Evening star., 1947-05-20
5000 Students Clash
With Marking Police
In Demand for Peace
BY she Assoeiotsd Pres.

80
BY fhe Assoei1tsd Press
NANKING, May 20.-An esti-
mated Is students and several
policemen were injured today in
an abortive attempt by some
G, 900 striking students to march
to the conference hall OF the
Peoples Political Council.
The clash occurred as the college
youths, in defiance of ban against
public demonstrations, sought to
present their demands to the corn-
eli. They called for increased food
allowances, allotment Of IS per cent
Of the national budget for education
and immediate cessation Of China's
civil war.
Inside the conference hall, coun-
cilmen who termed the mass out
bursts the Handwriting on the
WALL" said only quick end to the
civil war could avert national col
lapse. But Generalissimo Chang
Kai-shek told the council it was up
to the Communists to end the fight
ing.
Death of Girl Denied.
AS police barred the students
march to the hall, one officer had
lime thrown in his eyes. Another
was knocked to the ground by stu
dents who painted his face black.
The Chinese press reported-and
the Ministry of Education denied
that one of the injured students, a
girl, had died.
The demonstrators finally dis
persed by nightfall after an appeal
by Shao Li-tze, liberal Kuomintang
elder statesman. They managed to
save face, however, as mounted po-
lice who formed the front line OF
several cordons of foot police, gen.
darmes and volunteers, withdrew
simultaneously.
Spread of clashes between police
and government troops and col
lege students in Shanghai, Marking,
Peiping and other cities appeared
inevitable as striking youths gath
cred to carry out plans for large
demonstrations to protest the civil
war and insufficient food allow
ances.
Chang Seeks Political Solution.
Gen. Chang, in his opening address
to the Council, said peace depends
entirely on the attitude of the Com
munist Party" The government,
he insisted, still favors resolving
the problem by political means.
What We ask of the Com
he explained, "is merely
to abandon their attempt to seize
power by armed force, to halt their
military operations and to abide.by
agreements for restoration OF ma
tion-Wide communications. If Com
munists will show their sincerity by
deeds . . the government is ready
to seek solution of the situation
politically, in order to relieve the
people of suffering Il
Informed sources said the council
would consider recommending a
concrete plan to end hostilities be-
tween government and Communist
armies. The council, however, was
set up by the. governing party purely
as an advisory group and has no
power to enforce its recommended
tions.
New Law Is Defied.
The students, shouting their de-
mands for peace and for increased
living allowances, sdefied the gov
ernment's new law against demon
strations. Gendarmes afoot and
mounted police barred their way
to the hall. Some of the rioters
broke through. Police. turned fire
hoses on them and welded batons.
The crowd retaliated with fists,
bamboo canes and stones. Wit
aesses said several students were
oadly beaten in the melee. Three
we're arrested but one was subse-
luently released. The demonstra-
ion eventually was quelled.
Inside the building, Gen. Chang
opened what is to be the last session
If the council. 1t was established
in 1888 to help prosecute the war
against Japan.
Changchun Seige Pressed.
Meanwhile Chinese Communists
acted decisively in two sectors OF
China's civil war to cut off govern
nent reinforcements for Changchun,
oesieged capital of Manchuria.
Nationalist dispatches reported
hat Red troops cut the Peiping-
railway south of the Great
Wall, blocking movement of govern
nent military trains to Manchuria
,ver this important line.
Other reports acknowledged the
oss of Kungchuling, railtown So
niles southwest of Changchun, and
said it would halt the flow of train
,orne government reinforcements
soing to the relief of hard-pressed
ChanpchuO