Caution: The Gibbs reports were prepared post-war based upon assorted prisoner affidavits and, apparently, on the reports of the International Red Cross representatives in Japan who were notorious for their bias in favor of the Japanese.

FUKUOKA #11 [#8], ON THE ISLAND OF KYUSHU JAPAN

1. LOCATION:

A small unidentified mining town 40 to 50 miles due south of Moji and approximately 40 miles east of Fukuoka, the coordinates of which are 33º36'N, 130º44'E. The original size of the camp compound was 200' x 200' surrounded by a 10' wood fence with a charged wire near the top. To accommodate the increasing prisoner personnel the camp confines were doubled before the surrender of Japan.

2. PRISONER PERSONNEL:

A detail of 69 American prisoners from a camp at Tanagawa, near Osaka on Honshu reached this camp in March 1945, the Sr. Officer for the American contingent being 1st Lt. (later Capt.) Alfred E. Fobes. Other American officers were Capt. (later Maj.) James A. Grider, U.S. Public Health Service, Medical Officer for the American detail & Maj. Stockton D. Bruns, C.A.C.

251 British prisoners were the first occupants of this camp, and they reached there 13 Oct. 1943. [Ex Ussuri Maru] On 25 Dec. 1943, 270 Dutch prisoners arrived. British and Dutch Army medical personnel were present in both groups. Capt. Peter Williams, Royal Artillery, was overall prisoner camp commander. As of March 1945 the total number of prisoners was 590 which was the peak.

A group of five American officers left this camp on 25 April 1945 for Hoten camp #1 at Mukden, Manchuria. [not identified]

3. GUARD PERSONNEL:

1st Lt. Toda was commandant from Nov. 1944 to April 1945. He was pronounced to be gentlemanly toward and personally considerate of the prisoners, but unfortunately the operation of the camp was left largely in the hands of a Sgt. Maj. who was cruel, cunning, thieving and vindictive. The names of other officers, i.e., Haito, Goto, Stresaki and Sakata, have been mentioned but rank and duties were not indicated - merely "officers".

4. GENERAL CONDITIONS:

(a) Housing: The barracks, 12 in number, 10'x 100', overall height 20' to 25' were constructed of wood in some cases and of clay with cement finish in other cases. The roofs were of tile, shingles and clay but not used in combination of two or more of these materials. The floors were of dirt. Some of these buildings were insulated on the inside with plaster, others with plywood. Still others were not insulated at all. Two additional barracks were constructed later. All barracks equipped with paper windows. No heating. Prisoners were bedded on individual straw mats or bays. Closets were provided for storing clothing. The barracks were infested with lice.

(b) Latrines: The latrines were located as follows: two in that number of hospital buildings; three in one end of that number of barracks and two in combination with bath and wash rooms. The most of them were of cement, individual trench, oriental-type with holes cut flush with floor. A few were of conventional seat-type. Urinal and excreta wastes were caught in cement dosed containers and the offal was used to fertilize the camp gardens.

(c) Bathing: A separate bath building 20'x 40' had been erected with a latrine in one end. It was equipped with a tub 15'x 6' x 4', two showers and a clothes closet. Hot water was always available. The bath was stated to be the best aspect of the camp, alleged to have been a life saving facility and a morale booster.

(d) Mess Hall: It was a separate frame building with kitchen ell making off from one side of building. The bakery was a small, detached building near the kitchen. The prisoners ate in the mess hall in three shifts each 24 hours.

(e) Food: The staple diet was between 550 & 750 grams of rice per day divided into three meals plus thin vegetable soup with fish added about once a month. There was no variation in this diet. Prisoners did the cooking. There were no facilities to sterilize the dishes and sanitary conditions generally were non-existent. The food was boiled in large iron cauldrons.

(f) Medical Facilities: One of the barracks was first used as a hospital, but subsequently a separate building for this purpose was erected. The American Army Med. officer for the American prisoners and a Dutch medical officer made their services available to all the prisoners. Medical supplies were very inadequate until Nov. 1944 when a supply came in from the Red Cross. These supplies were liberated in ample quantities to the prisoner officers, and their use, according to the American officer, prevented many deaths from pneumonia during the winter of 1944-45. No facilities or remedies were available for the treatment of fractures, or weakness or dizziness. There was not a dental officer in the camp but some extractions were made at a local hospital. Several prisoners were given surgical treatment in the civilian hospital and some outside optical treatment was accorded the prisoners. All medical treatment was rendered under the supervision of Japanese officers.

(g) Supplies:
(1) Up to Nov. 1944 Red Cross packages were so scarce that one parcel would be shared by six men. After that date the parcels increased gradually until a complete package was given to an individual just before the dose of the war. However, the prisoners averaged no better than 3Y2 parcels per man for the two-year period. Shoes, overcoats and blankets were issued from Red Cross supplies. (2) Japanese Issue: Each prisoner was given two thin blankets and, in the winter, heavier clothing and overcoats but the tatter could not be worn in the mines. The working garb consisted of canvas shoes, pants, shirts and underwear.

(h) Mail: (1) Incoming: The American and Dutch prisoners received no mail. The British prisoners received some old mail (re-dated) mostly from Java. (2) Outgoing: From March 1944 to Aug. 1945 the American prisoners were allowed to send a total of four cards.

(i) Work: The officers were assigned to camp administrative work and gardening. The enlisted men were assigned to work in and about the coat mines in three shifts of eight hours each. Two hours may be added to the eight because of the walking distance from camp to mines and back to the camp. The prisoners were allowed three rest days per month. The medical officers performed medical duties and supervised the gardening.

(j) Treatment: The Japanese supervisory personnel was pretty generally cruel and the beatings were frequent. An officer, in expressing himself, said, "poor for me, rotten for the enlisted men". The mines were not equipped with safety devices. Cave-ins were common and several deaths were caused by these stoppages. The prisoners were constantly aware of this danger, and their nervous anxiety was a greater menace to their health than the actual work according to the camp surgeon.

One of the American prisoners said. "The treatment by the Japanese Military personnel and the coat mining personnel was sadistically harsh especially toward the American prisoners."

(k) Pay:

(1) Officers: Same as Japanese Officers of comparable grades.
(2) Enlisted Men: 10 to 25 sen per day.

(l) Recreation: None
(m) Religious Activities: None. Prisoners compelled to work every Sunday.
(n) Morale: Poor.

5. MOVEMENTS:

On 25 April 1945 a group of five American officers [not identified] were started on their way to Mukden, Manchuria. They traveled by train to Fukuoka which city showed many signs of bombing raids. The population was being evacuated. To minimize fire hazards many of the wood buildings were being razed.