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The Communists demanded: 1) 1,000 sheets of writing paper; 2) a "medical representative" to stand by; 3) admission of ringleaders from other compounds to Compound 76 for strategy conference. These demands were granted. Then came the real Communist ultimatum. It demanded an end of screening of prisoners and a stop to "voluntary repatriation." And it demanded:
"Immediate ceasing the barbarous behavior, insults, torture, forcible protest with blood writing, threatening, confine, mass murdering, gun and machine-gun shooting, using poison gas, germ weapons, experiment object of Abomb, by your command. You should guarantee P.W. human rights and individual life with the base on the international law."
Assurances. To this Communist-line collection of false charges, General Colson replied surprisingly:
". . . I do admit that there have been instances of bloodshed where many prisoners of war have been killed and wounded by U.N. forces. I can assure you that in the future the prisoners of war can expect humane treatment in this camp. . .
"I can inform you that after General Dodd's release, unharmed, there will be no more forcible screening . . ."
Colson said he would be willing to deal with a Communist grievance group, presumably headed by Colonel Lee Hak Koo, who seemed to be in charge of the Dodd kidnaping. But he could make no promises about voluntary repatriation as that "is being discussed at Panmunjom."
By this time, Generals Ridgway, Van Fleet and Mark Clark (who took over the U.N. command during the trouble) were thoroughly indignant. Washington had been consulted, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff immediately started directing the strategy on Koje. Twenty tanks were sent to the island, prepared for trouble. General Colson sent another and much firmer message to the Red rebels:
"1. You have treacherously seized and are illegally holding Brigadier General Frank Dodd. General Dodd is no longer in command of the U.N. P.O.W. enclosure, and has no authority for any decisions or actions . . .
"2. You are directed to release him by [10 a.m. Saturday]. If this is not done, all necessary force will be taken to effect his release, regardless of consequences to you . . ."
Release. The Communists ignored the deadline, but they set General Dodd free —"unharmed and in good spirits," according to Van Fleet's bulletin—11½ hours after the deadline, 78 hours after the abduction. Next day, wearing combat boots, fatigue cap and two pistols in his belt, Dodd was flown to Eighth Army headquarters near Seoul for a thorough chewing-out by General Van Fleet. In a press conference in which he read a statement but could not be questioned, Dodd said that any commitments made were "inconsequential."
Dodd stood little chance of getting his command back. What would happen to General Colson, who had given the Reds so handsome a propaganda weapon with his strange acknowledgment of "instances of bloodshed," was not yet known.