STUDENT FAITH

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 150, 26 June 1943, Page 8

STUDENT FAITH

BOMBED-OUT UNIVERSITIES :A. picture.of the extreme difficulties being faced by university students in enemy and occupied countries today was ; given by Miss Greta Riddell,' travelling", secretary ..of the New Zealand. Student Christian Movement, at the V.M.C.A. Optimists' Club on Thufs•day>-." ■■■- "■■■■': ■■■'~■■ - As an instance Miss:, Riddell told pt the experiences of a group, of students in China., When '.their university ".was bombed • out by the Japanese, these students walked >750 miles to some •caves under the most severe conditions, with no proper clothes or food. On their" arrival; their position was again ' disclosed v and they wei*e again bombe<i, out, 'and. walked, another 735 'miles! ■■ ".'■ '.' " .■•;''■ ■ ' WRITING,IN THE DUST. While..on the second , journey an American truck• came along the, road, honked, but had;to'st6p,'for the road was blocked by, a. group of fifteen yipung: people with one . elderly man ■ . who vhad^ a'Single! sheet of paper containing .Chinese writing—all, that reniainea O|f: his books. > The •Americans obligingly - halted their; truck .at'th'ei request of this man, wlip'-was? using the road-as a blackboard by writing ■in the dust. When the lesson 'was/:oyer,the'writing was wiped out" as .the truck proceeded on its'way."., .'••.:'" .' "• •;. •" , ' "■' This instance was typical of the spirit inspiring many student groups not only, in China, but in Germany Czecho-Sloyakia, Poland, and many other countries to continue their studies^ under the most; impossible conditions.,; ;-'•■•' ' ;' • : '