now, 49 Chinese seminarians in the Wuhu diocese have been held on a starvation diet in their seminary in an attempt to force them to accuse the foreign missionaries of the area, says a report received in Tokyo.
But not one of the 49 has offered to "accuse " the priests.
The Communists first tried to get the young men to accuse the priests by a long course of indoctrination.
When this failed, the seminary funds were " frozen " in the bank.
Although the boys work in the garden themselves. they are unable to produce enough food.
Some of them have asked permission to return to their homes, but the required " pass " is always denied.
One of the students has been imprisoned since October. No accusations were made against him.
Two Chinese priests are also in Communist prisons in Wuhu.
Fr. Sou has been detained, manacled, for over a year. Fr. Tan was arrested in October and charged with starting a fire in a public granary on the mission property.