESENTATIVES
[ i.e. Tipton and Hummel] To all British
& Americans, and other Friends -
P.O.W. Camp, Lotaoyuan, Weihsien.
Dear Friends,
With reference to your letter of the 30th
May. In your letter you stated that "you propose, with the approval of our
Commander (Wang Yumin) to send at least one British and one American
representative to our headquarters to discuss this matter". I have the
same reported to our General Commander and agree your arrangement. Now we are
ready to welcome (meet) your representatives at the fixed point Liukiamutien (a
big cemetery surrounded with brick wall just about 2 Ii north-west from your
camp, and in the cemetery a lot of trees (Chinese call pei shu), you can see
from Lotaoyuan).
I put three armed guards to meet you at the
main entrance of the cemetery - they all wearing civilian cloth, and some more
armed soldiers far behind them to protect you. At a front of the cemetery (3
men) you will see a small white flag which mark "Welcome American and
British representatives" for you easily to recognize. The leader of the
guide named Chang Pei chuan. Please arrange to leave the camp in the night of
9th June (from 8 p.m. to 12.00 midnight. If you have no chance to get out we
will wait for you on the following night.
Can you bring out a typewriter (portable)
with you? As my typewriter and all my other things has been destroyed by shell
fire and bomb. If you could borrow a good fountain pen and pocket watch (which
keeps good time) so much the better, and I will return the same after I get
back from Chungking. Bring out some thin papers as well, as I can't get it in the
country town and hsien cities.
After you get out I have to set out on my
long journey right away, as I have to go go round from Nanking, Shanghai,
Hangchow, Changshan etc. The other ways cannot get through.
Please answer without any fail. After I left
my wife will keep connection with you. Kaoliang growing up is the time for you
all to leave the camp. Keep patient. I leave for Chungking to arrange the air
transport for you.
Your loving friend,
WANG YLI MIN.
You
will see from the above letter that Wang Yu min gave careful instructions on
where to meet on the proposed night of escape. There would be three armed
guards to meet them, waving a white flag. They asked the two men to bring a
typewriter.
-----------------------
THE ACTUAL ESCAPE ON 9 JUNE, 1944 and PREPARATIONS FOR THE END...
Tipton and Hummel slipped into the
watchtower at the corner of the sports field, and through it, over the
electrified wires with the help of fellow internees, while the Japanese sentry
fresh on duty was doing his ten minute tour of inspection. A small group of
Chinese were waiting for them, as arranged, at a cemetery two miles from the
camp. Walking, travelling by wheelbarrow and bicycles, they reached the
headquarters of General Wang Yumin and his guerrillas less than a hundred miles
to the north east of Weihsien Camp.
Here they remained until the end of the
war. They sent a lot of information about the camp to Chongqing, and obtained
funds and medical supplies for the internees. They also kept in regular touch
with the camp through a Chinese carpenter, who went in regularly as a labourer.
The messages were written in fine silk, and folded into a small pellet, which
the workman stuffed up his nose. This strategy defied the most exacting body
searches. The messages were written in a special code in case they fell into
the wrong hands. Sometimes they were spat out near a camp toilet where Fr.
Raymond J. de Jaegher was already waiting.
The basis of this feverish and clandestine
correspondence was partly due to the increasing shortage of food and medicines,
but even more importantly to the fear that when the war ended the Japanese
might slaughter the camp inmates, or the internees might be caught in dangerous
crossfire between competing bands of guerrillas.
Here is a selection of letters which were
smuggled into camp with the purpose of making plans about the end of the war
and ensuring that the internees were kept in safety.
In the following letter Wang Shao wen
stated that his purpose was "to save you all out from Ledaoyuan [Courtyard
of the Happy Way] and then send you back to your country". He asked for
statistics of the numbers of men, women and children, and for a sketch map of
the area around the camp.
CONFIDENTIAL
Sunchen
Headquarters,
No 6
Area, Changyi Area, 3rd May,
1944.
To all British
& American Friends & Others,
P.O.W. Camp,
Lotaoyuan, Weihsien.
Dear Friends,
This
serves to inform you that first of all I have to introduce myself to you. I am
one of the first class interpreters in the Chinese Labour Corps, B.E.F.,
France. Upon my return to China I joined the A.P.O., Tsinanfu Area for more
than ten years. Recently I left my last service in K.M.A. Tsinan. I came to
No.6 Area Changyi just a couple of months ago. The first thing I decided with
the Commander and the Asst. Commander is to arrange to save you all out from
Lotaoyuan, and then send you back to your own country.
Please
note that from here to Chungking it is rather difficult to go right thru, as
the Jap soldiers are all blocked up the ways. So we have to arrange to send you
all back by air. In this connection, we have to send a few special men (and I
myself) to Chungking to connect the matter and request the Central Government,
American and British Consulate Generals to arrange to send down some big
aeroplanes for the transportation. So therefore before we save you all out from
Lotaoyuan we have a lot of things to do, as the aerodrome built etc. for the
planes to land. However, after everything settle up and then we will let you
all know beforehand. Kindly believe us that we are easily to save you all out
as we have over 60,000 soldiers staying in Changyi Area.
There are several
things we want to know, please let us know.
(1) Total number
of persons in Lotaoyuan (including ladies and children) ?
(2) How many
American friends (including ladies and children) ?
(3) How many
British friends (including ladies and children) ?
(4) Others
(ladies and children)?
Please
make a rough sketch of Lotaoyuan and number of persons which are living in each
of the houses.
The
best way to do is for you to write a letter to our Commander Wang Shang chih
and Asst. Wang Yu min to save you all out from the War Prison Compound, and
then you will all sign on the letter. Kindly write out a rough copy and then I
will type it out for you. We need four copies - 1 for Central Government, 1 for
British Consulate General, I for American Consulate General, and 1 for ourself.
As I
have never been to Weihsien before, so we request Miss Yang Jui Ian to find one
of her friends who can get into this compound to handing in and out of our
letters. Now I am living in one of the hotel for your early replies.
Enclosed
herewith an official letter from the Commander Wang Shang chih (Keep secret)
Wishing
you all have a good luck. Please keep patient for the time being. We may act
till the kaoliang crops grow up. Wait! Wait!
I
remain,
Yours
very truly,
WANG
SHAO WEN.
Beleagured British and Americans
Greetings to all. The dwarf islanders, who as brigands and robbers
have upset the order of the world, and whose brutality my countrymen have first
felt, as war and calamity spread widely and human sacrifice became cruel beyond
any comparison in human history, without taking account of virtue and measuring
their strength, dared to make enemies of your countries, so that you have met
with great misfortune, and have been robbed of your livelihood and happiness.
We can well imagine that your life in Hades must reach the limit
of inhuman cruelty. As I write this, I tear the roots of my hair.
The Allies are now in the Pacific, in South East Asia and on the
mainland of China, where they have attacked with great success. I beg of you to
let your spirits rise.
My division at the present moment is able to release you,
snatching you from the tiger's mouth. But the territory we control is small and
restricted. I cannot guarantee your safety for a long period.
If you will request your consuls to send aeroplanes after your
release to pick you up, and take you away to the rear, then my division can
certainly save you. Regarding this matter, I am asking Miss Wang Juilan to find
some way of getting into touch with you, and to make arrangements.
I respectfully hope that you will be able to carry this out, and
send you all my good wishes,
Wang Shang chih, 33rd year of the Republic, fifth month, fourth
day.
Letter
to Weihsien Camp from Commander
Wang
Shang chih dated 4 May, 1944
In the
above letter from COMMANDER WANG SHANG CHI DATED 4 MAY, 1944, Wang tried to identify
himself with the sufferings of the internees. "We can well imagine that
your life in Hades must reach the limit of inhuman cruelty. As I write this, I
tear the roots of my hair." He sought to bring encouragement to the camp
leaders as the war is in the favour of the Allies. He would like to use his
division of soldiers to "snatch the internees from the tiger's
mouth". They on their part must enlist the help of their consuls to send
aeroplanes to evacuate them. He would gladly give his assistance.
---------------------
Wang
Shao wen, who wrote the earlier letter dated 3 May, 1944, sent two more letters
to the camp dated 31 May. He acknowledges that he has now heard from the Camp
Committee.
Dear Friends,
The
numbers we want to know 1,520 etc. was duly received.
I am
sorry that when I got back to our headquarters was just the time we are
fighting with Japs' troops. The result we killed over 700 of them. This caused
me cannot get back right away.
When
you go out from Lotaoyuan (till the kaoliang crops grow up) we cannot keep you
in country so long. Therefore we have to arrange the air transport with the
British and American authorities in Chungking. So it is necessary for you to
type 2 separate letters* to your consuls in Chungking (4 copies each with thin
papers in single space and sign by both of your Consuls will do - that means
easily to carry)
This
suggestion, it is really put by me, so I request you to write a letter to our
Commander Wang Yu min. Please have those letters (pass) hand out as soon as
possible, as I have to take those letters with me when I leave for Chungking to
arrange the air transport
On our
part here everything ready for you all. I cannot tell you more about it. Please
note that when the time you hear our shouting, that's the time for you to get
out. I decided to leave for Chungking in the beginning of the coming month.
As the
planes' landing ground we already starting work. Frank W. Price will help me in
this connection (Chungking)
Letter
handing in and out from the same point (over wall), and by the same man as
well. The sooner the better.
Please
have the figures which you passed out 10 days ago put in the letters as well.
Your
loving friend,
WANG SHAO WEN.
Weihsien, 31/ 5/ 44.
Awaiting your
letter to start my journey. God will help us.
CONFIDENTIAL
To all American
& British, and other Friends –
Lotaoyuan,
Weihsien.
Dear Messrs Ti,
T'ien & Lee,
In
reply to your letter of 30th instant, contents of which has been clearly noted
with interest. And I will have the same report to our Commander Wang Yu min on
the morrow.. And will be back again in a few days later.
Before
I came to Weihsien we have a meeting held which is about all necessary work we
should be done. The result we could everything on our part, except the air
transport. So therefore we have to request the heads of you to write letters
for us to arrange air transport with the British and American Consuls easier.
After everything arranged and settled at Chungking, I have to lead a few planes
to come back first (show them where to land, and night or day signals to put
etc.) At the same time will ask a couple of the British and American officers
to come here first to see the airodrum built, and will ask Mr. Frank W. Price
to come too.
We
have radio station at our headquarters Hsiao Ho Tze (shifted from Sunchen after
recent air raid). When they got to our headquarters and ask them to report our
present conditions, it is far better than we report ourselves. This trip to and
fro it will take two and a half months at least.
So I
still ask you to write the letter for us to prove it. (Letter pass through the
usual man). I will come back to fetch it. The sooner the better. Time not
permit us to delay. As two more months the kaoliang crops will growing up by
then.
Please
keep patient to wait 2 more months. Now we have to catch the A.M. train to get
back. So good-bye.
Sincerely,
WANG
SHAO WEN.
31/5/44
- - - -
- - - - - - - - -
This correspondence has been brought into
and out of camp through a cesspool coolie. In the above two letters Wang Shao
wen is asking for some letters to be written by the Camp Committee which he can
take to the British and American authorities in Chungking.
The following letter dated 3 June 1944 is
the first record we have of the Weihsien Camp Committee's reaction to Wang Shao
wen's rescue plan. They thank Wang for his interest and sympathy in their
"unfortunate position", but tactfully state "we cannot at
present recommend your plan to our Consuls in Chungking".
LETTER FROM CAMP COMMITTEE TO WANG SHAO WEN
June 3, 1944.
Dear
Mr. Wang,
We received your letter of May 31st.,
and note that you propose to report to
Commander
Wang Yu min on our letter of May 10th, and we await your reply with interest.
Once again we wish to express our most
sincere appreciation of the interest and sympathy that both you and Commander
Wang are showing in our unfortunate position here and we feel that it deeply
reflects the true spirit of the Allied Nations in the struggle against our
mutual enemy.
We have given careful thought to the
plan put forward in your letters, and whilst the idea of our being rescued from
our present plight and being transported to Chungking by plane is a very
brilliant scheme and one that appeals to all, we realise that there are certain
circumstances and conditions here in Lo Tao Yuan with which you may not be
familiar, but which make - in our opinion - the successful operation of this
plan doubtful. Therefore, with the limited knowledge that we have regarding
this plan we feel, much as we appreciate your kindness and concern for our
welfare, that we cannot at present recommend your plan to our Consuls in
Chungking.
It seems to us essential that we have
an opportunity of discussing the details of the plan from every point of view
before we can write to our Consuls. The lives and safety of a great many people
are involved, and we feel it unwise to make any hasty decision without a face
to face discussion.
There
are also other plans that we have in mind by which both you and Commander Wang
can be of the greatest help to us - particularly if you yourself are still
willing to proceed to Chungking on our behalf, and for this reason we are most
anxious that you arrange for our representatives to meet both Commander Wang
and yourself in order that we can give you every possible co-operation, and so
enable our joint efforts to be directed along the most practical channels.
As we
realise that you have our interests at heart we feel sure that you will do all
you can to assist us in this matter, and we on our part are most anxious to
take advantage of this opportunity, because we feel that with your help a great
deal can be accomplished towards securing the safety and relieving the
suffering of our fellow internees here.
Trusting
that we may have a favourable reply from you in the near future, and expressing
our most sincere thanks,
We
remain,
Yours
sincerely,
WEIHSIEN
CAMP COMMITTEE
The "camp representatives"
referred to were Laurance Tipton and Arthur Hummel, who were planning to escape
six days after this. In the year which followed these two men worked closely
with this pro-Chungking unit in ensuring the continued safety of the internees.
The following letter, dated 14 July, is from
Captain John M. Birch, a missionary working behind the lines with the American
Air Corps.
LETTER FROM JOHN M. BIRCH TO HUMMEL AND TIPTON -
14
July, 1945
Dear Messrs
Hummel and Tipton,
Your
letters to Capt. Glass safely received. Since Glass has left this area and I
have returned, the letters were delivered to me.
For
the past several days we have been attempting radio contact with your man. So
far we have been rewarded with one short period of two-way communications, and
your station faded out before that was finished. I fear that your present
equipment will prove too weak to carry much communication.
There
is, however, another means of sending messages to us by radio. Our mutual
acquaintance will explain this. In the meantime, we will continue to call you
on the times and frequencies you suggested. These do not interfere greatly with
our work.
Your
letter to W.B. Christian has been forwarded to Chungking by radio. So far we
have heard nothing from there, except that Mr. Christian has gone to the
States, leaving his work in the hands of others.
In the
event we make fair radio contact, request you forward us any useful information
on Japanese installations, strength, intentions, etc. at your convenience.
Best
wishes for your success and safety.
Sincerely,
JOHN
M. BIRCH,
Captain,
Air Corps A.U.S.
In the above letter John Birch arranged
with the two escapees regarding the time and means of communicating by radio.
He also asked for information about Japanese movements and strength.
---------------------
In the next letter dated 22 July, 1945,
Tipton writes to a Chinese business friend in Tsingtao for financial
assistance. He is aware that the war could be ending soon, and he wanted to
ensure that the Weihsien Camp had sufficient funds with which to survive.
He therefore arranged a loan with this
friend, and requests that the funds be given to Swiss representative Egger for
the benefit of the internees.
LETTER FROM HUMMEL & TIPTON TO A CHINESE BUSINESS MAN
July
22nd, 1945.
Dear Friend,
Owing
to the difficulty we are having in transferring funds from here to Tsingtao for
the use of our friends in Weihsien, I have approached an old business friend,
and requested him to advance cash in Tsingtao for this purpose.
As a
convenience to him we shall be greatly obliged if you will receive these funds
and pass them on to Mr. Egger. These funds will be in the form of a loan to my
company in FRB dollars, repayable in U.S. currency after the conclusion of
hostilities. I have requested a first payment of FRB $ one million to be paid
before the end of August.
Further
sums required and the rate of exchange will be matters to be decided upon by
yourself (if you will be good enough to assist in this matter), Mr. Egger and
my friend. I am enclosing eight receipts, duly signed and chopped. Please fill
in the amount of FRB dollars received and the rate of exchange agreed upon, and
have same initialled by yourself, Egger, and chopped by bearer of funds, who
will take delivery of receipt.
Please
advise Egger that he may use this arrangement at his discretion, and that
everything must be done to help our friends in Weihsien that is possible, and I
hope my friend will be able to supply sufficient funds for this purpose.
Please
advise him that we would like a brief monthly report confirming receipt of
funds, and information as to how they are being spent together with any
suggestions or requests that he may have to make. If this report be left with
the Camp Committee in Weihsien we will arrange for collection.
We
much appreciate the co-operation that you have so readily given in the past,
and we hope you will continue to be in a position to help our mutual friends.
With
kindest regards,
Yours
sincerely,
ARTHUR
HUMMEL L. TIPTON.
--------------------------------
Things are now moving fast with the end of
the war now in sight.
On 12 August Hummel and Tipton write to
the Camp Committee, advising them that Japan has surrendered unconditionally on
10 August.
LETTER FROM TIPTON & HUMMEL TO WEIHSIEN CAMP COMMITTEE
12
August, 1945.
To McLaren,
Howard, Holton, de Jaegher,
Chungking
with Allied help attacked Yenan on July 21. Russia declared war on Japan on
August 6. Japan surrendered unconditionally to China, England and America on
August 10. They are probably still fighting the Russians.
We are
endeavouring to contact the Governor of Shantung, who is near Weihsien, to
provide for your food, protection from Reds etc. If you are approached by
representatives from ... co-operate with them. They are all interested in your
survival.
The
Reds occupy large areas both north and south of the Railway, and are attacking
both Japanese and Chinese.
Until
either the Allies land in Tsingtao or Chungking troops arrive from the west,
the military situation will remain very unsettled. Therefore under no
circumstances allow anyone to run away from the camp.
For
the time we will be unable to go to the Camp, but will be doing what can be
done for your welfare.
Please
reply thru usual channels,
Tipton
and Hummel.
----------------------------
The above letter is overtaken by events
during the next few days. For on
17
August 1945 American parachutists come down outside Weihsien camp.
The following letter consists of
instructions from the camp to the two escapees. Roy Tchoo informs Hummel and
Tipton about the arrival of American airmen, and advises the two men to return
to camp as soon as possible.
LETTER FROM ROY TCHOO TO TIPTON AND HUMMEL
1.30
p.m. August 17, 1945.
Dear Laurie &
Arthur,
McLaren
instructs me to inform you that seven U.S. paratroops landed outside the camp
and are now inside. They are here purely for humanitarian reasons, and have not
taken over the camp.
They
are to gather information on local conditions, esp. camp conditions, which they
are to report back to their H.Q.
The
situation within the camp is that the guards will continue to man the walls,
reinforced by the internees' own police force. The authority within the camp
has been turned over to the Camp Committee white the Japs are responsible for
the wall. The gate is in our hands.
Several
groups of supposed Chungking forces have tried to contact us, but have been
told nothing except that we will appreciate their protection.
The
Weihsien City Magistrate sent a Pao-an-tui representative to meet the paratroop
chief, Major Staiger, and was told to maintain order in the city, and to
protect the camp outside the perimeter, but not to approach the walls for fear
of any mistaken identity question.
McLaren
says you two should get inside the camp as soon as possible and if possible
your unit should try to protect us. If you come alone you will be admitted, but
any Chinese coming will be stopped at the gate and interviewed by de Jaegher or
myself.
If
your unit comes, first send one or two in plain clothes to inform us, and we
will inform the Pao-an-tui in turn that you are coming in. Otherwise there will
be bloodshed.
We
have sufficient food for a few days, but that matter will probably be under the
care of Major Staiger. Pastor Hwang was in with a supposed Chungking unit,
calling itself the representatives of the Third Independent Brigade, situated
north of here. No statement has been issued to them, pending your arrival.
The
paratroopers landed here shortly after ten this morning, and are now having
lunch. The time is now 1.30 p.m. August 17, 1945.
If you
send Chinese ahead of you, ask for McLaren, myself or de Jaegher, and give them
a written chit in English.
See
you soon,
ROY V.
TCHOO.
Leaflets dropped by the US Air Force on Camps in china,
