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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 11., No. 9. 28th July 1948
[Introduction]
The following letter was received from the Chinese Union Association of Students, Shanghai early this year.
Occurring on 29th October, while he was imprisoned in the Hongchow Garrison Headquarters, the tragic death of Yu Tse-san, chairman of the Students' Autonomous Association of Chekiang University, attracted much attention. But owing to the severe news blockade, no detailed or reliable account of the facts could be obtained.
He was illegally arrested at about 2 a.m. on 26th October, together with three other students. The police authorities claimed that he "committed suicide" with two pieces of glass "in the fear of being condemned as a communist bandit." (Central News Agency). This doubtful report met with general incredulity, and there were rumours as to the true cause of his death. But it was not until a letter from a certain student at Chekiang University luckily found its way out under the eyes of numerous policemen surrounding the school campus, that the complete truth was revealed. This report is based on the said letter, as well as on the valuable information through the press that could not be entirely suppressed.
According to the official statement (released through Central News Agency) the four students were arrested in the early morning of October 26th with much evidence to prove them communists. Yu Tse-san was detained in the Garrison Headquarters to be questioned. On the afternoon of October 29th. in fear of condemnation, he cut his throat with two pieces of glass and died thereof.
On October 30th. following Yu's death, the president of Chekiang University issued a statement on this sad incident, a copy of which was sent to the Ta Kung Pao to be published:". . . The Univesity made repeated requests to transfer the arrested students to the custody of the court within 24 hours in accordance with the constitution. But the police again and again opposed this transfer because the questioning was not yet finished. It was at 9 p.m. on 29th October that the university learned of Yu's tragic death in the Garrison Headquarters. The president, the Academic Supervisor, the University Physician, and students' representatives went there at once. They saw Yu lying dead on his bed, with a wound on his neck. The Garrison Headquarters said that Yu killed himself with pieces of glass." (Ta Kung Pao. 3rd November).