STUDENT AMAZONS OF PEKIN.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 1 December 1925, Page 8

STUDENT AMAZONS OF PEKIN.

A UNIVERSITY “HOLD-UP.”. CAPTURE OF THE DIEHARDS. The militant girl students of the Normal Universtiy for Women, who have been holding that institution in a state of siege since last May, defying both the Ministry of Education and the local authorities, were finally removed yesterday, following several days of frantic final resistance to the Ministry’s order (says the North China Daily News of October 2). Only a dozen diehards remained, but they had to be carried from the building" forcibly by female attendants sent by the Ministry of Education, while police guards prevented the boy students from effecting their rescue. The girls put up an Amazon-like resistance, but they were outnumbered by special squads of female attendants, and were borne shrieking to motor care and conveyed to the Normal School’s supplementary branch. Here are well cared for, but they continue to resist and now threaten to hunger strike. It took three hours and ten automobiles to clear the school of the dozen recalcitrants, while a great crowd watched the * proceedings with amusement. FEMALE “DIEHARDS.” It may be remembered that the Normal Scnooi trouble started early last May, when radical students staged a ••humiliation day” disorder, assaulted the principal. Miss Yang Yging-yu, and demanded her dismissal, owing the strict discipline she kept. Miss Yang suspended six of the offenders, whereupon the students locked up her office, barred her from the building, and placed the school in a state ol siege against all the authorities. Subset quently they announced that they would take over the operation of the school tliemseslves, under a conimitteo of teachers friendly to their movement. Eollowiug numerous vain efforts to induce the students to leave the school, the Ministry of Education ordered, them to be removed in August, stating that it was intended to cut off the fights, water and food.

The diehards refused, and called upon the various student organisations to rally to their assistance. They also inserted announcements in the Chinese press repudiating the Ministry of Education’s authority, and denouncing the Minister, Mi: Chang Shih-cliao. The Ministry then declared the school dissolved, and" appointed a commission of four to take over the institution and reorganise it. PELTED WITH INKPOTS.

When the commission went to the school on Friday, the girls refused them admittance, and refused to discuss matters, but hurled invective at the commissioners, and finally, assisted by boy students from other institutions, pelted the commissioners and police with inkpots, sticks and other missiles, until the former withdrew.

Fourteen hoy students were arrested for assaulting the commissioners and police. It is generally believed that the trouble with, this institution has been ended, since many girls did not. support the Bolshevik element, and since the Government evidently intends to support the Minister of Education, Mr Chang-chao, in his policy. But the local Students’ Union and other student bodies are agitating excitedly and demanding that the Government shall dismiss and punish Mr Chang Shih-chao and other members of the Ministry and police, and hand back the school to the students’ committee.